ABM, provider of facility solutions, announced that Brooks County Schools, headquartered in Quitman, Georgia will implement comprehensive infrastructure improvements through ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program, with additional operational improvements provided by ABM’s custodial services. ABM’s customized solution is projected to save Brooks County Schools more than $10.5 million in energy and operating costs over a 15-year period by providing energy-efficiency enhancements within the schools’ facilities, while also providing custodial services. ABM began making energy-efficiency improvements within the schools in February 2018, and are expected to complete them in January 2019.
“ABM is very excited to help Brooks County Schools implement an energy performance solution that helps improve the students’ learning environment without cutting into their capital budget,” said Mark Newsome, President of Technical Solutions at ABM. “We are also able to provide Brooks County Schools a way to outsource custodial services with ABM by incorporating the cost of janitorial equipment into the energy performance contracting program, allowing them to fit the school system’s custodial program within their existing budget.”
“At ABM, we’re dedicated to keeping schools and universities clean, so staff can focus on doing what they do best — educating young minds,” said Mike Morris, President of ABM Education. “We look forward to providing custodial service excellence throughout the school district.”
Brooks County Schools’ six school buildings were challenged by an aging infrastructure and reduced funding. With the majority of the school system’s capital funds dedicated to paying an existing bond, administrators needed to address issues affecting the learning environment across the school system. In three of the school system’s buildings – Brooks County Board of Education J.H. Wells Education Center, Quitman Elementary School and Brooks County Middle School – the HVAC units have outlived their useful life. Brooks County Board of Education J.H. Wells Education Center needs a new roof and throughout the school system, security cameras and a VOIP system are needed.
“ABM is delivering a customized solution to Brooks County Schools to remedy our infrastructure challenges,” said Vickie Reed, Superintendent of Brooks County School System. “ABM is providing facility, personnel and financial solutions that no other company has the processes or expertise to achieve.”
ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program will enable the school system to finance the replacement of its aging infrastructure. The program is designed as a financial solution to meet clients’ technical facility needs and sustainability goals. The goal is to drive costs out of a client’s operating budget, allowing savings to be reallocated to fund mission critical facility needs. Click here for a video on how ABM is providing facility and financial solutions to school districts without upfront costs or tax increases.
While working in another school system, Reed worked with ABM to implement two Energy Performance Contracting Programs and to provide custodial services.
“The fact that the superintendent, who has been a client for years, brought ABM into Brooks County Schools to help with facility and financial solutions is a testament to the quality of service we provide,” Newsome said. “ABM is able to take a holistic look at Brooks County Schools’ needs and provide efficiencies they may not be able to achieve otherwise.”
Energy-efficiency enhancements include:
• Installing 15 new rooftop units at the Brooks County Board of Education J.H. Wells Education Center, and upgrading a number of units at other facilities to high-efficiency HVAC units
• All school system HVAC units will be controlled by state-of-the-art HVAC control systems to maximize energy and operational efficiency
• Ventilation systems at each of the school system’s buildings will be upgraded, and each building will be sealed
• The Brooks County Board of Education J.H. Wells Education Center’s roof will be replaced and coated, and a sprinkler system will be installed in the building’s Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten wing
• Three of the school’s cafeterias will undergo freezer monitoring and optimization, or refrigeration management programs to ensure systems are operating efficiently
• Security cameras, VOIP systems, and new water fountains and hand dryers will be installed across the entire school system
