DALLAS — Schneider Electric announced the start of construction on a $4,207,972 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) project with the Yazoo County School District in Yazoo City, Mississippi. The comprehensive energy efficiency project will transform the district’s high school by implementing state-of-the art infrastructure upgrades and improve campus safety throughout the district. The project is expected to reduce the Yazoo County School District’s utility budget by 26 percent, saving over $92,000 in annual energy expenses or $2.5 million over the life of the project.

The Yazoo County School District faced aging infrastructure challenges including a failing chiller system at the high school and poor exterior lighting, which caused uncomfortable classrooms and unsafe campus environments. Working with Schneider Electric, the district leveraged the ESPC funding model to improve energy efficiency in three school buildings — its high school, middle school, and Linwood Elementary — to enable a safer and more comfortable learning environment. Upon completion of the project, the high school will receive a new HVAC and boiler system and updated drop ceiling to improve occupant comfort. All three school buildings will receive new interior and exterior lighting for increased safety, updated plumbing fixtures, an IT enterprise management system, and centralized building automation systems to increase visibility into energy management.