Southeast guaranteed to save $250,000 a year on utility bills under contract to modernize HVAC, lighting and water systems

Southeast Kentucky Community amp; Technical College (SKCTC) is guaranteed to save approximately $250,000 a year by upgrading the colleges heating, air conditioning, lighting and water systems. The upgrades will pay for themselves in lower utility bills for the college over the next 14 years.

The energy solutions project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2,300 tons per year; according to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 380 passenger cars from the roads or planting 480 acres of trees.

The Kentucky Finance Cabinet has signed a contract with Honeywell to upgrade the major energy-using systems at all SKCTC facilities in Cumberland, Whitesburg, Pineville, Middlesboro and Harlan.

The cost of upgrading the colleges energy systems will be $3.19 million, which will be repaid with the money saved through lower utility bills over the 14-year contact. As part of the contract, Honeywell guarantees the energy savings and will reimburse the state if the savings goals are not accomplished.

The best part of this contract is, that after 14 years, all of the money we save on utility bills will go toward educating students, said Dr. W. Bruce Ayers, president and CEO of SKCTC.

Honeywell will immediately be replacing inefficient lighting in 14 of SKCTCs buildings in Harlan, Bell and Letcher counties. The company will also be replacing exterior lighting with more efficient bulbs and equipment.

More time-consuming and costly changes will be made to the heating and air conditioning systems on SKCTCs campuses and centers. One of the major improvements will be the addition of a centralized heating and air conditioning control system for all of SKCTCs buildings. Other improvements will see the replacement of old, inefficient heating and air conditioning units, motors and other energy-wasting equipment.

Honeywell will also be upgrading the utility systems at Hazard Community amp; Technical College and Somerset Community amp; Technical College as part of this Kentucky Community and Technical College System performance contract.

According to Honeywell, Southeast will be upgrading and modernizing its campuses while reducing overall energy and operational costs.

Every year the Kentucky Community and TechnicalCollege System provides real opportunity to real people transforming the economy of the entire state by transforming the lives of the people who live in it. Help us continue transforming lives and our states economy by joining the Kentuckians for Community and Technical Colleges at kctcs.edu.

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College is a comprehensive two-year institution of higher education. SKCTC has campuses in Harlan, Bell and Letcher counties. The website is www.southeast.kctcs.edu. Call for admission and registration information toll free at 1-888-274-7322.

KCTCS serves the commonwealth through 16 community and technical college districts that form a seamless system of 62 campuses open or under construction. KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu.