Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
The 144-year-old Connecticut Valley Hospital campus in Middletown will receive a $30 million renovation as the inaugural project in the state's new program to significantly reduce government energy consumption.
The Connecticut Lead by Example Energy Efficiency Performance Contracting program allows state and municipal agencies to partner with pre-approved contractors — at no upfront costs — on projects that will reduce environmental impact and cut electric and heating expenses.
“Now that it is ready to go, it is going to achieve huge returns,” said Alex Kragie, deputy chief of staff for the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. “This is a big deal in saving money for the taxpayers and doing so in a constrained budget environment.”
In its $30 million agreement with Massachusetts contractor Noresco, the 50-building Connecticut Valley Hospital mental health campus will receive upgraded lighting and controls, an improved heating and cooling system, new windows, a system modernization, and possibly a co-generation system to work with new boilers.
Long-term, the campus's administrator — the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) — is looking to install a solar hot water array and a 1 megawatt solar electric system under the contract.
“With the cost savings, we will be able to spend that money on other things,” said Steve Hecimovich, DMHAS chief of engineering services.
The performance contracting program is similar to the state's C-PACE program for businesses. As with the companies participating in C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy), the government agencies using the new program will commit no upfront money to cover the improvements and the expenses are paid down through the energy savings achieved through the projects.
In addition to Connecticut Valley Hospital, DEEP expects to announce three other performance contracts in the coming weeks totaling $70 million: the Department of Correction for several of its facilities; the Department of Motor Vehicles for its Wethersfield office; and the city of Bristol for several municipal facilities.
“We are looking to focus more on municipalities as the program advances,” Kragie said.
Performance contracting is an extension of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's Lead by Example program calling on government facilities to increase their energy efficiency. In the original phase, the state invested $10 million upfront to perform 41 projects at state and municipal buildings.
For the performance contracting program, the agencies have no upfront investment and all of the contract language has been pre-approved by the Attorney General's Office, so the contracting process will bypass most of the typical bureaucratic delays.
“The process was very smooth. That was one of the positive parts on this,” said Daniel Robertson, DMHAS building construction specialist.
When the Connecticut Valley Hospital improvements are finished, DMHAS expects to save roughly $2 million annually, Hecimovich said.
If the upgrades don't achieve the projected energy savings, the contractor must pay the difference to the government agency, Kragie said, ensuring Connecticut taxpayers remain whole regardless of the long-term outcome.
Noresco, a subsidiary of Hartford conglomerate United Technologies Corp., plans on emphasizing use of in-state contractors in the Connecticut Valley Hospital project, said Charles Wheeler, Noresco regional Northeast general manager.
“When constructed, the project is expected to provide substantial energy and cost savings to taxpayers, reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, and lower harmful emissions and greenhouse gases,” Wheeler said.
DEEP and the Attorney General's Office spent a year and a half finalizing the performance contracting program. With everything in place, the state will expedite its advance toward its goal of reducing state agency energy use 20 percent by 2018, said Kragie.
“It is the second state booster rocket,” Kragie said. “It is the primary tool we will use to meet our legislative mandate.”
Connecticut has preapproved 12 contractors for state and municipal agencies to use in the new performance contracting program.
Ameresco
ConEdison Solutions
Energy Solutions Professionals
Energy Systems Group
Honeywell
Johnson Controls
McKinstry
Noresco
Pepco Energy Services
Schneider Electric
Siemens
Trane
This special edition informs and connects businesses with nonprofit organizations that are aligned with what they care about. Each nonprofit profile provides a crisp snapshot of the organization’s mission, goals, area of service, giving and volunteer opportunities and board leadership.
Learn moreHartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
SubscribeDelivering Vital Marketplace Content and Context to Senior Decision Makers Throughout Greater Hartford and the State ... All Year Long!
Read HereThis special edition informs and connects businesses with nonprofit organizations that are aligned with what they care about. Each nonprofit profile provides a crisp snapshot of the organization’s mission, goals, area of service, giving and volunteer opportunities and board leadership.
Hartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
Delivering Vital Marketplace Content and Context to Senior Decision Makers Throughout Greater Hartford and the State ... All Year Long!
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Our privacy policy
To ensure the best experience on our website, articles cannot be read without allowing cookies. Please allow cookies to continue reading. Our privacy policy
0 Comments