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State contracts with Honeywell to guarantee reduced energy and water costs at SCC
Somerset Community College, Hazard Community and Technical College and Southeast Community and Technical College are part of a Kentucky initiative to reduce the consumption and related costs of energy and water on their campuses.
After a bidding process, the State of Kentucky has hired Honeywell Building Solutions SES to work with the three Kentucky Community and Technical College System schools to survey the energy and water usage at the colleges and recommend capital improvements and other changes to save money.
At SCC, Honeywell has already conducted an energy survey looking at all of the methods the College might use to reduce energy and water consumption.
“Energy performance contracting allows you to divert funds that would be spent on energy bills into investments in your buildings. For governments, this means limited budgets can stretch further, putting taxpayers' money where it really counts. For all building owners, more modern, efficient energy systems can increase your property value and improve marketability of your buildings,” said John Boyd of Honeywell Building Solutions SES.
“Over the past two years SCC has absorbed two budget reductions and we are facing a third,” said Dr. Jo Marshall, President and CEO of SCC. “This contract will allow us to improve our facilities and reduce our energy costs at the same time. Once the new equipment is paid for with the reduction of energy usage, we can use that money to helping our students.”
When the survey is completed, Honeywell will recommend to SCC changes in lighting, heating and air conditioning equipment, and any other savings in material and labor costs the company finds.
One stipulation of the contact is that the improvements must pay for themselves in a 12-year reduction in energy costs which will offset the expense of the improvements so that the improvements will have a zero or positive effect on net cash flow.
Recommendations for water savings will include adding devices to reduce water consumption and sewage services such as automatic controls, low-flow sink aerators, showers and toilets, and cooling tower modifications. Recommendations for energy saving will include replacing existing lighting, energy systems and adding centralized heating and air conditioning controls.
Honeywell must guarantee that the proposed changes will result in the energy and water savings they propose. If the changes do not achieve the projected savings, Honeywell will be responsible to reimburse SCC for any shortfall.
Somerset Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution of higher education. SCC has campuses in Somerset and London, centers in Clinton, McCreary, Casey and Russell Counties. The website is www.somerset.kctcs.edu. Call for admission and registration information toll free at 1-877-629-9722.
KCTCS serves the Commonwealth through 16 community and technical college districts that form a seamless system of 62 campuses open or under construction. KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu.
