San Marcos Unified School District Granted $4.1 Million for Prop 39 Energy Efficiency Upgrade Projects

DALLAS (PRWEB) April 02, 2015

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced that the California Energy Commission has approved a Proposition 39 Energy Expenditure Plan with the San Marcos Unified School District to implement energy efficiency upgrades. The district is anticipated to receive up to $4.1 million over the next four years that will be used for a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) replacements, energy management system optimization, LED lighting and photovoltaic systems. San Marcos Unified School Districts Energy Expenditure Plan is the second largest plan approved in San Diego County to date.

The project will also have a significant impact on the districts facilities, spanning to 18 of the campus sites one of the highest number of sites represented in approved Energy Expenditure Plans statewide. When fully implemented, these energy efficiency and renewable energy measures will deliver more than 1 million kWh annually in energy savings.

We are excited that San Marcos Unified School District will be able to utilize these grant funds to improve the sustainable quality of our facilities while also reducing overall district expenditures and life-cycle costs, said San Marcos Unified School District Executive Director of Facilities Khary Knowles. The district team and Schneider Electric worked collaboratively and expeditiously to get a plan in place that will be constructed in various phases. The savings we expect to realize through the approved plan will help us achieve our vision of unparalleled educational and sustainable environments through cost effective solutions."

We understand that school districts have a lot on their plate, especially when implementing a large-scale bond issue. Our team is pleased to partner with school districts to handle all aspects of Proposition 39 energy planning and construction, said Jordan Lerner, Regional Director, Schneider Electric. We worked collaboratively with the San Marcos Unified School District team to meet the goal of summer construction as well as complete a comprehensive five-year energy expenditure plan.

San Marcos Unified School District has been diligent in watching over energy expenditures and consistently makes upgrades that improve the facilities and save on utilities. With Proposition 39 funding, the San Marcos Unified School District can expedite some desired energy efficiency projects such as replacing old and inefficient heating and air-conditioning equipment and metal halide lighting systems. The plans will also optimize energy management systems, improve exterior lighting, pilot LED lighting in the classrooms as well as install pilot photovoltaic systems in the district.

For the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, the California Department of Education has allocated a total of $51.7 million in Proposition 39 funds to San Diegos 42 school districts and charter schools. The Cleantech San Diego/SDG&E San Diego K-12 Schools Sustainability Strategy Collaborative has positioned San Diego County as the one of the statewide leaders with 24 Energy Expenditure Plans approved by the California Energy Commission.

About Schneider Electric As a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Non-residential & Residential Buildings, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Utilities & Infrastructure and Data Centers & Networks. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company's 170,000 employees achieved revenues of 30 billion US dollars in 2014, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy. http://www.schneider-electric.com/us

About San Marcos Unified School District San Marcos Unified School District serves more than 20,490 students in San Marcos, Carlsbad, Vista, Escondido, and San Diego County. As the 7th most successful large unified school district in the state in closing the achievement gap, San Marcos Unified ensures a college-going culture for our students with the PACE Promise, a unique, academic partnership with CSU San Marcos that guarantees admission. To learn more about our innovative and collaborative district, visit http://www.smusd.org/

About Proposition 39 The California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Prop. 39) changed the corporate income tax code and allocates projected revenue to California's General Fund and the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund for five fiscal years, beginning with fiscal year 2013-14. Under the initiative, roughly up to $550 million annually is available for appropriation by the Legislature for eligible projects to improve energy efficiency and expand clean energy generation in schools. To learn more, visit http://www.energy.ca.gov.

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San Marcos Unified School District Granted $4.1 Million for Prop 39 Energy Efficiency Upgrade Projects