NORESCO, a national leader in energy efficiency and energy infrastructure solutions, has won a $28 million guaranteed energy savings performance contract with the Georgia Department of Corrections for work at five sites across the state. NORESCO specializes in the development, design, construction, financing and operation of energy- and environmental-efficiency projects and is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp..

Customized to the needs of each facility, improvements will be delivered at Arrendale State Prison, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, Georgia State Prison, Hays State Prison and Wilcox State Prison. As a result of this project, carbon dioxide emissions are projected to decline by more than 25 percent from their baseline. Other environmental pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, will also decline, making overall emissions improvements equivalent to removing 1,442 cars from the road for one year.

The project includes reconfiguration of three central boiler plants along with domestic hot water improvements, significant water conservation gains through equipment retrofits and controls and improved reliability and performance through heating, ventilating and air conditioning upgrades. The project also improves lighting, energy management control systems, chillers, water treatment, piping and insulation.

"Paying for building maintenance and improvements is an ongoing challenge for many state agencies, particularly departments of corrections. NORESCO is honored to work with the Georgia Department of Corrections to address infrastructure improvements, reliability and energy and water efficiency," said Jim Williams, regional general manager, NORESCO.