Increasing Central's Energy Efficiency: an ESCO Partnership with Trane [abstract]

Abstract

University of Central Missouri (UCM) solicited proposals for a performance-based energy savings program that furthers Central's transformation to a nationally recognized, comprehensive institution delivering a world-class university education. The program guarantees energy and operating cost savings as allowed by RSMO 8.231 & 640.651. The guaranteed savings must meet or exceed the costs of facility improvements designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs for a 15-year period. Trane U.S., Inc. was the Energy Service Company selected for the project. The Trane-UCM partnership developed a comprehensive list of facility improvement opportunities that is expected to: o improve energy and operational efficiency through utility (water, gas, electricity) infrastructure upgrades based on an analysis of energy efficiency measures, o optimize building operations by addressing deferred and on-going building maintenance issues, o provide students, staff, and faculty with a high-performance educational environment on a green, sustainable campus in which the buildings and green-spaces become learning tools, o and build a foundation for scholarly research in sustainability across many disciplines. The energy service contract specifies a $36 million investment by 2010, which saves UCM over $20 million in energy, operations, and maintenance costs and over $26 million in future capital costs. An investment grade audit specifies a 30% reduction in green house gas emissions (21.5 million lbs CO2, 74,000 lbs SOx, and 33,000 lbs NOx annually) and 5 million gallons of water is expected annually.