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Energy firm ABM pitches guaranteed-savings audit for three Franklin County schools
Summary
ABM Infrastructure Solutions presented preliminary findings for energy, lighting and HVAC work at three Franklin County Public Schools and proposed a $25,000 investment‑grade audit paid from future guaranteed savings; school leaders asked for time to review and agreed to revisit the proposal in February.
ABM Infrastructure Solutions told the Franklin County School Board on Jan. 13 that an energy‑efficiency project focused on Franklin County High School, Rocky Mount Elementary and Leeward/Lee Wade (Lee Wade) could free roughly $223,000 a year across those three schools and support about $3.5 million in capital work if the district pursues a 15‑year guaranteed savings contract.
The recommendation came from Whit Blake, ABM, who said his team collected utility data, visited the three campuses and preliminarily calculated energy use intensity and potential savings. “If we look at the financial impact of reducing the overall cost to operate these buildings you can see the numbers start to add up,” Blake said during the presentation.
Why it matters: The district’s buildings include aging boilers, controls and ventilation systems that staff said have produced unexpected closures and recurring maintenance costs. ABM framed its approach as a way to fund infrastructure upgrades without general‑obligation debt by structuring projects that are paid from guaranteed energy savings and available rebates and grants.
Key details - ABM’s preliminary figures: about $223,000 in annual utility savings across the three audited schools and a funding equivalent of about $3.5 million if a 15‑year guarantee is used. ABM said figures are preliminary and based on benchmarked utility data and walk‑throughs. - Proposed scope: LED lighting retrofits, building‑automation system upgrades, boiler and chiller work, air‑quality and ventilation improvements, envelope sealing, transformer and electrical work and optional solar or other renewables. - Next step and cost: ABM asked to perform a district‑wide investment‑grade audit that would take 60–90 days and cost approximately $25,000. ABM said that cost is typically rolled into the project and refunded to the district if the district proceeds with implementation; if the district stops, ABM would invoice the $25,000. - Risk/guarantee: ABM said its contracts include a contractual guarantee of savings; in documented cases of underperformance the company has reimbursed divisions (citing a $74,000 payment to another Virginia district where equipment underperformed).
Questions and board response Board members asked for clarification on what “boiler plant improvements” would entail—replacement versus controls/repiping—and ABM said scope would be determined in the investment‑grade audit. Board members also asked about subscription costs and future upgrades for building controls and solar inverter replacement; ABM said those can be modeled into the contract (for example, inverter replacement around year 15 of a solar array).
Board action and timeline The building committee had previously invited ABM to present; after discussion the full board did not take immediate action but agreed to review a draft contract and revisit the matter at its February meeting. ABM committed to deliver a proposed contract to Superintendent Sears within several days for legal review.
Ending Board members said they appreciated ABM’s work and that the proposal will be reviewed alongside the district’s capital priorities during upcoming budget discussions. If the board approves the investment‑grade audit at a future meeting, ABM projects a 60–90 day study period followed by a separate implementation decision.
