Schneider Electric Helps Quitman County School District Reduce Annual Energy Costs by 20 Percent

• Lighting and cooling upgrades will save the district nearly $500,000 over the life of the project

GEORGETOWN, Ga. – November 2, 2017 – The Quitman County School District, located along the banks of the picturesque Walter F. George Lake in southwest Georgia, today announced it is embarking on an energy efficiency project that will demonstrate the district’s commitment to creating 21st-century schools. The district will partner with energy and sustainability expert Schneider Electric on an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) project that will enhance the district’s buildings and save nearly $500,000 over the life of the project.

Schneider Electric’s unique approach to ESPCs enables school districts such as Quitman County to take money that would have normally been spent on utilities and reinvest it back into its schools to achieve a variety of important goals it might not otherwise be able to afford. In this case, the partnership will allow Quitman County Schools to take these first important steps to modernize its school buildings without increasing taxes in the community.

“In my first year as Superintendent of Quitman County Schools, I quickly realized we needed to set new goals for creating a 21st-century learning environment for our students,” said Victoria L. Harris, Ed.S., Superintendent, Quitman County School District. “Our partnership with Schneider Electric will allow us to move forward with a number of deferred maintenance projects, all without raising taxes for residents. We are proud to be able to offer our students the high-quality classrooms they deserve.”

For years, the Quitman County School District has struggled to maintain temperatures in the server room at its elementary school, with antiquated cooling systems unable to keep up with increasingly hot and humid Georgia summers. As a result, the schools’ IT servers needed to be replaced. Schneider Electric worked with the district to install a dedicated cooling unit in the server room, increasing the consistency and reliability of its IT systems.

The project also includes interior LED lighting upgrades that will enhance learning and athletic environments and exterior LED lighting to improve campus safety.

“We’re proud to help the Quitman County School District accomplish its goals of improving student learning environments while being a good steward of public funds,” said Tammy Fulop, Vice President, Schneider Electric. “Schools across the nation continue to face long lists of deferred maintenance projects, and our unique approach enables school districts like Quitman County to reduce energy consumption and invest in the classroom, at no expense to local taxpayers.”

The project builds on Schneider Electric’s expertise in energy efficiency projects in Georgia. In addition to its work with the Quitman County School District, Schneider Electric recently partnered with the Thomasville City School System to save the district nearly $150,000 in annual energy expenses. Schneider Electric is also developing nearly $100 million in energy efficiency solutions, helping clients across the state reach their energy and sustainability goals.

Over the past 25 years, Schneider Electric has successfully implemented more than 660 ESPC projects across the nation, saving its clients nearly $1.7 billion. This project delivery method helps publicly funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods and offers many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management, and environmental protection.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure, and Industries. With a global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.