Conservation, renewable energy use and updated infrastructure are anticipated to reap $15 million in savings over 15 years for HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.
Funding for the estimated $12.6-million project comes from a Pennsylvania sustainable energy program guaranteed savings agreement with Schneider Electric and is guaranteed to produce more than $13.5 million in energy savings over the next 15 years. HACC will also realize a minimum of $1.6 million in added savings through a solar power purchase agreement.
The project will modernize HACC’s critical infrastructure with energy-efficient, sustainable technologies and optimize learning environments. Schneider Electric will address HACC’s maintenance backlog and modernize campus buildings, many of which were built in the 1960s. Improvements will include a comprehensive light-emitting diode (LED) lighting retrofit; heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades; water conservation systems; and building automation. The project started April 1 and will be completed over the next 18 to 24 months.
HACC has tasked Schneider Electric with administering a request for proposals to select a vendor for the solar purchase power agreement. After selection, Schneider Electric will continue to work with HACC to ensure smooth implementation and alignment with the overall facility improvement plans.
“Since funding for capital improvements is usually challenged, this guarantee will afford us an opportunity to make large scale facility improvements that save energy and money without any upfront costs. The implementation of this project addresses the need to modernize our aging infrastructure to create a better learning environment for our HACC community and brings us closer to our long-term sustainability goals,” said HACC President John Sygielski.
“HACC’s initiative to prioritize sustainability creates a foundational path to improve learning outcomes for students. We are proud to add our work with HACC to our growing portfolio of higher education facilities serviced across the country.” said Schneider Electric’s VP of Sales, Tammy Tolle.
HACC was supported in developing and gaining approval of this project by the Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Finance Program (PennSEF), a partnership between the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment (FREE).
“This is a great project, and both HACC and Schneider Electric deserve to be recognized for their leadership in using conservation and renewable energy to cut costs. PennSEF projects are a fantastic way for nonprofits and government agencies, including counties, school districts and municipalities, to receive guaranteed savings while conserving energy and water. Treasury’s partnership with FREE to create PennSEF can benefit entities all across Pennsylvania. I hope many others will follow HACC’s lead,” said PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity.
