Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, has completed a $13.2 million performance contract with TAC, the building management and energy services business of Schneider Electric. TAC guarantees that ASU will reduce utility costs by nearly $800,000 annually.

Angelo State University (ASU) in San Angelo, Texas, has completed a $13.2 million performance contract with TAC, the building management and energy services business of Schneider Electric. TAC provided facility upgrades to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at 26 campus buildings totaling 1.4 million square feet and guarantees that ASU will reduce utility costs by nearly $800,000 annually.

While committed to providing the best educational opportunities to the 6,600 students the university serves on its 268-acre campus in west Texas, ASU was challenged with increasing deferred maintenance problems and rising costs. The university needed to update or replace major environmental systems such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), and lighting with state-of-the-art technologies in order to lower operating expenses and improve energy efficiency.

"Implementing this performance contract from TAC is not only good for our students and staff, but for the environment as well," said John H. Russell, director, Facilities Planning and Construction at Angelo State University. "It demonstrates ASU's commitment to protecting the environment and to conserving water and other natural resources. This project also shows that ASU is a good steward of taxpayer money, and is keeping tuition rates as low as possible by saving utility dollars, while improving the property on the campus."

Performance contracting offers many long-term benefits for colleges and universities, such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings. TAC guarantees the amount of savings performance contracting projects will achieve and agrees to pay the difference if that amount is not realized.

TAC designed and installed a variety of energy conservation measures (ECMs) on the ASU campus including upgrading or replacing numerous mechanical systems and components in ASU facilities. TAC improved the HVAC systems through installation of a new 1,000-ton central plant chiller; replacing some air-handling units; completing efficiency improvements on other air-handling units; and installing variable speed drives and pumps.

Additional projects covered in the performance contract included steam boiler conversions; hot water boiler installation; power factor correction; and lab fume hood replacements. TAC also expanded the campuswide direct digital controls (DDCs) and upgraded lighting across the campus to improve illumination and save energy. Finally, TAC implemented domestic water conservation measures.

Because the university is in continuous use, TAC completed this work in "live" buildings with limited time for shutdown.

"Students, faculty and other staff at ASU will enjoy a better learning and working environment as a result of these facility updates," said Shon Anderson, vice president of TAC Energy Solutions. "Through the performance contract, the university was able to complete these improvements using the money it already spends on utilities. This means that no student programs were put in jeopardy to provide funding."

About TAC by Schneider Electric
TAC, the building management and energy services business of Schneider Electric, is a leading provider of solutions that deliver business value to customers by enabling them to do more with less energy. With over 80 years of experience in the HVAC, energy and security arenas, TAC employs more than 8,000 people worldwide, with partners in 80 countries. TAC's parent company, Schneider Electric, is the global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, offering integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 120,000 employees achieved sales of more than $23.7 billion in 2007. For more information visit www.tac.com and www.schneider-electric.com.