NORESCO Chosen To Implement Energy Savings Initiative At URI Worth $18M
Westborough, MA - The University of Rhode Island (URI) has selected NORESCO to implement guaranteed energy savings agreements with an expected value of more than $18M. The agreements between URI and NORESCO will provide long-term sustainable reductions in fossil fuel use, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Construction is already underway at the Kingston campus for projects totaling $4.4M at the Memorial Union and the athletic complex, which includes Keaney Gymnasium, Mackal Field House, Ryan Center, and Tootell Aquatic Center.
Additional installations will be completed in the URI 2008 fiscal year (which ends June 30, 2008) at the Providence and Narragansett Bay campuses, bringing the total project costs for the year to $6.1M. An additional $12M in improvements will be made in fiscal year 2009, and more improvements could be added to the project in future years.
When the first two phases are complete, the athletic complex and the Memorial Union will experience reductions in annual energy consumption valued at $596,000. New showerheads, aerators, and retrofitted plumbing valves will save 500 gallons of water a day in Keaney, Mackal, and Tootell. The facilities in the first two phases are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 37,701 U.S. tons over the life of the projects. Carbon dioxide emissions are a widely recognized contributor to global climate change. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the first two phases alone are equivalent to removing 549 cars from the road each year.
"The University of Rhode Island is using the performance contracts to replace capital equipment and to enhance efforts to achieve an environmentally sustainable campus," said Jerry Sidio, URI Director of Facilities Services. "President Carothers signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, and the performance contracts play a key role in initial University efforts to become climate neutral. We welcome the opportunity to work with NORESCO as we strive to become a leader in environmental stewardship."
The projects are structured as performance contracts, and savings realized from reduced energy consumption will pay for equipment investment, installation, and related financing over the 12-year funding term.
"Our contracts with NORESCO will generate immediate energy savings without costing us any up-front capital expenditures. It's a win-win solution for URI and the state's taxpayers," said J. Vernon Wyman, URI Assistant Vice President for Business Services. "In addition, they will reduce the University's carbon footprint substantially."
NORESCO Director of Project Development, Alan Davis, speaking on behalf of NORESCO, stated, "We appreciate both the opportunity to work with URI and the Rhode Island General Assembly's approval of the unique funding mechanism to implement URI's campus-wide energy master plan. The plan will allow URI to modernize facilities, reduce energy consumption, and produce environmental improvements."
The Memorial Union and the athletic complex will each benefit from improved lighting systems and improved energy management systems. Lighting systems will be more efficient, and new controls will minimize unnecessary usage in offices, classrooms, and bathrooms. Daylight harvesters will optimize usage when sufficient natural light is present in selected areas. New energy management systems utilizing direct digital controls will reduce overheating and optimize ventilation based on total system demands, equipment efficiency, weather conditions, and occupancy in appropriate areas. Innovative venturi-style steam traps will replace less reliable ones that have resulted in inefficient and uncomfortable conditions in the past.
Air conditioning for the Memorial Union will require less energy after NORESCO replaces the current electric chiller with a new, high efficiency one. The facility will also gain system redundancy because the new chiller will cross-connect to a chiller that currently operates independently.
Other energy conservation measures at the athletic complex will be diverse and extensive. Occupant comfort will improve with repairs and capital improvements to HVAC systems and related equipment. HVAC and pressurization improvements in the swimming pool area of the Tootell Physical Education Center will extend throughout the multi-building complex. Water usage, energy consumption, and pool area humidity levels are all expected to drop with installation and use of new pool covers. Overall appearance of the athletic complex will improve when high-performance windows replace inefficient and deteriorated single-pane windows, with savings and improved comfort as additional dividends.
SOURCE: The University of Rhode Island