Education Will Be the Largest Market for Energy Service Companies in the United States Through 2020
 

Rebounding from a tough two years of slowing growth, the energy service company (ESCO) market in the United States is expected to resume its expansion in the coming years. The primary markets for ESCOs include K-12 schools, state and local governments, universities and colleges, and hospitals. According to a recent report from Navigant Research, education – combining K-12 and universities/colleges – will be the largest market segment for ESCOs, representing more than $22 billion in cumulative revenue from 2013 through 2020.

“The ESCO market continues to be concentrated in municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals, known as the ‘MUSH’ market”

“The ESCO market continues to be concentrated in municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals, known as the ‘MUSH’ market,” says Eric Bloom, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “K-12 schools, which present the largest opportunity for ESCOs, are designed to last for many decades, and many public school buildings in operation today are characterized by out-of-date HVAC, lighting, and control systems that could benefit considerably from system upgrades.”

For facility managers, school boards, mayors’ offices, and other K-12 stakeholders, energy is rarely the chief concern. Other priorities, such as teacher salaries and curriculum development, tend to command more attention than energy-related matters.

As a result, many ESCOs find that success in the K-12 sector involves the ability to address a wide range of concerns that go beyond energy in facilities, such as replacing roofs and facades and upgrading interior furnishings, according to the report.

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