First Higher Ed Contract Under Clinton Climate Initiative Signed

Lee College has entered into an energy savings performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. to perform energy retrofits on its campus in Baytown, TX. Lee College is the first signed contract for a higher education institution under the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), part of which is an Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program. The program, announced in 2007, focuses on reducing energy consumption of existing public and private buildings in 16 of the C40 cities. (The 16 cities to initially take part are Bangkok, Berlin, Chicago, Houston, Johannesburg, Karachi, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, Mumbai, New York, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo, and Toronto.)

CCI’s Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program brings together many of the world’s largest cities, real estate firms, financial institutions, and energy service companies in an effort to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings across the municipal, institutional, commercial, private, educational, and public housing sectors.

Read TFM‘s coverage of the CCI program from the August 2007 issue.

When the contract between Johnson Controls and Lee College is complete, all 35 of the college’s facilities will be retrofitted. Specific improvements include adding a building management system, installing energy efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting products. Upon completion, total electric consumption will be reduced by approximately 35%, and energy and water costs will be reduced by 32%.

The "Arena" will be one of 35 buildings at Lee College to undergo energy efficiency retrofits.
The "Arena" will be one of 35 buildings at Lee College to undergo energy efficiency retrofits.

Lee College recently signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). ACUPCC and CCI are partnering to increase the number of large scale energy saving retrofits for campus buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills without using capital budgets or increasing monthly operating expenses.

“This project will result in cost and energy savings for the College, and improve the environment for our students and faculty,” said Dr. Dennis Topper, interim President at Lee College. “We chose to work with Johnson Controls because of its proven global track record. With the help of Johnson Controls, our commitment to ACUPCC and the Clinton Climate Initiative, we can serve as a responsible role model to other colleges, nationwide.”

“Businesses of all types, globally and in every market segment are actively fighting rising energy costs, and energy efficiency is becoming their primary measurable action,” said Clay Nesler, vice president of global energy and sustainability for Johnson Controls. “Our work with Lee College demonstrates what can be done to advance building efficiency and save energy.”

Johnson Controls signed the first Project Development Agreement under the CCI in February 2008. That project, with K Raheja Corp, one of India’s largest realty and construction developers, was to retrofit Inorbit Mall, the largest mall in Mumbai.