When engaging with an energy savings company to enhance energy efficiency within a school district, a school superintendent should ask pertinent questions to ensure a successful partnership. Here are five crucial questions to ask the ESCO you are proposing to work with:
1. Scope of Services:
- What specific energy-saving solutions does your company offer?
- Can you provide a detailed breakdown of how each solution will contribute to energy savings within our schools?
- How customizable are your services to accommodate the unique needs and infrastructure of our district?
2. Cost-Benefit Analysis:
- How will the proposed energy-efficient upgrades impact our operational costs and budget over the short and long term?
- Can you present case studies or examples from other schools that demonstrate the financial benefits achieved through your services?
- Are there any potential rebates, incentives, or financing options available to offset the upfront costs of implementing these solutions?
3. Performance Measurement and Reporting:
- How do you track and measure the energy savings resulting from the implemented solutions?
- What tools or technologies do you use to provide real-time monitoring and reporting on energy consumption?
- Can you outline the frequency and depth of the reports we will receive to assess the progress of the energy-saving initiatives?
4. Environmental Impact:
- How does your company prioritize environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in your energy-saving solutions?
- What metrics or certifications do you use to quantify the reduction in our carbon footprint as a result of these initiatives?
- Can you share examples of successful projects that not only achieved energy savings but also contributed positively to the environment?
5. Long-Term Partnership and Support:
- What level of ongoing maintenance and support do you provide once the energy-efficient solutions are implemented?
- How do you ensure that the implemented systems continue to perform optimally and deliver the projected savings over time?
- Are there opportunities for training our staff to maximize the benefits of these energy-saving technologies?
These questions will help the school superintendent evaluate the energy savings an ESOC’s expertise, offerings, and alignment with the school district’s goals. A transparent and comprehensive discussion will ultimately lead to informed decisions that benefit the schools, students, and the environment.
Navitas helps schools with their deferred maintenance and energy efficiency projects. Our approach is to work collaboratively with our clients to ensure we have an agreed upon understanding of the challenges. With this, we create a development approach that includes all your staff, at every level of your organization, necessary to solve the challenges.