In October 2004, Washtenaw County begain construction on 18 of its buildings. The $6.1 million conservation project was made possible with the signing of a performance contract with Chevron Energy Solutions, a a unit of ChevronTexaco Corp. A performance contract is a financial device that recovers the cost from the utility savings generated. This way of funding goverment projects is becoming the norm; it is highly encouraged because government funded entities such as schools often lack the upfront capital needed to make suce improvements.
"Many counties, states and cities are cutting budgets, and they're looking for ways to upgrade their infrastructure that's deteriorating," said Steven Spurgeon, marketing manager for Chevron Energy Solutions. "These performance contracts allow them to do these projects, finance it through a third party and pay for it over a period of time."
Under the Washtenaw contract, Chevron Energy Solutions will provide monitoring and verification for four years after the changes are implemented, and the county will have an option for an extension of that work. Savings are guaranteed at $215,755 a year during the period of monitoring and verification. The savings will come from electricity ($83,958), natural gas ($29,297), water ($7,806) and operations and maintenance ($94,694).
The rennovations will improve 650,000 square feet of space in Washtenaw. Lighting, windows, insulation, boilers, chillers, motors, fans, steam traps, controls and other elements have and will be improved, often making huge technological advances beyond the older equipment.
For more information about the project please contact Washtenaw
County’s Energy Coordinator, Josh Long at energy@ewashtenaw.org
or call 734-222-3939.