The Challenge
Nestled in the foothills of the picturesque Ozark Mountains, the city of Van Buren, Missouri, is home to a population of 845. Originally organized in 1830, the city was named for Martin Van Buren, who later became the eighth U.S. President. Today, the city occupies two square miles in the southeast quadrant of Missouri.
The Van Buren R-1 School District’s elementary school and high school meet the needs of 563 students in grades PreK-12. The student-teacher ratio is 12 to 1.
Faced with rising energy costs, the district looked for ways to minimize its energy consumption. As a result, wasted energy became an issue, especially energy usage related to the HVAC equipment. If someone forgot to turn off the equipment in an area that was no longer occupied, it would continue to run. Additionally, inconsistent light levels and inefficient lights impacted the learning environment as well as energy costs.
In 2004, the district began its search for a vendor capable of addressing its needs and working around a summer school schedule. TAC suggested that the Van Buren R-1 School District consider a performance contract that offered guaranteed annual energy savings.
The performance contract proposal appealed to the district. TAC had successfully executed similar projects for other school districts in the state, building a reputation for its dedication, expertise, and willingness to follow through on a project. Moreover, the district discovered that it could fund the new energy management solution through a lease purchase.
In 2004, the district began its search for a vendor capable of addressing its needs and working around a summer school schedule. Schneider Electric suggested that the Van Buren R-1 School District consider a performance contract that offered guaranteed annual energy savings.
The performance contract proposal appealed to the district. Schneider Electric had successfully executed similar projects for other school districts in the state, building a reputation for its dedication, expertise, and willingness to follow through on a project. Moreover, the district discovered that it could fund the new energy management solution through a lease purchase.
Customer Benefits:
• Flexibility to expand
• System interoperability
• Reduced energy costs
• Guaranteed savings
Project at a Glance:
Project Type: Energy Performance Contract
Location: Van Buren, Missouri, USA
Guaranteed Annual Savings: $16,129
