The U.S. Department of Energy is preparing another major investment in school building infrastructure.
DOE announced an opportunity providing up to $100 million in project funding to establish regional hubs helping school districts reduce operating costs and improve the reliability of essential building systems.
The program is called A+STEPS, or Affordability and Strategic Energy Pathways for Schools.
Schools Can Receive Detailed Facility Planning
The regional hubs are expected to help districts with:
investment grade energy audits,
strategic energy plans,
technical assistance,
training,
and project financing preparation.
Participating local education agencies may also receive up to $250,000 for limited early facility improvements.
HVAC Is One of the Biggest School Energy Loads
Heating, cooling and ventilation represent major operating costs in school buildings.
Many districts also operate aging equipment with:
poor controls,
deferred maintenance,
inefficient boilers,
old chillers,
or inadequate ventilation.
Energy audits can identify where those systems should be repaired, upgraded or replaced.
Planning Is Often the Missing Step
School districts may know they need new HVAC equipment but lack:
engineering capacity,
capital planning,
procurement expertise,
or financing structures.
The DOE program is intended to help turn broad facility problems into projects that can actually be financed and implemented.
The Takeaway
For commercial mechanical contractors, school modernization remains a major long term market.
DOE is preparing to put up to $100 million into the planning infrastructure that helps school HVAC and energy projects move from wish lists into real construction.
