LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – Webb County\u2019s long-term energy performance contract with Schneider Electric has exceeded its projected savings by roughly $450,000 over seven years, according to a presentation at Commissioners\u2019 Court meeting March 10. The project has also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 24,000 tons.<\/p>\n
Aaron Garcia of Schneider Electric presented the savings update to commissioners, noting the county has outperformed initial projections.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything in green indicates the actual savings so you\u2019ve actually exceeded the savings over the last seven years. Roughly about 450 thousand above what we said you would save,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n
The county\u2019s partnership with Schneider Electric has focused on upgrades to chiller systems and other infrastructure across county buildings. The Billy Hall Administrative Building, the County Jail, and the County Courthouse have been used to track savings progress. All three facilities exceeded savings targets except the County Jail.<\/p>\n
Ricardo Jaime of Schneider Electric explained the jail\u2019s higher energy consumption.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have the option of running either on their local jail system or the actual justice center central plant that we put in. So we put in the central plant, that\u2019s how it\u2019s designed to run is off of that central plant but they\u2019re currently running local chillers there at the jail which is why the consumption has increased in that area, that particular meter,\u201d Jaime said.<\/p>\n
The project has reduced CO2 emissions by more than 24,000 tons, the equivalent of removing 5,558 cars from the road for one year, according to the presentation.<\/p>\n
Lupita Vazquez, who was present at the meeting, said she supports the county\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a good idea, not only the fact that it\u2019s going to save us money, but also the fact that it\u2019s going to save natural resources like the electricity and the energy and the water,\u201d Vazquez said.<\/p>\n
Schneider Electric has identified new opportunities to reduce costs and emissions, including lighting upgrades and certain water systems. Jaime said switching to LED lighting is more cost-effective than continuing with existing bulbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt costs the county 55 dollars to buy an LED system in comparison to changing the light bulbs and the balance that it would cost the county taxpayers 111 dollars. In this year\u2019s budget, we appropriated some money so we could change the Billy Hall Administrative Building,\u201d Jaime said.<\/p>\n
The Billy Hall Administrative Building is expected to complete its transition to LED lighting by the end of the month. Schneider Electric is also expected to present a full project update to the county in three to four months.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Schneider Electric has requested permission to audit county buildings and map out a plan to better address the county\u2019s needs. Air conditioning was not part of the original project plans but could be added in a future phase.<\/p>\n