NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ABM (NYSE: ABM), a leading provider of facility solutions, announced the initiation of an Energy Performance Contracting program for McKeesport Area School District (MASD), located in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. By creating projected savings of $7.8 million in energy and operating costs, ABM’s custom solution empowers MASD leadership to reallocate funds to critical improvements for their learning environment, including indoor air quality.

“To really help schools today, facility solutions have to also be funding solutions,” said Scott Giacobbe, ABM’s Chief Revenue Officer. “I’m proud of our teams’ ability to find opportunities for energy and operational savings, and then use that to improve learning spaces within a model of good fiscal stewardship, like we were able to do with McKeesport.”

The main facility of McKeesport Area High School was completed in 1961 without air conditioning. Installing a new HVAC system to improve ventilation, temperature, and humidity control required engineers to design a custom facility retrofit.

In addition to energy savings and operational cost reductions from improved lighting, HVAC, and building control systems throughout the district, the project enabled improvements for both athletic and STEM facilities. Renovations to four science labs included exhaust hoods and other safety equipment. The new track surface reasserts McKeesport’s eligibility to host track meets, including WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League) events.

ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program enables a school system to invest in critical facility upgrades without drawing new capital from the community. The program is designed to drive costs out of a district’s operating budget, redirecting savings to fund critical facility needs and educational initiatives. ABM works with more than 500 K-12 school systems, colleges, and universities throughout the U.S. This video outlines how ABM provides a way to empower investment in educational facilities without upfront costs or tax increases.

“MASD utilized ABM to make much needed upgrades to several of our facilities,” said Dr. Mark P. Holtzman, Jr., Superintendent of McKeesport Area School District. “Those improvements allow us to continue to provide a first-class experience on our campuses for our students and staff inside and outside of our classrooms.”

McKeesport Area School District serves approximately 3,200 students from Pre-K through 12th grade for the communities of McKeesport, Dravosburg, White Oak, Versailles, and South Versailles. The project provided upgrades for every school and McKeesport Stadium, helping to improve educational equity across the district. Highlights include the following energy conservation measures and upgrades for educational and athletic spaces:

• Adding air conditioning to McKeesport Area High School (MAHS), including on-site construction and piping required
• Installing new and upgraded building automation systems, including a web-based front-end and new controllers, valves, actuators, and sensors
• Renovating four science labs, including new lab hoods, fans, and duct work, new work surfaces, sinks, gas valves, and eyewash stations
• Replacing or upgrading HVAC assets, such as new split systems, rooftop units, and energy-saving variable frequency drives (VFDs)
• Upgrading boiler plants, including boiler and domestic water heater replacements
• Installing a new pool heater rated for 98% thermal efficiency
• Retrofitting and replacing lighting with efficient LED technology
• Replacing oversized transformers with new, energy-efficient transformers and installing capacitor banks for power factor correction
• Installing water conservation for each school, including repairs to the rainwater harvesting system at Twin Rivers Elementary
• Providing computer power management software throughout the district, including technical support and updates
• Renovating MAHS and McKeesport Stadium locker rooms including plumbing and piping, locker replacements, flooring upgrades and wall repairs
• Repairing and weatherproofing stadium facilities, including bleachers and fencing
• Repairing exterior windows and damaged interior walls at Founders Hall Middle School
• Installing new control systems to operate existing geothermal systems efficiently at Twin Rivers Elementary

Additional technical work and expertise was provided by franchisees with ABM Franchising Group’s Linc Service and TEGG networks. Linc Service contractor Reno Bros. in New Brighton, PA, contributed to HVAC replacement and retrofitting. TEGG contractor Schultheis Electric in Latrobe, PA, contributed to transformer removal and replacement.

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ABM (NYSE: ABM) is a leading provider of facility solutions with revenues of approximately $6.5 billion and approximately 140,000 employees in 350+ offices throughout the United States and various international locations. ABM’s comprehensive capabilities include janitorial, electrical & lighting, energy solutions, facilities engineering, HVAC & mechanical, landscape & turf, mission critical solutions and parking, provided through stand-alone or integrated solutions. ABM provides custom facility solutions in urban, suburban and rural areas to properties of all sizes - from schools and commercial buildings to hospitals, data centers, manufacturing plants and airports. ABM Industries Incorporated, which operates through its subsidiaries, was founded in 1909. For more information, visit www.abm.com.

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