ANDOVER, Mass. — Schneider Electric announced the completion of a $3.4 million infrastructure improvement project at four district schools at the Keystone Oaks School District in Pittsburgh. The project is expected to significantly improve classroom comfort and reduce the district’s annual energy and maintenance costs by 18 percent, which equals $106,000 per year.

The Keystone Oaks School District faced frequent failures and maintenance issues with its aging HVAC and control systems, which led to inconsistent temperatures and comfort complaints in many classrooms. In addition, the district faced significant financial constraints due to a nine-month state budget impasse that cut off critical funding needed for capital improvements. To address these challenges, the district enlisted Schneider Electric to perform an energy efficiency project to upgrade and service HVAC components and install new building automation systems, ensuring consistent temperatures at the district’s middle school and three elementary schools. Teachers can now adjust the temperature in their classrooms as needed, and the district will avoid wasted energy and costs from heating and cooling unoccupied rooms. The project was funded in part by an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), where utility and operational savings are used to fund renovations and the remainder was funded through traditional procure measures.