MILWAUKEE (May, 18 2009) – Johnson Controls, Inc., the global multi-industrial leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, has entered into an energy savings performance contract with Madison County Schools in western North Carolina. Facility improvements and behavior modification strategies are expected to yield more than $5.9 million in energy savings over 15 years. This self-funded program provided by Johnson Controls will create more comfortable learning and working environments for students and staff.
“We strive to create an educational environment that’s conducive to learning,” said Sandra Tolley, chairman of Madison County Schools school board. “It’s encouraging to enter into a project that helps us create an optimal learning environment without having to increase our operating budget.”
The performance contract with Johnson Controls will reduce energy use by 36 percent across all six schools and three administrative buildings. The project’s reduced emissions will be equivalent to removing 8,250 passenger vehicles from the road.
“The school district had a need for significant building controls and HVAC improvements,” said Felicia McDade, K-12 education regional manager, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. “This energy performance contract allows for most of the schools' needs to be met without the project being funded by a tax increase. The guaranteed energy savings more than pay for the much-needed improvements."
In addition to updating facilities, Johnson Controls, along with the National Energy Foundation, will implement an energy education program throughout Madison schools. The program features energy savings-related curriculum for students and staff and teaches behavior modification to reduce their individual environmental impact.
“Madison County Schools’ mission is to provide comprehensive educational experiences in a safe environment that equips and empowers students to be responsible citizens,” said Ron Wilcox, superintendent of Madison County Schools. “We chose to work with Johnson Controls because the partnership is holistic—it doesn’t start and stop with facility upgrades. Our investment includes new curriculum to help our students and staff improve their environmental footprints.”
The project includes a planned investment for energy efficiency credits by the local electric utility, French Broad Electric, due to project savings of 1.2 million kilowatt-hours per year. This will enable the school district to leverage the investment into a Qualified Zone Academy Bond at zero percent interest, which will result in significant interest savings for Madison County Schools.
Specific project upgrades include installing a Johnson Controls Metasys® energy management system. The system allows facility staff to precisely manage heating and cooling schedules in conjunction with building usage. The buildings also will receive major mechanical and control equipment improvements, which will greatly extend the lifecycle of those facilities and lower maintenance costs.
“Madison County Schools’ commitment to environmental stewardship will reap long-term benefits for both students and local taxpayers, who can see their dollars positively impacting the environment,” added McDade.
Project upgrades will affect Madison High School, Madison Middle School, Hot Springs Elementary, Brush Creek Elementary and Laurel Elementary. The central administrative office, bus garage and maintenance shop also will be affected.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
CONTACT:
Angela Adams
Angela.S.Adams@jci.com
414-524-5210
