NEW YORK — ABM announced that its ABM Building Services business has been selected by the Franklin City, Virginia, Public Schools to implement a district-wide energy and facility improvement project through ABM’s Bundled Energy Solutions program. The project is expected to improve the schools’ energy efficiency, comfort, indoor air quality, and lighting conditions, enhancing the overall learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. In addition to improved facility conditions, Franklin City Public Schools is expected to save more than $1.8 million in energy and operating costs over the next 15 years based on current energy prices.

ABM’s Bundled Energy Solutions program is designed to meet clients’ technical facility needs and sustainability goals by driving energy-related costs out of a client’s operating budget, allowing savings to be reallocated to fund mission critical facility needs.

“We are very excited about the improvements that will be made in our schools. In addition to increasing operating efficiency, the project will enhance the overall learning environments for our students and staff,” said Dr. Michelle R. Belle, superintendent of Franklin City Public Schools. “ABM Building Services has helped us find a feasible way to make facility and equipment upgrades without burdening our general budget. The money we expect to save in utility and maintenance costs will be utilized to fund the much-needed improvements within our facilities.”

Energy and facility upgrades to be made throughout Franklin City’s three schools include: installing new high-efficiency LED lights and occupancy control devices, reducing the amount of energy wasted by inefficient lighting; replacing and retro-commissioning HVAC equipment with state-of-the-art systems, providing more fresh air to the schools and improving humidity control; replacing out of commission kitchen equipment; and upgrading building automation controls, allowing for more convenient operation and better management of energy used.

“School systems are under some of the greatest pressure we have seen in our lifetime,” said Scott Giacobbe, president of ABM Building & Energy Solutions. “While tax bases and resources are shrinking fast, student performance expectations are at an all-time high. The solutions developed in partnership with Franklin City Public Schools will revitalize the schools’ infrastructure, reduce costs, and are funded within the client’s current operating budget. We are proud to be a partner with Franklin City Public Schools and to be a part of this long-term solution.”

For more information, visit www.abm.com.

Publication date: 7/7/2014