Abilene Retrofits City Buildings for Energy Efficiency
ABILENE, Texas, April 9, 2009 (ENS) – The city of Abilene is investing $9 million to improve energy efficiency, security, comfort at 34 city buildings. The green initiative is a first step towards sustainability by the city.
TAC, the building management and energy services business of Schneider Electric which has won the contract, guarantees that the city will reduce its utility costs enough to save more than $12 million during the next 15 years. TAC agrees to pay the difference if that amount is not realized.
“When the city decided to go forward with this project, officials had four goals in mind,” said Odis Dolton, Abilene’s assistant director of finance. “These were to maximize utility savings, standardize equipment, reduce deferred maintenance and simplify staff training. We believe the performance contact with TAC will provide all this and more.”
Numerous energy conservation measures will be integrated into public facilities across this city of 116,200 located in the western part of the state.
An integrated energy management system will be installed at more than 25 locations around the city that will include energy management features and a security system with access control in the Abilene City Hall.
The unified energy management system, replacing as many as five now in use, will make it easier to manage equipment and operations in city buildings as well as simplify employee training.
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The Civic Center in Abilene, Texas (Photo courtesy Texas Midwest Community Network) |
Other energy conservation measures include replacing older, inefficient boilers, implementing water conservation measures, replacing five air-handling units at the city library, and installing a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system at the Abilene Civic Center that will be more energy-efficient and make it easier and faster to change from cooling to heating.
Building lighting in the library and city recreation centers will be improved and numerous traffic and street lights acrss the city will be replaced to save energy and provide better illumination and safety.
“This multifaceted performance contract will be a definite win-win for citizens and city officials in Abilene,” said Shon Anderson, vice president of sales, TAC Energy Solutions.
“Buildings will be noticeably more comfortable, managing energy will be easier and the city will experience real cost savings on utility bills immediately upon completion,” she said.
The energy savings is expected to have a positive impact on the environment. TAC says the reduction in electricity usage will prevent 2.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, reduce sulfur dioxide pollution by 88,000 pounds and lower nitrogen oxide gas emissions by 38,000 pounds.
The company calculates that this is equivalent to planting about 129,000 trees, enough to cover 1,200 acres, or removing 871 cars from area roads.
