City of Houston Commits to Sustainable Future, Kicks Off $23 Million Energy Efficiency Project With Schneider Electric

HOUSTON, TX, Apr 22 (MARKET WIRE) --
The city of Houston is launching an ambitious $23 million project
designed to improve energy efficiency, operations and comfort in 19 city
facilities. The project is a continuation of Houston's participation in
the Clinton Climate Initiative Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit
Program, a landmark effort to reduce energy consumption in existing
buildings in major cities around the world. The Clinton Climate
Initiative is a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation and is
assisting the city of Houston in identifying, designing and implementing
large-scale energy efficiency retrofit projects. Schneider Electric, a
global specialist in energy management, will be completing the work as a
performance contract, the second with the city.

Schneider Electric guarantees that Houston will save $1.8 million
annually over the 15-year contract when the second phase project is
completed in August 2011. This is in addition to the $719,513 guaranteed
annual savings from a $9.6 million performance contract implemented by
Schneider Electric in 2009. The phase one enhancements, involving seven
city buildings, are scheduled to complete this spring.

In this new phase, Schneider Electric will implement numerous energy
conservation measures (ECMs) in facilities that include Houston's city
hall building, municipal courts, police headquarters and academy, water
purification plant, and two branch libraries, measuring 1,649,000 square
feet in total. These include central plant improvements, adding or
updating building management systems, installing new and upgraded heating
ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, retrofitting existing
lighting fixtures to new, efficient fixtures, adding lighting controls,
and installing new, water-saving plumbing fixtures.

"The city of Houston has been pleased with the results from our first
performance contract with Schneider Electric, and we are ready to step up
and do even more," said Issa Dadoush, director of General Services
Division, city of Houston. "This large-scale project will have a
tremendous impact in reducing the city's energy consumption and its
emission of greenhouse gases and is a testament to our commitment to
being a more sustainable city."

Performance contracting offers many long-term benefits for cities, such
as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management
and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment
and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and
generate utility savings. Schneider Electric guarantees the amount of
savings performance contracting projects will achieve and agrees to pay
the difference if that amount is not realized.

"Once completed, the city of Houston will experience measurably less
energy consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, significantly lower
operating costs, and shrinking carbon footprints for city buildings,"
said Jeff Drees, president, Buildings Business Americas, Schneider
Electric. "Schneider Electric's energy professionals have unmatched
expertise in delivering cost-saving projects across business categories
that help our customers achieve more with their energy while using less
of our natural resources."

The positive impact on the environment resulting from the city officials'
dedication to reducing energy consumption will include decreasing annual
emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere by 5,831 tons, which is equivalent
to removing 1,166 cars from the roads for a year or planting 1,586 acres
of trees to help restore the ecosystem balance.

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management
with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers
integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including
leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes,
building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad
presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe,
reliable, and efficient, the company's 100,000+ employees achieved sales
of more than $22 billion in 2009, through an active commitment to help
individuals and organizations "Make the most of their energy."

www.schneider-electric.us

Press Contact:
Kristin D'Ambrosio
Text 100 for Schneider Electric

Phone: +1 212-331-8414
Mobile : +1 914-374-2147
Kristin.dambrosio@text100.com

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