According to Siemens, the end result should reduce the county’s annual utility consumption 33 percent. Over the 15-year contract period, work by Siemens should reduce electricity consumption by county buildings by 37 million kWh, the company said.
DeSoto County is earmarked as one of the fastest growing counties in the state and one of the top 40 fastest growing counties in the country. County officials turned to Siemens to help it fast-track upgrades to the county government’s buildings. Siemens teamed up with officials to secure $1 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant funding, which the county leveraged to self-finance the overall project. Siemens, serving as the design-build general contractor, is managing the overall project and employing a local engineering firm and several local contractors and suppliers.