Project Profile PDF 

University of Rhode Island’s recognition by the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s greenest colleges for seven consecutive years starts with its buildings. Many have been modernized through guaranteed energy savings performance contracts.

NORESCO’s legacy of energy efficiency with URI began in 1985 with one of the nation’s first performance contracts. NORESCO’s construction of URI’s new central boiler plant followed in 1999, supported by a long-term agreement still in place for NORESCO to provide full-time, on-site plant operation. In 2005, URI expanded its energy efficiency objectives to include emissions reductions under a new state program and chose NORESCO as its energy performance contractor. NORESCO has delivered more than $24.8 million in facilities improvements in buildings totaling more than 3.7 million square feet across the Kingston, Providence and Narragansett Bay campuses. URI is relying on NORESCO for $7.8 million more in improvements now under construction.

Energy conservation measures supported in URI’s master energy plan range from new lighting in the Keaney gymnasium that added automatic controls, saves 71 percent in electricity use and improves lighting, to innovative water-recirculation systems that save 73 million gallons of water annually and bolster academic research and budgets at the Aquaculture Center. 

As a signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (now called the Carbon Commitment), URI is committed to progress toward climate neutrality. Its incremental emissions reductions are realized in large part through performance contracts.

NORESCO implemented a unique Energy Conservation Through Behavior Change® program, later assimilated into the facilities and housing departments. The program provided resource conservation education and awareness training with measurable results, helping strengthen the culture of sustainability on campus.

Project Cost: $24.8 Million*

Annual Cost Savings: $2.8 Million*

Contract Term: Up to 12 Years

Contract Type: ESPC

* Does not include work now under construction