Energy Efficiency, Finance  -  November 4, 2020

South Carolina school district to save $28M through energy upgrades

Richland County School District in South Carolina announced Oct. 30 that it will be using an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) for efficiency upgrades that will save the district more than $28 million in energy costs over 20 years.

The school district partnered with Schneider Electric on this project, who will complete upgrades to the HVAC systems, to the interior and exterior lighting,  on critical electrical infrastructure that will reduce maintenance time and extend the life of the systems and for the building envelope to allow for better temperature regulation. It is expected that these upgrades will reduce utility and operational costs by 24% across 15 district buildings.

“Providing a safe, healthy and enjoyable learning environment for our students and teachers is among our top priorities, especially now with new and changing regulations around indoor learning environments,” Dr. Craig Witherspoon, Richland School District One Superintendent, said in a statement. “This program with Schneider Electric will allow us to make needed upgrades to our buildings in a much smarter, more efficient and most importantly, fiscally responsible way.”

While achieving energy cost savings, the school district will also improve the air quality in its buildings to address health issues related to Covid-19. By updating the HVAC systems, the schools will be able to more efficiently move air, control temperature and increase outdoor exchange rates.

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