Lamar University Awards $13.7 Million Performance Contract to TAC

Sept. 15, 2004
Campus-wide Energy Enhancements Will Provide Substantial Savings to the University

– Sept. 8, 2004 LamarUniversity in Beaumont, Texas, has awarded a $13.7 million performance contract to TAC, a world leader in Open Systems for Building IT®, security systems and energy solutions. TAC will design and construct energy and water conservation-related improvements in 52 facilities on the state university campus that serves the southeast Texas region. The project will be funded through the resulting energy savings that are projected to amount to more than $1.5 million annually. The performance contract calls for infrastructure improvements at LamarUniversity that will provide consistency across the campus with mechanical systems and controls, making them easier to maintain and operate. Facilities involved in the contract total more than 1.5 million square feet, including classrooms, gymnasiums, theaters and auditoriums, a museum, a health center and a bookstore, among others.

Energy conservation measures include chiller, air handler and boiler replacements; an extensive retrofit to upgrade the lighting to T8 fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts; and water conservation measures such as replacing and retrofitting plumbing fixtures and parts. 

“The aging mechanical infrastructure and increased deferred maintenance were taxing the ability of LamarUniversity’s facilities staff to keep occupants comfortable and costing more to maintain and operate,” said Dean Meyer, president of TAC Americas. “The performance contract will be funded using guaranteed energy savings that are a direct result of the efficiency improvements implemented in this project. This means that no additional university funds are required and decreases the need for capital dollars in the future.”The expanded energy management system will improve comfort in campus facilities for students, faculty and staff,” said Mike Ferguson Jr., vice president for Finance and Operations at LamarUniversity. “This will allow the university to upgrade our campus facilities over a 2-year period rather than 15 years. The university’s goal has been to decrease maintenance costs and increase energy efficiency in the facilities and, with TAC, it will now be possible.”Meyer noted that TAC Energy Solutions has a long history of performance contract projects in Texas schools, colleges and universities. However, the Lamar contract is the first for a member school in the Texas State University System, a network of eight state-supported colleges and universities. “Administrators at Lamar wanted to work with a company that had a successful history of these types of projects and TAC fit the bill,” he said.

TAC began installation in July 2004 and the project is anticipated to take two years to complete. All university facilities will remain open through most of the project and every effort will be made to minimize disruption for students and staff, according to Meyer.

The TAC Vista® energy management system that will be installed at Lamar is based on the LonWorks® data communication protocol for building automation and control networks. TAC Vista combines environmental controls with facility and energy management features to deliver a single, interoperable open solution.

“Lamar University will not only gain improved working and learning environments but also guaranteed energy savings, which will allow the university to direct funds to academic programs instead of utilities,” said Meyer.

About TAC

TAC’s parent company, Schneider Electric, is the world’s leading specialist in power and control. With the acquisition of Andover Controls by Schneider Electric in August 2004, TAC and Andover have combined to create the foundation for Schneider Electric’s growth platform in the building automation industry. Together, Andover Controls and TAC provide added value through building services for indoor climate, security and use of energy, delivered with advanced technology and integrated solutions for building IT. The new combined company has 2,700 employees worldwide and projects revenue of $700 million for 2004. More information is available on the Internet at www.tac.com, www.andovercontrols.com and www.schneider-electric.com.

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