TAMIU’s Blueprint for Smart, Modern Campus Facility Management
For Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), the motto “Go Here. Go Beyond” is more than just a recruitment slogan; it's an operational mandate.
Located in Laredo, Texas, the TAMIU campus encompasses 300 acres and stands as the largest managed green space in Webb County.
Maintaining such an expansive environment presented significant challenges for the University's leadership. While the current campus is roughly 25 years old, many of its foundational designs and systems were conceived in the 1980s using technologies that trace back to the 1930s.
This juxtaposition of modern needs and legacy infrastructure created a complex operational landscape. For years, the University faced the mounting pressures of aging equipment, rising utility costs, and a budget strained by reactive, deferred maintenance. To continue delivering excellence to its students and the community, TAMIU recognized an urgent need to modernize its facility management approach.
Partnering for Future-Ready Infrastructure
In 2017, TAMIU selected Schneider Electric’s SE Advisory Services as their transformation partner. The partnership was built on a shared vision of turning big goals into operational realities. By working with Schneider Electric, the University gained access to a comprehensive suite of advisory services that integrated both human expertise and advanced digital tools.
TAMIU began modernization efforts with a multi-phase energy savings performance contract (ESPC), allowing the University to leverage savings from their operational budget to fund much-needed infrastructure upgrades designed to save money and improve the learning environment for its students.
Notable improvements from this multi-phase project include:
- Expanding and commissioning existing electric and chilled water metering system
- Interior and exterior LED lighting retrofits campus-wide
- Extending chilled water piping and chiller replacements
- Upgrading HVAC systems at the Resident Learning Center
- Upgrading irrigation controls for improved water conservation
- Upgrading building controls across campus
One of the most unique aspects of the TAMIU project is its focus on people. Through the “Conserve My Planet IGNITE” program, the University and Schneider Electric engaged students, professors, and staff in the mission of resource efficiency. This behavior modification program encourages the campus community to take an active role in sustainability, both on campus and at home. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in the University’s ability to reduce campus-wide utility consumption by 33% over the last eight years.
Going Beyond Traditional Facility Management
For their next evolution in campus facility management, TAMIU leadership sought a solution that would provide budget stability while delivering measurable conservation-driven outcomes. To that end, the University embraced an energy management as a service (EMaaS) model with Schneider Electric in late 2024.
Called the Energy and Operations Management Program, this digital-first approach to facility management operates on a continuous operations, maintenance, repair, and replacement loop. This system ensures that equipment is not just fixed when it breaks, but optimized throughout its entire lifecycle.
TAMIU adopted multiple digital tools from Schneider Electric as part of this initiative. These allow the University to gain a comprehensive overview of energy and operations data, enabling a deeper understanding of equipment lifespan, preventative maintenance strategies, and environmental impact improvement opportunities.The tools include:
- EcoStruxure™ Resource Advisor: This tool enables TAMIU to consolidate, analyze, and automate data into a single centralized platform, facilitating the management of the University's energy usage and environmental impact.
- EcoStruxure™ Building Advisor: This advanced system proactively monitors TAMIU's building automation and HVAC assets to identify energy inefficiencies, assess and minimize carbon intensity, and diagnose equipment faults effectively.
- Capital Asset Planning: This program provides a holistic view of TAMIU’s facilities, improving facility master planning and budgeting while optimizing maintenance and staffing efficiency.
To streamline its facility management, TAMIU also partnered with Schneider Electric to establish a dedicated on-site team. This team manages preventative maintenance services on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis across campus, ensuring continued efficiency and reliability.
These advancements allow TAMIU's facilities team to move from a defensive posture to a proactive one, ensuring that the campus remains modern, efficient, and resilient for years to come.
Realizing Tangible Results
The University's efforts have decreased overall campus utility consumption by 33%. The campus is saving 121.5 million kWh through energy-efficiency upgrades, and water conservation measures help the campus save more than 24.8 million gallons of water annually. Translated to individual users, that equates to the annual water consumption of 680 U.S. citizens, the annual electricity use of 838 homes, and a one-year removal from the road of 14,910 cars.
The Energy and Operations Management Program has also made an immediate impact. In the first year of the program alone, TAMIU achieved significant financial and operational milestones. Refinements in the demand response program and chemical water treatment processes enhanced responsiveness, while strategic scheduling and chiller shutdowns reduced energy consumption by 1,349 MWh.
Beyond the numbers, the Energy and Operations Management Program has fundamentally improved the campus experience. The University reported a 56% reduction in automation point overrides, leading to enhanced system reliability. Students and staff now enjoy more consistent comfort in their learning and working environments. Furthermore, the shift to a preventative maintenance model has improved workplace culture, resulting in higher employee satisfaction and a more streamlined process for handling work requests.
In 2025, the University's energy management efforts were recognized with a Silver Excellence in Energy Award in the Energy Efficiency category during NRG’s 6th Annual Awards Ceremony.
TAMIU president Dr. Christopher Maynard said the national award affirms the importance and long-term benefits of energy efficiency on campus.
“This Award underscores TAMIU’s leadership in implementing more than $20 million in energy efficiency upgrades, all funded through guaranteed savings. With our partner, Schneider Electric, the University has been positioned as a model for efficient campus operations,” said Maynard.
A Blueprint for Facility Management Excellence
Texas A&M International University’s journey demonstrates that aging infrastructure does not have to be a barrier to progress. By leveraging modern software and innovative operational models, public sector organizations can overcome budget constraints and build a resilient future.
TAMIU’s success serves as a powerful example for other colleges and universities that, with the right partner and a data-driven strategy, it is possible achieve lasting excellence. Contact a local expert today to learn more about how Schneider Electric can help with your next energy or facility modernization project.