In the city of Temple Terrace, Florida, an extensive audit of its public buildings conducted by HVAC construction contractor ABM Industries revealed 57 percent of the surveyed HVAC equipment was 15 years or older. 

With many of the units showing signs of deterioration, officials decided it was time for a cost-effective, energy-efficient upgrade.

ABM used its energy performance contracting program, which acts as a guide to meet a client’s facility needs and sustainability goals. Together, city officials and ABM created a financial program through Temple Terrace’s community investment tax funds to procure $3 million worth of infrastructure improvements.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to upgrade our facilities, reduce energy costs and eliminate maintenance headaches -— all with great financial benefits for the city and no burden on our taxpayers,” said Michael Dunn, public information officer for Temple Terrace.

With a detailed list of the city’s assets, conditions and expenses, ABM created a project plan outlining costs and energy-efficient upgrades, such as installing new HVAC equipment and LED lighting, adding state-of-the-art HVAC controls and fortifying building envelopes. The program’s energy savings, averaging more than $95,000 per year, will be monitored by ABM for 15 years of the contract to ensure the city receives the full amount.