The Franklin (PA) Area School District is implementing $3.3 M in facility upgrades to improve efficiency at five campuses. TAC by Schneider Electric will complete the work as a performance contract and guarantees the district will reduce energy and maintenance costs by more than $91,000 annually.

The Franklin Area School District (FASD) in Franklin, Pa. is implementing $3.3 million in facility enhancements designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at five district campuses totaling more than 355,000 square feet. TAC by Schneider Electric, the building management and energy services business of Schneider Electric, will complete the work as a performance contract with the district. TAC guarantees that the FASD will reduce its energy and related maintenance costs by more than $91,000 annually when the project is completed in late 2009.

Located in western Pennsylvania, 80 miles north of Pittsburgh, FASD serves more than 2,100 students in Pre-K through 12th grade at seven buildings. The district consulted with TAC to address improving energy efficiency and replacing outdated mechanical equipment. TAC proposed a project focused on properly engineered solutions that will last for the long term and provide the energy savings the district desired.

"The project we developed with TAC addresses the most-needed energy-efficient heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and controls as well as lighting and roofing updates to our buildings," said Laura Urban, business manager at FASD. "With an emphasis on proper engineering, these projects will provide quality updates to our buildings and real energy savings for the long term."

Performance contracting offers many long-term benefits for school districts, 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's plan for the FASD includes a variety of proven energy conservation measures (ECMs) that will reduce costs and improve comfort at district campuses. TAC will install high efficiency condensing boilers at the Franklin Area High School and two elementary schools; replace and update the building management systems (BMS) at the high school and four elementary school buildings; retrofit T12 florescent lamps to efficient T8 retrofits at two elementary schools; and replace metal halide lamps with high bay T8 fixtures in the gymnasiums. A new roof at the district's Victory elementary, variable frequency drives, and freezer and cooler strip curtains will complete the projects. Leveraging on local TAC resources, TAC Energy Solutions has partnered with TAC Partner Combustion Service & Equipment (CS&E) of Pittsburgh, PA, to deliver on the controls portion of the project, including the installation of the high efficiency condensing boilers.

"Existing conditions at the FASB campuses feature improperly sized boiler plants with boilers near the end of their useful life, inefficient lighting system, a roofing system beyond its useful life, and poorly controlled buildings with mostly outdated BMS equipment," said Shon Anderson, vice president of sales, TAC Energy Solutions. "Our solution will remedy these problems utilizing the dollars the district is already spending on energy. As a result, FASD will gain improved facilities and mechanical systems instead of sending their tax dollars to the utility company. In addition, students and district staff will enjoy a better learning and working environment for years to come."

About TAC
TAC, the building management and energy services business of Schneider Electric, is a leading provider of solutions that deliver measurable business results to customers by enabling them to do more with less energy. With over 120 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 114,000 employees achieved sales of more than 18.3 billion euros in 2008. For more information, visit www.tac.com and www.schneider-electric.com.