UCM Marks Beginning of Energy Savings Project with Signing Ceremony

WARRENSBURG, Mo., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In keeping with a commitment to the
sustainability of the environment and available resources, the University of
Central Missouri has embarked on an unprecedented 24-month, $36.1 million
project that will radically reduce energy consumption and the university's
carbon footprint on the Warrensburg, Mo., campus, while making a significant
improvement to the academic learning environment.

The university will kick off the project Friday, May 1, with a signing
ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Ward Edwards Building on the
Warrensburg campus. Key partners joining university officials in the signing
ceremony and celebration include Arah Schuur, director of energy efficiency
building retrofit program for the Clinton Climate Initiative; John W. Conover
IV, president of the Trane commercial systems business in the Americas; Dennis
Strait, principal for Gould Evans Architects; John Gould, leasing credit
products executive for Bank of America; Santanu Nath and Scott Bayless of S&S
Engineering; along with local and state government officials and community
leaders.

Following an investment grade audit of campus facilities to identify
conservation measures, the university's board in April 2009 approved a $36.1
million energy performance contract with Trane of Piscataway, N.J., to guide
the renovation and upgrade of campus buildings with any eye toward significant
energy savings while providing a vastly improved learning and working
environment across the campus.

Key elements of the upgrades include the installation of renewable
energy-efficient HVAC systems, new hot water distribution systems,
installation of more energy-efficient lighting, installation of campus-wide
building automation, life safety measures, laboratory air systems and
controls, green technologies for curriculum utilization and campus green
awareness, replacement of roofs and windows on various buildings, improved air
handling systems and acoustical improvements for the classroom and office
spaces.

The sustainability initiative is the result of the efforts of Betty Roberts,
vice president for administration and finance, and her staff in a concentrated
team effort to develop a comprehensive approach toward more efficient energy
usage and a much improved work environment.

Financing for the project will be provided through a 15-year lease-purchase
through Banc of America Public Capital Corp., a subsidiary of Bank of America.
The lease-purchase agreement will provide financing for all costs associated
with the construction, installation of equipment and labor.

The energy services contract (ESCO) initiative is part of a commitment made by
UCM President Aaron Podolefsky when he became a charter signatory of the
American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007. He
established the UCM President's Commission on Sustainability to focus on
campus-wide efforts to increase sustainability through recycling, waste
management, transportation, utilities and energy, planning and funding, and
curriculum and education.

"The ESCO initiative brings us all together as stewards of the resources we
have," Podolefsky said. "It's an exciting time for UCM as we begin work to
improve the quality of the environment for our students, faculty and staff."

Roberts cited the significance of the initial legislation that made the ESCO
project possible.

"In 1997 the state of Missouri made it possible for state agencies to contract
with energy services companies to identify and enact significant energy
savings measures," Robert said. "That foresight has provided us with the tools
to make much-needed improvements to campus facilities at a long-term cost that
is significantly less than if we financed through traditional methods."

"I commend the University of Central Missouri for undertaking this
comprehensive approach to increasing its long-term energy efficiency," said
Linda Crothers, president of Banc of America Public Capital Corp. "We are
pleased to provide financing for this and other public and private sector
projects so our clients can save energy and reduce their carbon footprints.
These efforts are part of Bank of America's 10-year, $20 billion environmental
initiative to address climate change."

Trane, a business of Ingersoll Rand, improves the performance of homes and
buildings around the world. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with
a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air
conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and
advanced controls for homes and commercial buildings. The company made a
commitment to work with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a project of the
William J. Clinton Foundation, on large-scale retrofitting projects.

The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Climate Initiative in
2006 to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate
change. Working with governments and businesses around the world to tailor
local solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable, CCI
focuses on three strategic program areas: increasing energy efficiency in
cities, catalyzing the large-scale supply of clean energy, and working to
measure and value the carbon absorbed by forests.

The Clinton Climate Initiative is supporting signatories of the American
College and University Presidents Climate Commission to retrofit college and
university campuses across the country for significant energy and carbon
savings.

SOURCE Trane

Perri Richman, Trane, prichman@trane.com, +1-732-652-6943