Yorktown board hears pros, cons of energy performance contracts; orders district-wide energy audit

At the June 2 Yorktown Central School District Board of Education meeting, Paul Tasi of ARIS Construction briefed trustees on energy performance contracts, renewable options and tradeoffs, and recommended the district commission a comprehensive energy audit as the next step.

An energy performance contract, Tasi told the board, is “an agreement between the school district and an energy service company or ESCO for the provision of energy services in which energy systems are installed, maintain and manage to improve the energy efficient of or produce energy for a facility in exchange for a portion of the energy savings or revenues.” The board and staff discussed how that model compares with doing phased upgrades in-house or presenting a public referendum.

Why it matters: district leaders said improved energy systems could lower operating costs, improve classroom ventilation and lighting, and advance sustainability goals while minimizing immediate taxpayer burden. Tasi said energy performance contracts (EPCs) do not require voter approval and can qualify a district for an additional…