NORESCO Helps FAA Reduce Water, Energy Use

Calif. project lowers water, energy consumption by 40 percent, saves $9.3 million

NORESCO, a national leader in energy efficiency and energy infrastructure solutions, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently showcased new renewable energy and water efficiency improvements at FAA Northern California TRACON, a regional radar control center. NORESCO specializes in the development, design, construction, financing and operation of energy- and environmental-efficiency projects and is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

The project features a 1-megawatt photovoltaic system that can meet 50 percent of the center’s annual electricity needs. The photovoltaic system was funded through the sale of renewable power to the FAA. A portion of the power is produced from photovoltaic-covered parking structures, which serve as a renewable energy plant that provides charging stations for electric vehicles, and offers shaded, covered parking for employees at the site.

NORESCO also provided lighting and controls upgrades, and water conservation through innovative xeriscape landscaping, which reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation. Additionally, by using locally recycled tire rubber as mulch for the hardscape, the project prevented more than 60,000 tires from entering landfills.

Among the first of its kind in the continental United States, the project established an energy services agreement within a traditional energy savings performance contract (ESPC). NORESCO implemented the ESPC project.

Combining savings from the solar power system with the other energy-saving measures, the site will save $9.3 million over the 20-year contract term. Overall, the project will reduce water and energy usage by 40 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent. The project is also designed to improve operations, reduce maintenance costs and improve comfort and operating conditions for the staff at this critical 24/7 facility.

Neil Petchers, president and chief executive officer, NORESCO, joined Michael Huerta, FAA administrator, and Rob Kerth, board president at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, at a recent event showcasing the project.

“Federal agencies are operating under specific mandates for the reduction of energy and water use. We believe that well-structured and well-executed performance contracts can help agencies meet and exceed their energy and water reduction and infrastructure improvement goals in the most cost-effective manner,” Petchers said. “The FAA project is an innovative example of how renewable energy projects can be structured within an ESPC project framework. NORESCO is proud to be a part of it.”

For more information about NORESCO and its services, including a time-lapse video that captures the construction of the solar project and xeriscaping, visit www.noresco.com.

About NORESCO
As one of the largest energy services companies in the U.S., NORESCO utilizes design-build, performance-based contracting vehicles and asset monetization solutions to deliver energy and maintenance savings and significant infrastructure upgrades to existing facilities. NORESCO has guaranteed more than $3 billion in energy and operating cost savings at more than 7,000 facilities throughout the U.S. and abroad. NORESCO also offers a full suite of consulting services to integrate sustainable design strategies into new construction and existing buildings. NORESCO is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.noresco.com.