The School district is one of the first in the nation to receive funding through Elective Pay
MUNFORDVILLE, KY – Hart County Schools celebrated the receipt of $793,078.71 in federal funding from Elective Pay for the installation of a high-performance geothermal system at Memorial Elementary School. As one of the first districts in Kentucky—and nationwide—to receive funding, Hart County Schools is leading the way in leveraging clean energy tax credits to support energy efficiency and healthier environments.
“This energy performance contract with CMTA will save Hart County Schools $6.7 million over 20 years by significantly cutting energy use by 52%, leading to lower utility bills. These improvements not only reduce energy and utility costs but also make our schools healthier for students and staff,” said Nathan Smith, Superintendent of Hart County Schools.
The tax credits are available for clean energy technologies like geothermal heat pumps, thermal storage, and solar energy. Elective Pay allows school districts to convert tax credits into cash reimbursements. The long-term savings produced by energy-efficiency upgrades can be redirected towards enhancing student learning opportunities or raising teacher salaries.
“Hart County is among a leading set of districts across the country that are leveraging clean energy tax credits to reduce costs for taxpayers. Clean energy tax credits are reducing the upfront costs of projects and lowering operating costs by supporting modern, efficient building systems. That’s a win for budgets today and into the future.” said Sara Ross, co-founder of UndauntedK12.
The historic Memorial Elementary School building, which serves 350 students, underwent comprehensive upgrades to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The school’s aging boiler/tower HVAC system was replaced with a geothermal ground source heat pump system. The geothermal wellfield was strategically drilled beneath the school’s baseball field and will deliver sustainable heating and cooling with reduced carbon emissions. Additionally, dedicated outside air units were installed to enhance indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Together, these systems will provide an impressive 52% reduction in energy usage.
This work was completed as part of a guaranteed energy savings performance contract with CMTA, a Legence company, based in Louisville, KY. The project’s primary goals were to modernize infrastructure, reduce energy consumption, and generate substantial utility cost savings for the district—all while improving the learning environment. District-wide energy improvements were implemented across seven buildings totaling 421,800 square feet, including the following key measures:
- Replacement of 2,600 outdated fluorescent lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LED lighting
- Installation of web-based building automation systems in five elementary schools to optimize energy management
- Building envelope improvements in four buildings to enhance insulation and overall energy efficiency
- Complete HVAC renovations in four buildings
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About CMTA
CMTA, a Legence company, headquartered in Louisville, KY is a multi-service practice founded in 1968 with 49 offices and 1,100 employees nationally. Focused on mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and technology engineering, performance contracting and zero energy/zero carbon solutions, CMTA delivers decarbonization and occupant health and wellness through energy efficient, sustainable projects. It is a national leader for geo-exchange and geothermal solutions across a variety of markets, including healthcare, K-12, higher education, federal and local government and commercial real estate. www.cmta.com