Chevron Energy Solutions Completes

Chevron Energy Solutions Completes $6.4 Million Energy Efficiency Improvement Program for Mississippi Schools

Sep 03 - PRNewswire

GULFPORT, Miss., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit of ChevronTexaco Corp. , today announced that it has completed for the Harrison County School District comprehensive facility improvements that will save the district over $390,000 annually. Implemented at 20 facilities through an energy savings performance contract, the program involved upgrading building infrastructures by replacing old, inefficient equipment to reduce energy expenses and improve indoor comfort.

Under the contract, future energy cost savings associated with new, high- efficiency equipment are guaranteed by Chevron Energy Solutions, enabling the district to finance the installations with a much smaller initial investment than would be needed under traditional financing methods. This form of contracting has been popular among schools and other public institutions because it enables them to retain scarce capital resources for other critical needs while benefiting from facility upgrades and reduced energy costs.

Chevron Energy Solutions worked with district officials to develop a program that included:

-- a district-wide lighting retrofit involving fluorescent lamp

conversions and new exit signs that employ Light Emitting Diode (LED)

technology,

-- new electric digital thermostats in classrooms,

-- two new boilers and hot water pumps,

-- new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at two

schools,

-- a centralized energy management system,

-- water conservation retrofits, and

-- a web-based energy information system, UtilityVision(R), that provides

remote access to real-time energy data on each facility to improve

maintenance and energy management.

The energy savings from these upgrades will pay for about $4 million of the $6.4 million project, with the remainder being financed by the district.

"In completing this project, Chevron Energy Solutions has guaranteed that the school district will slash its energy bills," said Henry Arledge, Harrison County Schools Superintendent. "We're very pleased to have achieved this result, along with the improvements to our school facilities, without depleting our capital budget."

Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions, underscored the value of the performance contract project to the district. "We applaud the vision of Superintendent Arledge and his team to improve the condition of Harrison County schools while retaining tax dollars for education," said Davis. "Through this project, the district is providing the students, faculty and staff with a better, more comfortable learning environment, while realizing the additional benefits of lower energy costs."

Chevron Energy Solutions has begun the monitoring phase of the energy savings performance contract, and will provide monthly reports to school officials detailing energy savings in each of the facilities. Through yearly onsite visits and by monitoring energy usage patterns, the company will also provide the district with strategies for capturing additional savings.

Chevron Energy Solutions partners with institutions and businesses to improve facilities and increase their efficiency, help reduce energy expenses and help ensure reliable, high quality power for critical operations. Its customers include federal government agencies; state, county and municipal government agencies; schools, colleges and universities; and many other public institutions and commercial and industrial businesses. With about two dozen offices nationwide, the company maintains in-house engineering, monitoring and project management capabilities, provides financing options and delivers solutions designed to address each customer's particular needs without promoting specific vendors, products or commodities. For more information about Chevron Energy Solutions, please visit http://www.chevronenergy.com/ .

Contacts:

Steve Spurgeon, Chevron Energy Solutions -- +1 913-563-3609

Cathy Garner, Harrison County Schools -- +1 228 539-6538

Chevron Energy Solutions

CONTACT: Steve Spurgeon of Chevron Energy Solutions, +1-913-563-3609;Cathy Garner of Harrison County Schools, +1-228-539-6538

Web site: http://www.chevronenergy.com/

For far more extensive news on the energy/power visit: http://www.energycentral.com .