DALLAS – Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, announced a project with North Carolina State University to improve energy efficiency and drive sustainable, clean energy projects in 1.6 million square feet of building space across 13 campus facilities. As part of a $20 million performance contracting project, the university will implement 89 separate energy conservation measures (ECMs). Upon completion of the installation, NC State University will save approximately 10,137,668 kilowatt hours of electricity and 68,785 decatherms of natural gas annually, which is equivalent to planting 80,376 acres of trees or removing 43,158 cars from the roads over the next 15 years.
The performance contract with Schneider Electric is helping the university fast-track backlogged building upgrades, and also to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 668 and the President’s Advisory Committee on Efficiency and Effectiveness (PACE) set forth by former University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles to drive energy efficiency improvements on campuses across the state. The project is leveraging NC State University’s expertise in engineering and energy efficiency by tapping more than 10 alumni personnel and one senior engineering student at NC State University in development and construction of the project.
“At NC State University, we’re committed to building a sustainable campus, an effort that drives energy efficiency while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment for students,” said Kevin McNaughton, associate vice chancellor for facilities. “Through performance contracting, we’re able to take on these projects immediately without incurring cost to the taxpayer or the students. We are confident this strategy will reduce continuing costs, provide for better facilities to support education and research, and substantially reduce our carbon footprint."
As part of phase one, a Schneider Electric partner has completed installation of a solar-thermal system on the roof of the NC State University campus gym, Carmichael Complex. Once in operation, the system will help heat nearly one million gallons of water in two swimming pools. The clean energy project features 112 solar panels, each measuring 10 feet by 4 feet, and can heat water to approximately 100 degrees as it is circulated onto the roof and piped through the solar facility.
“Through this performance contract, we are helping the university gain critical insight into energy use and manage energy resources more effectively,” said James Potach, Energy Solutions senior vice president, Schneider Electric. “We’re helping the university achieve its ACUPCC objectives by implementing an energy efficiency project that will make a significant contribution toward reducing the carbon footprint on campus." The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 110,000 plus employees achieved sales of more than $26 billion in 2010, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations “Make the most of their energy.”
Related Stories
| May 14, 2013
Advanced turbines generate 6X more energy than conventional models
US-based wind energy company SheerWind just unveiled the INVELOX – a tunnel-based wind turbine that can produce up to 600% more power than traditional wind turbines.
| May 4, 2013
Research program offers incentives to homes, businesses toward new propane-fueled products
Propane Heat & Power Incentive Program provides up to $10,000 for qualifying generators, micro-CHP systems
| May 3, 2013
'LEED for all GSA buildings,' says GSA Green Building Advisory Committee
The Green Building Advisory Committee established by the General Services Administration, officially recommended to GSA that the LEED green building certification system be used for all GSA buildings as the best measure of building efficiency.
| Apr 16, 2013
5 projects that profited from insulated metal panels
From an orchid-shaped visitor center to California’s largest public works project, each of these projects benefited from IMP technology.
| Apr 10, 2013
23 things you need to know about charter schools
Charter schools are growing like Topsy. But don’t jump on board unless you know what you’re getting into.
| Apr 1, 2013
Half of building owners use 'smart' technologies, says survey
A survey of 291 building owners by IDC Energy Insights shows that 50% of owners use smart building technologies, such as HVAC controls, lighting controls, and analytics/data management.
| Mar 27, 2013
Small but mighty: Berkeley public library’s net-zero gem
The Building Team for Berkeley, Calif.’s new 9,500-sf West Branch library aims to achieve net-zero—and possibly net-positive—energy performance with the help of clever passive design techniques.
| Mar 22, 2013
Earn $500 as a DOE proposal reviewer
The DOE'S Building Technologies Office this morning put out a call to the AEC industry for expert reviewers for its new energy-efficiency initiative for small commercial buildings, which make up more than 90% of the commercial building stock.
| Mar 21, 2013
Best Firms to Work For: Enermodal Engineering is green to the core
At Enermodal Engineering, there’s only one kind of building—a sustainable one.