PRESS RELEASE: GreenerMass launches to offer energy savings with no upfront costs

For immediate release
Contact: Jennifer Haugh, 612-240-4641

October 25, 2019 (Waltham, Mass.) — Following a successful pilot program that began in 2013, the Association for Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM) and GreenerU announce the launch of GreenerMass, an efficiency-as-a-service program aimed at accelerating the adoption of energy-efficiency measures in private schools, community health centers, and nonprofits across Massachusetts.

Private colleges and universities, independent schools, community health centers, and other nonprofits located in the Commonwealth are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to make energy efficiency improvements to their facilities with no upfront cost. Program participants pay only a portion of the verified delivered energy savings over a performance period of up to seven years.

After the performance period, the participating institution keeps 100% of the savings. Not only do participating institutions see positive cash flow throughout the project lifecycle, they will get that cash flow with no risk of a savings shortfall. If savings are less than anticipated, participants pay less.

“GreenerMass offers an excellent sustainability opportunity for our members and allows more funds to be available for student programs and services after a relatively short payback period,” said Rich Doherty, AICUM president. “We are proud to partner again with MassDevelopment and GreenerU to offer this program to our members.”

Background

In 2013, GreenerU, Inc. collaborated with the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUM) and MassDevelopment to create a program called Mass College Green. The goals were to provide an affordable option for a select group of Massachusetts colleges and universities to reduce energy consumption and fuel costs without requiring the schools to provide upfront capital, and without risk to the school.

The program covered the costs associated with implementing energy conservation measures, as well as all project development costs, engineering, project management, commissioning, and five years of maintenance, performance monitoring, and verification. Participants pay only for delivered energy efficiency for the duration of the five-year contract. After the performance period, all savings will accrue directly to the participant.

The first round of Mass College Green programming kicked off in 2013. Five Massachusetts institutions participated in the program: Dean College, Hampshire College, Lesley University, Mount Holyoke College, and Nichols College. 

In one example, Mount Holyoke College partnered with GreenerU in 2014 to implement a suite of recommended energy-efficiency measures on campus, including lighting and controls upgrades, and, most significantly, the installation of a boiler economizer at their central heating plant. Through careful consideration of a past failure of an economizer, GreenerU developed a custom-designed economizer with a pressure sensor and bypass damper to prevent flue gases from leaking into the plant building.

These combined measures yielded an average of $19,000 in annual utility bill savings (net of Mass College Green payments) for Mount Holyoke College for during the five-year repayment period, after which time the College is expected to see approximately $96,000 in annual energy savings.

Types of projects

A range of energy-efficiency projects can be implemented under GreenerMass. Some of the most common projects, or combination of projects, include installing efficient LED lighting, occupancy sensors and controls, building automation system improvements, boiler economizers, laboratory efficiency measures, and more.

Participating institutions are expected to continue seeing significant cost savings resulting from reduced energy use well beyond the seven-year performative and payment period of the program.

For those interested in having a direct conversation to determining their institution’s eligibility to receive funding for energy-efficiency projects, please contact David Adamian at GreenerU at david.a@greeneru.com or directly at 617-905-7589.

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Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM)

Established in 1967, AICUM is the leading voice on public policy matters affecting independent colleges and universities in the Commonwealth. Comprising 56 degree granting, accredited, private, and non-profit colleges and universities, AICUM works closely with member institutions to preserve and strengthen higher education and to promote awareness of the significant contributions by colleges and universities to the cultural, economic, and knowledge-based reputation of the state. For more information please visit www.aicum.org.

GreenerU

GreenerU believes that educational institutions are uniquely positioned to lead the world in mitigating climate change. Our mission is to help them. Balancing energy efficiency with comfort and cost, we have become a vital and active partner with more than 50 educational institutions and nonprofits looking to see significant progress in the fight against climate change. Learn more at www.GreenerU.com.

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