A Budget Neutral Approach to Upgrading Military Buildings
Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) is a budget neutral approach to implementing building improvements that lower operating expenses and minimize energy use. Essentially, building owners pay for today’s facility upgrades with tomorrow’s energy savings by partnering with an Energy Savings Company (ESCO).
ESCOs act as project developers for a comprehensive range of energy conservation measures, including: lighting and HVAC controls, boilers and chillers, windows, water conservation, building envelope, variable speed drives, and more. According to the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), ESCOS have generated $50B in verified savings since 1990, including $30B in infrastructure improvements.
Due to the budget neutral model and promise of guaranteed savings, more and more military facility managers are taking advantage of ESCO services. In fact, the Department of Defense has allocated more federal funds to government ESCO projects in 2016 than any other year. This number is expected to grow under the Trump Administration, which has made infrastructure improvement a core component of its agenda.
How to Get a Greater ROI from Military ESCO Projects
ESCOs were designed to provide a budget neutral way to lower the skyrocketing energy costs of the 1970s. Energy savings are still a core benefit of ESCOs, but today military facility managers want an even greater ROI to better justify their energy investment.
One of the most important ways to get the most from your ESCO project is by bundling energy measures in a strategic manner. For example, a building’s envelope affects the performance of its boiler and chiller, so it would make little sense to upgrade either without also addressing the building envelope.
ESCOs can also provide military facilities with significant improvements in building security – at little to no extra cost. For instance, retrofitting a building’s window system not only improves the building envelope, but can also provide the added benefits of physical and wireless security upgrades. Thermolite’s unique secondary window system installs on the interior of a building’s existing windows, eliminating the costly need to remove and replace any glass. In addition to cutting annual energy use by an average of 20%, the Thermolite window system can also be upgraded to provide protection against bomb blasts, forced entries, hurricanes and even wireless signal attacks.
Contact us today to learn more about how to get the biggest ROI from ESCOs
Security Options Available for Military ESCO Projects
Blast Mitigation
Thermolite’s Blast Safety Series is the only system made in the U.S. that uses dynamic loading and patented Compression Release Technology™ to withstand a high pressure impact without the need for structural steel reinforcement. Unlike traditional blast windows (which require heavy, conspicuous construction), Thermolite blast windows can be discreetly installed during evening hours to minimize downtime and conceal the building’s security upgrade from any prying eyes. View Safety Series Specifications
Hurricane Protection
Thermolite’s Hurricane Storm Series system utilizes a design that can withstand Category 5 hurricane winds. This system easily installs on the inside of a building’s existing windows and meets the strictest building codes in the country. View Hurricane Storm Series Specifications
Forced Entry Protection
Thermolite’s forced¬-entry windows feature a type of treated glass that is specifically designed to slow or prevent attempted break-ins. Common applications for forced entry windows include showrooms and display windows, as well as the ground floor exterior windows of government offices and financial institutions.
Signal Defense
Thermolite’s CyberWAL is a window defense system that uses transparent metal-based coatings to deflect electromagnetic waves and block audio transmissions. Proven to mitigate virtually all forms of electronic spying, CyberWAL helps keep the sensitive electromagnetic data inside your building from escaping, and helps prevent dangerous outside electromagnetic surveillance technology from intruding.
