A blueprint for energy and operating cost savings helped this South Carolina school district achieve healthy, engaging learning environments for 21 school facilities.
“In OCSD, we are focused on ensuring that our students have the very best educational opportunities we can provide, and along with that comes the best facilities in which they will learn. As such, we decided to partner with ABM to deliver improved, healthier facilities for each of our 11,000 students," said Dr. Shawn Foster, Superintendent of Orangeburg County School District.
OSCD challenges
Orangeburg County School District (OCSD) faced cost and humidity control issues due to aging infrastructure: over 9 out of 10 HVAC systems were operating beyond their useful life.
With capital funds lacking to tackle the varied systems across 21 school facilities, OCSD needed a budget-neutral plan to achieve improvements for students and staff cost-effectively.
ABM's solution
The project upgraded or replaced existing HVAC systems to meet ASHRAE guidelines for ventilation
ABM’s custom energy savings project created a projected $28 million in energy and operating cost savings over 20 years. In addition to a proactive plan to meet major capital needs, ABM’s solution provided immediate cash flow relief, installed more efficient emergency and exterior lighting, and improved air quality.
The project upgraded or replaced existing HVAC systems to meet ASHRAE guidelines for ventilation and included needlepoint bipolar ionization equipment as a pathogen and particle control measure.
Energy savings, reduced operational costs
Protecting Community Investments in Teachers and Technology “Orangeburg is a large district, with a lot of facilities to care for,” said Mark Hawkinson, President of ABM Technical Solutions, adding “It’s an educational equity issue to fix one school today, another tomorrow, and ask others to wait. OCSD asked us to help them deliver on that core promise of healthier facilities for every student.”
ABM’s project delivered energy savings, operational cost reductions from more efficient lighting and HVAC equipment, and upgraded, centralized control systems. Water conservation measures also contributed to energy savings.
Benefits
The program drives costs out of operating budgets and redirects savings to critical needs
ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program enables school districts and other entities, like local governments, institutions of higher learning, and federal agencies, to invest in critical infrastructure needs and achieve sustainability, security, and resilience goals.
The program drives costs out of operating budgets and redirects savings to critical needs, helping fund improvements without upfront costs or tax increases.
Highlights of facility upgrades for OCSD
- LED lighting replacements.
- New and improved building automation systems.
- HVAC equipment replacements and upgrades.
- HVAC and controls maintenance.
- Needlepoint bipolar ionization.