Trent Partners with Ameresco on Major Energy Consumption and Infrastructure Improvements
Over 20 campus buildings to be upgraded to enhance comfort, deliver energy savings and reduce the University’s carbon footprint
Trent University has announced that it has selected Ameresco Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), to renew and upgrade campus infrastructure through the Campus Renewal Partnership (CRP), a facility-renewal plan funded through energy savings.
The $15.5 million project, which has been approved by the Trent University’s Board of Governors, is expected to save the University more than $1.5 million in avoided energy costs annually for a nine-year term, and includes energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades to 26 buildings and 126,000 square metres of space on the Symons Campus and Traill College. The retrofits are expected to enhance comfort levels in campus buildings, and are in keeping with the University’s mandate to enhance environmental sustainability on campus, as well as in the greater community.
“Trent University is a proud leader in sustainability among post-secondary education institutions,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “By supporting the economic vitality of our neighbouring community while supporting improved learning spaces for our students, this partnership with Ameresco is enabling us to enhance the University environment for our students, faculty and staff, while being more environmentally sustainable and adding value to the entire Peterborough and Trent communities.”
Steven Pillar, Trent’s vice president, Finance and Administration, added, “This project will yield immediate cost-savings for Trent University, but more importantly, it will result in an over-achievement of our energy reduction targets set in our five-year Energy Conservation Plan and a simple payback of nine years. The partnership with Ameresco will create more efficient buildings and reduce our energy use, allowing us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint by approximately 2,650 metric tonnes of CO2 annually -- the equivalent of planting 20.5 acres of trees, or taking 563 cars off the road.”
“Ameresco is honoured to be partnering with Trent University to provide budget-neutral solutions that support the University’s sustainability platform and will help the University achieve its sustainability goals,” said Bob McCullough, president of Ameresco Canada. “Students, faculty and staff will not only benefit from the campus improvements, the community will also benefit from lower greenhouse gas emissions.”
The Campus Renewal Partnership will include an approximate two-year construction period, during which many infrastructure upgrades, as well as energy conservation measures, will be undertaken. The following upgrades will enhance the quality of the teaching and learning environments: new and re-commissioned air handling units (AHU)/variable air volume (VAV) conversions, which drastically improve ventilation and air quality; pool AHU; HVAC control systems/redesign and equipment; VSD pumps; heating boilers; domestic hot water (DHW) boiler replacement and electric heat conversion, all improving temperature comfort; lighting retrofits, which are not only more efficient but also improve colour rendition and visibility; micro cogeneration; and energy recovery systems, for more reliable back-up power.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Ameresco’s services include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco provides local expertise through its more than 70 offices and more than 900 employees.
Ameresco has worked with campuses across North America to stabilize and reduce ongoing utility costs through energy infrastructure upgrades, including complete campus plant solutions and environmental education outreach. Ameresco partners with organizations on projects of all sizes with its budget-neutral Campus Renewal Partnership (CRP) model, from modernizing a single facility to providing comprehensive campus-wide retrofits and sustainability measures.
These projects are financed primarily with future energy savings, without the need for up-front capital investment, and are designed and built as best-in-class energy-efficient and renewable energy solutions. The goal is to create a more comfortable learning and working environment for students, faculty and staff while reducing waste and the carbon footprint generated by inefficient equipment and aging infrastructure.
Ameresco has implemented Campus Renewal Partnerships at McMaster University, Carleton University, Laurentian University, Bishop’s University, University of Windsor, University of Western Ontario, CEGEP John Abbot College, St. Lawrence College, Neill Wycik Cooperative College, Western State College of Colorado, Medical University of South Carolina, Washington and Lee University, University of Kentucky, Community College of Rhode Island, Kenyon College, OH, and Olympic College, WA, and North America’s largest university, Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona.
The announcement of a customer’s entry into or commencement of a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company’s overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company’s overall total construction backlog. This project was included in Ameresco’s previously reported awarded projects as of September 30, 2015 and is included in our fully contracted backlog as of December 31, 2015.
For more information contact:
Kate Weersink, media relations & strategic communications officer, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x6180 or kateweersink@trentu.ca
CarolAnn Hibbard, vice president, strategic marketing and communications, Ameresco, (508) 661-2264 or news@ameresco.com
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