Burbank Unified School District Builds Sustainable Bond Relief and Saves $10 Million in Energy Costs

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Jun 02, 2016, 03:47 ET

BURBANK, Calif., June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a district-wide energy program that will be reaching all schools throughout the next year, Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) celebrated the site energization of new solar and energy efficiency work at the Adult School yesterday. Along with District and City stakeholders present, local elected officials and regional partners in attendance celebrated the District's leadership in leveraging their bond Measure S to build their comprehensive program. The aptly named Sustainable Bond Relief Program, administered by local partner OpTerra Energy Services, helps the District accomplish key strides in energy and water conservation, while integrating hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities and internships tied to the new energy technology. The program will save the District $10 million in energy costs.

Members of the Burbank community, including the Board of Education President Larry Applebaum, Mayor Jess Talamantes, Superintendent Matt Hill, and OpTerra Energy Services partners and student interns "flip the switch" on renewable energy at the Burbank Adult School.

Success through Multiple Funding Streams
In March 2013, Burbank passed their Measure S bond to improve classrooms and ongoing district facility upgrades. In order to fill the gap between the existing bond funding and the needed costs for additional improvements related to classroom size reduction standards, OpTerra presented a solution to implement energy upgrades under a design-build contract. OpTerra helped BUSD free up bond dollars to be reallocated to underfunded bond initiatives, such as additional classrooms and 21st century technology upgrades, ensuring that the District would be able to fund a comprehensive program with no additional costs.

BUSD's Sustainable Bond Relief Program to improve and enhance infrastructure with modernized energy performance is funded through a dynamic combination of Measure S bond dollars, Prop 39 funding, and a tax-exempt lease purchase. The first year of BUSD's program marks the beginning of a series of integrated capital projects that will improve the District's environmental and fiscal sustainability and provide ongoing financial relief to Measure S. OpTerra supports BUSD's vision for a long-term sustainable future by guaranteeing the energy savings used to finance the infrastructure upgrades.

Powering Positive Environmental Impact
Starting with last summer's conversion of landscaping irrigation systems to reclaimed water and now building solar across different schools, BUSD is achieving positive gains in sustainability from water use to energy performance.

By converting its irrigation systems to reclaimed water during the summer of 2015, BUSD has not only saved the region an estimated 26 million gallons in potable water each year, but also elevated consciousness within the community about state water restrictions. At yesterday's event, representatives from Burbank Water and Power presented the District with a rebate check for $100,000 as a result of BUSD's impressive water reduction efforts over the past year.

The Burbank Adult School is one of the first of several sites to be energized with renewable power, and the District has made additional improvements designed to enhance student safety and improve their energy profile, including:

742 kW total of solar PV on parking lot and student shade structures and rooftops across eight sites upon program completion
New and upgraded AC systems and ventilation systems
Upgraded HVAC systems, including new District-wide energy management system and duct cleaning
Interior and exterior LED lighting system upgrade with controls
Upgrades to PA systems and life safety systems
New lunch shelter and reconstruction of parking lots

Building a Brighter Tomorrow
Community partners lauded Superintendent Hill and the BUSD Board for their leadership in maximizing the impact of their community-supported bond to serve as a model for other schools across Southern California at yesterday's celebration event.

John Mahoney, CEO of OpTerra, shared, "OpTerra is excited to be working with our local partner Burbank Unified School to demonstrate how a school district can do more with available funding coupled with community-supported bonds. Thanks to state programs like Prop 39 and local utility rebates and incentives like those from Burbank Water and Power, now is the time for schools to leverage the power of a sustainable energy program to drive fiscal and environmental success across the community like BUSD has done."

As their energy savings continue to grow, Burbank Unified School District plans to invest the ongoing, projected savings into ongoing STEM engagement opportunities and experiential learning activities to empower the next, local generation of students.

About Burbank Unified School District: For more information about Burbank Unified School District, visit www.burbankusd.org, or contact Kimberley Clark, District PIO, at 818-729-4422.

OpTerra Energy Services:
OpTerra Energy Services is a national energy company that works with education, local government, commercial, industrial, and institutional organizations to implement efficiency and sustainable energy solutions that save money, enhance safety, improve assets, and protect the environment. As a subsidiary of ENGIE, the number one energy efficiency services provider in the world, OpTerra Energy Services provides a unique and extensive set of energy and sustainability management services to thousands of customers across the U.S. The company has provided more than $2 billion in energy savings for its customers over the past 40 years. For more information, please visit www.opterraenergy.com or contact Lani Wild, Communications Manager, at 415-735-9080.

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SOURCE OpTerra Energy Services