Leadership
The State of New Hampshire has separate state statues for Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracting (GESPC) in each of the four public market sectors: state agencies, local units of government, universities, and K-12 school districts. The statues allow for scope of works that includes all measures that pay for themselves in energy savings, water savings, and renewable technologies, as well as avoided future costs. Other details in statue include 20 year limits on contracts, and a requirement for a savings guarantee.
In the past there have been examples where the verified savings have exceeded the guarantee. Success stories include:
- Claremont School District’s GESPC exceeded its guarantee for the first full year of operation. The savings in energy costs in the first full year of operation — June 2015 to June 2016 — was $260,000, which was $30,000 more than the guarantee. In the summer of 2015 the school district signed a $3.57 million GESPC for energy upgrades including installation of a biomass boiler at Stevens High School, a wood pellet boiler at the middle school, window replacement, water conservation equipment and new insulation.
- The Cannon Mountain ski area expects to reduce energy consumption by about 30 percent while at the same time increasing snowmaking capabilities. Cannon Mountain is owned by the state, which in 2016 signed a $5.1 million GESPC contract for energy improvements. The measures include replacement of the main trunk power line house, transformer upgrades, installation of 388 high efficiency tower snowmaking guns and lighting and weatherization upgrades. Savings from the project will pay off the bond in 16 years. The state’s goal is to reduce energy consumption at the ski area by 50 percent by 2030.
- In 2015, the City of Dover received the fourth annual report detailing its energy performance and infrastructure improvements. During the time period from Nov. 28, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2015, the City saved $354,849 from the measures implemented under its energy performance contract. Projected cost savings for the fourth year of implementation were $346,603. The report indicates costs savings were above the guaranteed cost avoidance by $8,246. Savings realized by the project during the fourth year of the contract include $108,538 for electricity; $182,821 for thermal systems, and $14,262 for water and sewer. According to the report, the original annual savings guarantee of $304,510 includes $256,990 in energy cost avoidance, $13,680 in operations and maintenance cost avoidance, and a future capital cost avoidance of $33,840. This initial savings guarantee was increased from the original amount to $319,463 due to a lighting retrofit project at the McConnell Center. The annual guaranteed energy savings amount escalates by 3 percent and the operations and maintenance savings escalates by 4 percent each year to compensate for inflation. When those escalations are added in, the guaranteed savings was projected at $346,603. Annual energy savings for the schools is expected to be nearly 900,000 kWh. The Easton Middle School and Oliver Ames High School solar arrays follow many successful energy efficiency projects in Easton, including the Town’s ongoing energy efficiency performance contract and associated improvements to municipal and school facilities which is projected to save $250,000 in energy costs annually, while improving indoor air quality and comfort conditions in the buildings.aranteed cost avoidance by $8,245. Savings realized by the project during the fourth year of the contract include $108,538 for electricity; $182,821 for thermal systems; and $14,261 for water and sewer. According to the report, the original annual savings guarantee of $304,510 includes $256,990 in energy cost avoidance, $13,680 in operations and maintenance cost avoidance, and a future capital cost avoidance of $33,840. This initial savings guarantee was increased from the original amount to $319,463 due to a lighting retrofit project at the McConnell Center. The annual guaranteed energy savings amount escalates by 3 percent and the operations and maintenance savings escalates by 4 percent each year to compensate for inflation. When those escalations are added in, the guaranteed savings was projected at $346,603.
Program
The New Hampshire GESPC program administrator has multiple program responsibilities in addition to performance contract. The state program benchmarks K-12 facilities and community and technical colleges, in addition to tracking state GESPC projects.
ESC Chapter
The New Hampshire ESC Chapter is currently inactive.