Technical Overview
Project Type: NORESCO identified, engineered, financed and implemented energy conservation measures
designed to reduce energy consumption. The Company continues to be responsible for
operation and maintenance of much of the equipment installed at the college.
Facility Description: Public college campus, 12 buildings, 302,494 square feet
Contract Term: 20-year Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)
Financing: ESPC financed by NORESCO
Installation Period: Summer 1998 - Summer 1999
Project Summary
NORESCO project engineered and implemented energy conservation measures that included:
Exterior Lighting Upgrades and Controls
Upgrading controls for the parking lot lights, replacing mercury vapor roadway and pathway
lights with efficient high-pressure sodium lamps and ballasts, and replacing halogen downlights
at the library entrance with high-pressure sodium lamps and fixtures.
Premium-Efficiency Motors
Replacing approximately 20 standard-efficiency motors with premium-efficiency models.
Conversion of Cooking Equipment to Gas
Converting cooking equipment located in the Commons Building from electric to gas appliances.
Library Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Conversion
Switching from an electric to fuel cell-driven HVAC system, interconnecting the hot water
discharge from the fuel cell to replace the electric hot water boiler and converting the six
electric reheat coils in the ground floor mechanical room to hot water coils.
Arts/Auditorium HVAC Conversion
Replacing all air handling unit (AHU) electric coils with hot water coils connected to a
gas-fired boiler.
Science Labs HVAC Conversion
Replacing all AHU electric coils with hot water coils connected to a gas-fired boiler. Installing a
new laboratory vacuum system.
Maintenance Building HVAC Conversions
Replacing electric wall-mounted heater units with indirect gas-fired unit heaters in
selected locations.
Variable Frequency Drives
Installing variable frequency drives on selected air handling units to save electrical energy
when fans are operating at part load.
Energy Management System Upgrade
Replacing the old EMS with a new upgraded, Y2K-compliant system. Installing direct digital
controls, integrating the Ethernet communications network with the EMS and enhancing the
entire system.
Fuel Cell
Installing 200 kW ONSI fuel cell power plant powered by natural gas.
Measurement and Verification
Verification of the energy savings is accomplished with individual baseline methods for each
improvement. Using calculation methods detailed in the energy audit, NORESCO establishes the
critical variables. In general, the current month's energy usage is subtracted from the energy
usage in the corresponding month of the base year. The base year's energy usage is adjusted
(for weather conditions, etc.) to reflect the conditions of the current month, per the contract
correction factors. The resulting net positive value is the energy savings. Each month, the
applicable cost of energy is applied to the energy reduction to determine the energy-cost savings.
Customer Comments
"The project is a key element in this institution's commitment to state-of-the-art technology and
the infrastructure to support it well into the new millennium. By combining modernization with
significant financial benefits, we achieve our goals at little or no additional cost to the taxpayer
and lay the foundation for future growth in a very fiscally responsible manner. NORESCO'S expertise
and guidance through this process has been a critical element in the total project's success."
- College President Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg
NORESCO Comments
"Cape Cod Community College is implementing not only a fiscally responsible energy-saving
solution for the school but also an environmentally responsible one for the surrounding
community. The college has high standards for itself and is a role model for other colleges,
universities, schools and businesses."
- NORESCO President Ted O'Brien
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