One way for colleges and universities to make dramatic improvements to the efficiency of their energy systems is to hire an Energy Service Company or ESCO to make upgrades and educate staff about managing systems.  Under energy savings performance contracts (ESPC), an ESCO will manage and finance many of the energy efficiency upgrades up front.  The university then pays for these services with the savings from the associated energy reductions.  Find out more about how ESCOs work here.

While ESCOs have been around since the 1970s, several universities are just now beginning to sign contracts.  Some of these are fairly technical and require advanced degrees in energy management and engineering to implement, but there are many opportunities for student involvement from start to finish.  Students can research performance contracting options and propose the idea to administrators and facilities managers, participate in contract negotiations to ensure student internship/involvement opportunities and participate in energy savings implementations as an intern/assistant.

Resources:

• List of DOE-approved ESCOs 

• Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program Description and FAQs

• National Association of Energy Service Companies

Universities with Energy Savings Performance Contracts:

• Montana State University
  

• University of California, California Community Colleges and California State University Systems. Find out more about this partnership and forming university-ESCO partnerships here.