Performance contracting works everywhere, but Cheshire
From Engineered Systems - March 2001:
Community expectations for academic excellence run high at Glenbrook High School District 225, which consistently ranks among the top public schools in Illinois and among the nation's highest-rated districts for academic achievement. Established in 1953, Glenbrook High School District 225 has earned high marks on the national academic achievement scale.
Two campuses, Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South, serve a total student population of over 4,000 students with over 430 faculty, staff members, and administrators. School officials decided in 1999 to redraft their facilities master plan to expand and update their two campuses serving the 36 square miles of Glenview and Northbrook villages. This time, however, the operative words were "creative financing." The reason: the district had aggressive plans to pour at least $60 million worth of improvements into the system's facilities over the next two years.
Dr. Craig Shilling, Glenbrook's assistant superintendent for business affairs, explains that one of the keys to implementing such an enormous amount of work was a performance contract for between $6 million to $8 million in energy-related improvement measures. Initially, he reasoned, this type of work could be used to "jump-start" the master plan initiatives by providing the financial impetus for the initial phases.
GETTING STARTED
Following a competitive bidding process that involved five different suppliers, Siemens Building Technologies (Buffalo Grove, IL) was awarded the contract. Beginning with a thorough site analysis of both Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South campuses, Siemens developed a comprehensive, fast-track program designed to meet the district's specific needs.
The Siemens solution was a two-phase, 10-year, $8.6 million performance contract that involved energy conservation and facility improvement measures to improve indoor comfort, air quality, and lighting levels in over 1 million sq ft of school facilities.
Then in 2003, the Glenbrook BOE expanded their performance contract with Siemens... but performance contracts don't work in Cheshire!
Seriously though, I still can't believe the diversionary and obstructionist tactics that were being hurled at me on Thursday. Maybe Republicans should have used this same tactic in 2006 - "Don't blame us for our inaction. It was incumbent on Nancy Pelosi to explain to us how to end the Culture of Corruption!"
Tim White
1 comment:
Performance based energy contracting has been in place for over 20 years. Hotels, large commercial buildings, industrial developments all have implemented this idea. Prove of concept is not the issue. Lack of understanding, the not invented here syndrome, the idea is different and I may be seen as a non-expert in this field, I will not have control over the project or the cash flow/savings is not as predictable as I would like, shall I go on?
A proven method to save money, allow others to take on the risk and the host gains great benefit. The reason Cheshire refuses to consider this opportunity is because there is no leadership, no direction and no vision. As with everything else in Town I'm sure there are political reasons but his is not the time or place as there is insufficient data to make that conclusion.
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