February 22, 2008—Schools in Alexander City, Alabama, are implementing more than $1 million in facility enhancements designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at the district’s five schools and its administration building.
The Energy Solutions division of TAC, a provider of energy services, building automation and security, will carry out the comprehensive energy retrofit through a performance contract with the district.
TAC will complete a lighting retrofit in classrooms and hallways at selected campuses and in all seven district gyms, which will also include occupancy sensors. Variable air volume (VAV) box retrofits and the installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) will improve efficiency of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
TAC will also install a new air cooled chiller for the central office and re-rout air ducts there as well. Finally, a direct digital control (DDC) system with enable/disable controls will allow the district to effectively manage all its mechanical systems.
When the project is completed later this year, TAC anticipates that Alexander City Schools will reduce their energy costs by 27 percent district-wide. This translates to utility savings of $116,000 annually, and TAC will guarantee almost $100,000 of that savings.
Located in central Alabama, the Alexander City Schools serve 3,500 students. The performance contract with TAC addresses several problems with the school system’s physical plant. These include a failing central office mechanical system, the lack of central building controls, and numerous comfort issues, such as high humidity, and outdated lighting.
TAC typically guarantees all or part of the amount of savings performance contracting projects will achieve and agrees to pay the difference if that amount is not realized.
For more information, visit the TAC Web site.
