Northeastern Massachusetts Community Chooses Ameresco for Sweeping Energy and Infrastructure Improvements

17 Merrimac town buildings to be upgraded as part of Energy Savings Performance Contract via Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

FRAMINGHAM, MA and MERRIMAC, MA – September 17, 2013 – Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today that it soon will begin work on a million dollar Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with the Town of Merrimac, Massachusetts.  As the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission’s selected energy services provider to implement energy improvements in the region, Merrimac is the most recent community to partner with Ameresco. The project will include energy efficient upgrades to 17 buildings, including the Town Hall, Library, Police and Fire Station and two school buildings, and is expected to save the Town more than $100,000 annually.

“We believe these facility upgrades will translate into a better learning and working environment for our students and staff, and see this as an investment in the future of our community,” said Carol McLeod, Finance Director, Town of Merrimac.  “Working with Ameresco to leverage the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission’s ESPC program will allow us to make much needed facility improvements without allocating additional funding from our existing budget and increasing the burden on our taxpayers.”

To begin the ESPC process, Ameresco performed a full investment grade audit on municipal buildings, including school buildings, Town facilities and pumping stations, to identify areas where energy savings measures could be implemented.  Ameresco then created a plan for the design and implementation of suggested renovations intended to improve the energy efficiency and operation of existing systems.

Some of the energy conservation measures that will be implemented as part of the ESPC project will increase energy efficiency through lighting system upgrades, new energy management controls, CO2 sensing controls, efficient boilers, oil to natural gas conversion, creation of additional heating zones, infrared heating systems, window film, weather stripping, vending machine controls, and the installation of Energy Star rated appliances.

“We are pleased to partner with another Merrimack Valley Planning Commission member, and to maximize the Town of Merrimac’s energy savings potential by upgrading building infrastructure and implementing measures to improve the energy efficiency of its facilities,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “The budget-neutral ESPC is expected to significantly reduce the Town’s energy demands and related costs for 17 of its key facilities, without an additional capital investment by the community.”

Ameresco has a long history of partnering with communities across the Commonwealth and the country to improve energy infrastructure and install renewable energy technologies.  Ameresco’s pioneering of the ESPC financing model has made the budget-neutral solution an increasingly popular option for customers across North America, which enables budget-neutral energy efficiency upgrades by guaranteeing a minimum level of energy savings over the term of the contract. Ameresco coordinates the upfront project costs and the Town repays that investment with their energy savings over time.

About The Town of Merrimac, MA
A small Merrimack Valley community in the state’s northernmost corner, Merrimac is bounded by Amesbury on the east, Haverhill on the west, the Merrimack River to the south and the New Hampshire border to the North. Its 8.6 square mile area includes serene views of the Merrimack River, more than 900 acres of farmland and a classic 19th century industrial village, Merrimac Square. Despite the presence of I-495 and modern subdivisions scattered about the town, Merrimac retains a rural, small-town ambiance that is very important to residents.

About Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC)
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission has been managing growth and developing the Merrimack Valley for over 50 years. MVPC plays a proactive role for each and every community in the region—where the goal is to consistently plan, develop and promote not only the sustainable development of the Valley through responsible and efficient use of regional resources, but also to rally and unify the communities to promote the region’s vision. For more information, visit www.mvpc.org.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s services include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco provides local expertise through its 66 offices in 33 states, five Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

The announcement of a customer’s entry into or commencement of a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company’s overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company’s overall total construction backlog.