To sustain investments in learning initiatives and address aging facility assets, Abbeville County School District needed a way to control operating costs and ensure capital funds could equitably improve facilities for students in every school.
ABM’s custom energy savings project creates a projected $4.9 million in energy and operating cost savings over 15 years. To enable general fund relief, the integrated facility upgrade solution provides an opportunity to transform the district’s spending structure while benefiting learning environments district wide.
Indoor air quality
In addition to lighting and HVAC upgrades, the project added needlepoint bi-polar ionization equipment as a pathogen and particle control measure to address indoor air quality health in all eight Abbeville County schools.
Protecting Community Investments in Teachers and Technology “We didn’t have a way to equitably upgrade our schools for all our students with our current spending structure,” said Dr. Mason Gary, Superintendent of Abbeville County School District(ACSD). ABM’s project provided a new way for ACSD leadership to allocate ESSER funds and existing capital budgets that both improved facilities and freed up operating dollars needed to sustain investments in teachers and educational initiatives.
Critical infrastructure needs
ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program enables school districts to invest in critical infrastructure
“The pandemic highlighted infrastructure needs nationwide, but it also asked schools to invest more in alternative learning, teachers, and technology,” said Mark Hawkinson, President of ABM Technical Solutions.
“We can do more for schools today than save them energy costs. We build solutions for the capital investment needs and operating costs of schools so they can best use funds for the benefit of students and teachers.” ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program enables school districts and other entities, like local governments, institutions of higher learning, and federal agencies, to invest in critical infrastructure needs and achieve sustainability, security, and resilience goals.
Helping fund improvements
The program drives costs out of operating budgets and redirects savings to critical needs, helping fund improvements without upfront costs or tax increases.
Highlights of facility upgrades for ACSD include:
- LED lighting improvements.
- HVAC equipment replacements and upgrades, including variable refrigerant flow units to increase ventilation from the outdoor air.
- Water conservation measures.
- Needlepoint bi-polar ionization equipment to address indoor air quality.
- Building control improvements and sensors added to help improve the intake of outdoor air.
- Seismic, wind, and vibration hardware for earthquake and hurricane safety.
