MILWAUKEE - The city of Baltimore recently awarded Johnson Controls Inc. a $4.2 million energy performance contract that is expected to reduce annual energy and operational expenditures by $525,000 per year over the next 14 years. The project includes improvements to four of the city's largest buildings: the Abel Wolman Municipal Building, the Charles L. Benton Building, Courthouse East, and the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse. The contract was awarded after more than 12 months of cooperative research and analysis with the Department of Public Works' (DPW) Bureau of General Services.

According to Johnson Controls, the facility improvements being made as part of this contract entail no cost to the city over the life of the contract. The improvements will instead pay for themselves over time through guaranteed energy and operational savings. This allows the city to upgrade aging infrastructure while maintaining or reducing budget outlays. In addition to equipment replacements, the project also establishes a long-term plan to implement a comprehensive energy and operational efficiency program, which will enable the city of Baltimore to use future savings to fund additional improvements.

"The energy conservation measures and facility improvements included within this project have been selected due to their ability to maximize energy and water savings," said Jeff Crenshaw, director of public sector business at Johnson Controls. "This will provide operational benefits to be realized by the city of Baltimore and address needed facility improvement measures for years to come."

Johnson Controls worked with Baltimore's DPW Bureau of General Services with the goal of achieving annual energy and operational savings while at the same time providing significant environmental improvements to the buildings.

"Without entering into a performance contract, the facility upgrades needed to reduce spending on energy and water would not be possible with our current budget," said George Winfield, director of Baltimore's DPW. "The relationship with Johnson Controls will allow us to improve key city buildings without placing an additional burden on the taxpayers."

Some of the measures to be implemented include:

Environmental system restoration - improve building comfort and performance.

Lighting retrofits - enhance lighting and reduce energy costs.

Water conservation projects - reduce water consumption.

Facility management system - improve operations and efficiency.

Measurement and verification services - assure financial performance.

Comprehensive support services program - protect infrastructure investments.

Publication date: 10/25/2004