Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Virginia School District Set to Save $3.1M in Energy, Operating Costs

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/19/22

Fredericksburg City Public Schools in Fredericksburg, Va., recently partnered with facility solutions provider ABM on the creation of an Energy Performance Contracting program. The solution will save the district an estimated $3.1 million in energy and operating costs over the next fifteen years, according to a news release. The program will allow district leadership to modernize facilities district-wide and improve lighting and indoor air quality for students and teachers—as well as help the City of Fredericksburg reach its goal of using renewable energy to power 100% of municipal operations by the year 2035.

“As the city’s largest single consumer of electricity, diesel fuel and natural gas, the school district’s reduced energy use greatly impacts the community’s decarbonization goals,” said ABM Technical Solutions President Mark Hawkinson. “Our project creates that savings while helping Fredericksburg protect air quality and provide engaging learning environments for students across the district.”

The savings from the project will come from improved lighting, HVAC and water conservation upgrades, the news release reports. Facility upgrades for the district’s two elementary schools, middle school, high school and pre-kindergarten facilities include LED lighting retrofits and replacements; boiler and HVAC equipment replacements and upgrades; and water conservation measures. Additionally, it also allowed the school district to win a grant from the Clean School Bus program toward purchasing ten electric school buses.

“We’re showing our students what leadership can accomplish for our community well-being,” said FCPS Deputy Superintendent Dr. Matthew Eberhardt. “The project ensures that our school infrastructure continues to provide healthy and engaging environments for teachers and students while delivering a big win for our community’s vital renewable energy goals.”

The ABM Energy Performance Contracting Program helps schools invest in facility upgrades without requiring new capital from the community, according to the news release. ABM has partnered with more than 500 K–12 school districts, colleges and universities across the country to transfer costs of critical facility upgrades and educational initiatives out of the institutions’ operational budgets.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • California District Debuts New High-School CTE Center

    The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CTE Center at Analy High School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for the facility’s design and GCCI for its construction, and funding came from local Measure A bond funds.

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.

  • Growing Allied Health Workforce Demands Fueling Greater Need for Higher Education Facilities

    With the demand for healthcare professionals at an all-time high, colleges and universities are challenged with supporting the workforce demands in their own communities. Careers in allied health generally require specific training and/or certification, with some positions requiring degrees, certified credentials, and continuing education.