WESTBOROUGH, Mass. - NORESCO, a subsidiary of Carrier Corp., was selected by the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) to implement a guaranteed energy savings agreement worth $14 million. Structured as a performance contract, the project will enable the state of Nevada, at no upfront cost to taxpayers, to implement facility improvements at four sites: Southern Desert Correctional Center, High Desert State Prison, Lovelock Correctional Center and the Northern Nevada Correctional Center. The savings realized from reduced energy consumption will pay for equipment investment, installation, related operations and maintenance, and financing over 15 years. NORESCO guarantees reductions in annual energy consumption in accordance with the contract.

In addition to producing an annual economic benefit of over $1.5 million in utility and operational savings for NDOC, the project is also expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 18,725 tons each year, said NORESCO. These reductions, along with reductions in other environmental pollutants, are equivalent to removing 3,100 cars from the road.

“In this tight economy, this is the only method to obtain needed facility upgrades and provide preventive maintenance to keep systems operating and achieve sustainable energy savings,” stated Lori Bagwell, deputy director, support services, NDOC. “These facilities will operate more efficiently and with lower environmental impacts when the project is completed.”

Randy Clark, NORESCO vice president and general manager, added, “NORESCO is honored to work with NDOC to deliver an integrated energy project across four facilities covering more than 1.5 million square feet in three cities.”

The key savings drivers for the project are lighting system upgrades, new building control systems, retrocommissioning of existing building automation systems, and completion of a well water heat exchange piping loop. These will create energy savings to fund replacement of aging and problematic systems, such as heat pumps, kitchen hood controls, and water softeners.

As one of the largest U.S. energy services companies, NORESCO specializes in the development, design, construction, financing, and operation of energy and environmental efficiency projects, performance contracting, and central energy plants. In addition to various state government agencies, NORESCO clients include federal agencies, public housing agencies, school districts, universities, local governments, and industrial and commercial businesses.

For more information, visit www.noresco.com.

Publication date: 07/13/2009