"The agreement with Siemens gives Pitt County a long-term, budget-neutral solution for improving the comfort and efficiency of our government buildings," said Phil Dickerson, deputy county manager for public services.

Siemens will upgrade the HVAC systems in various government buildings, including the installation of new digital HVAC controls in two county facilities, and the replacement of the chiller that currently serves the county's mental health and public health buildings with a newer, more efficient unit.

To further reduce utility costs, Siemens will help lower - by an estimated $58,000 per year - the electric utility costs associated with the operation of the emergency generation system that serves the detention center and administration building. This will be accomplished via a peak-shaving, fuel-switching application, installed by Siemens and operated by the local Greenville Utility Commission. The county also plans to save more than $10,000 per year in energy costs through an EPA Energy Star-rated electric power management system that will automatically turn off up to 850 desktop computers in county facilities when not in use.

Siemens will also upgrade the lighting in 24 government buildings by retrofitting more than 6,900 lamps with energy-efficient lighting provided by sister company Osram Sylvania. This is projected to save Pitt County more than 1.5 million kWh of electricity each year.

The upgraded systems and products are valued at nearly $2.7 million, but the performance contract allows Pitt County to avoid upfront capital expenditures and pay for the project's costs over a 12-year period, using the savings achieved through increased energy and operational efficiency. Siemens guarantees Pitt County energy and operational savings of $308,600 a year.

Publication date: 09/12/2005