Greenbrier County Schools

Greenbrier County Schools (GCS) serves approximately 4,700 students across its 14 educational facilities in Lewisburg, West Virginia. In 2022, GCS enlisted CMTA to conduct an extensive analysis of all school facility lighting, HVAC systems, building envelopes, and utility costs, totaling approximately 1,000,000 square feet. Following this study, CMTA was hired to provide a comprehensive energy savings performance contract (ESPC) that will modernize the district's infrastructure, prioritize occupant comfort, significantly reduce energy consumption, and generate substantial utility cost savings.

Not only is this initiative guaranteed to save the district $550,000 annually, but through the Inflation Reduction Act, GCS is eligible for over $2 million in federal incentives. Through the leveraging of these funding sources, GCS has partnered with CMTA to implement the following project scope:

• Both Western Greenbrier Middle School/Rupert Elementary School and Rainelle Elementary School have received a turnkey photovoltaic (PV) system. The DC to AC inverters include an internet-based monitoring system that will be monitored throughout the length of the contract. The 529.74 kW solar PV array at WGMS/RES is a ground-mounted system, located in the field adjacent to Rupert Elementary School. Rainelle Elementary School will receive a 61.04 kW roof-mounted system in the summer of 2025. An outdoor educational lab is included in the ground-mounted system to provide an educational platform for students and staff. Additionally, both schools have received a solarFOX dashboard with capabilities to present real-time electrical production values to students. 
• A new high-efficiency geothermal system replaces the existing HVAC system at WGMS/RES which was past its end of life, including new water source heat pumps, hydronic pumps, variable frequency drives, and dedicated outdoor air systems. This significantly low energy consumption HVAC system in combination with the ground-mounted solar array pushes this facility into the highest energy performing category of schools in the state and country.
• LED lighting upgrades have been made for 13 facilities, including over 9,900 lighting fixtures, both interior and exterior. The result of replacing outdated fluorescent and incandescent technologies is a reduced burden on maintenance staff, extended life cycle of bulbs, and significant energy savings.
• The existing steam boiler system and rooftop units at Smoot Elementary School is replaced with a new variable refrigerant flow system, promoting increased outside air ventilation to the building. As a part of this upgrade, the buildings electrical components, which are original to the building, are completely replaced with new modernized electrical equipment. 
• The existing 200-ton chiller at WGMS/RES will has been repurposed at Ronceverte Elementary School, serving as replacement for the original outdated chiller.
• BAS controls upgrade and integration has been made for 5 schools to a single user-friendly front-end interface.
• New supervisory server provides single sign-on web-based access for 11 facilities.
• Double-pane window replace old, inefficient windows at Greenbrier East High School
• Building envelope improvements were made including spray foam insulation applied to the roof deck at Smoot Elementary School

Read about the solar array ribbon cutting