University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Performance Services Sign $19.3 Million Energy Contract

Project will reduce university's energy usage by 32 percent

ENERGY EFFICIENT UPGRADES: STEM Building, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN T. WILLIAMS

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Performance Services, a design-build energy performance contractor based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) have signed a $19.3 million energy performance contract through the Arkansas Energy Performance Contracting (AEPC) Program. The project will deliver LED lighting, water, building envelope, HVAC, and controls upgrades across campus. Additionally, the campus' chilled water loop will be optimized and re-engineered for maximum efficiency. The keystone of the project is a 321 kWh photovoltaic solar array that will rank as the largest public solar installation in Arkansas once completed.

The UAPB energy performance project is the largest of its kind completed under the AEPC Program. Once completed, the project will decrease UAPB's energy consumption by a sizeable 32 percent, making it the first state university to meet the 30 percent energy reduction mandate signed into law by Act 1494 of 2009. Energy savings from these improvements are guaranteed by Performance Services to cover the costs of installation on an annual basis over 19 years.

"We're thrilled to be working with Performance Services to make significant strides to improve our energy infrastructure. These upgrades will benefit everyone in the Golden Lion community," said Dr. Laurence B. Alexander, chancellor of UAPB.

UAPB and Performance Services worked with the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), administrator of the AEPC Program, to develop the project. The office offers assistance to state agencies, institutions of higher learning, municipalities, and counties through its seven-step AEPC program. "This project quite demonstrably shows UAPB's commitment to environmental sustainability and campus improvement on a large scale," said Chet Howland, energy program manager for AEO. "Further, the economic benefits of such an undertaking cannot be understated, as we estimate the project will result in an economic impact of more than $60 million to Jefferson County and Pine Bluff while remaining budget neutral for the university."

For more information, visit http://performanceservices.com.

Publication date: 2/6/2017

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