$106,000 Captured for a Public School HVAC Upgrade

Overview

When Baltimore County Public Schools decided to upgrade their HVAC equipment atPatapsco High School and Center for the Arts, the project team needed a clear path to utility incentives. Because the school is located in Baltimore Gas and Electric’s (BGE) service area, the project could pursue incentives for qualifying HVAC equipment.

Spectrum Energy worked with Havtech to review the project scope, identify which systems qualified under BGE incentive guidelines, and handle the application process. The result was $106,000 in incentives secured for a major HVAC renovation at an aging public high school campus. 

Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts was originally constructed in 1963 and totals 201,133 square feet, making this the kind of large, complex facility where every funding opportunity matters. 

 

Challenge

The High School needed new HVAC equipment to replace an aging system, but the incentive path was not simple.

The project included a wide mix of equipment across the campus, and not every piece would qualify under utility rules. 

That created several challenges for the owner and project team:

• A large public-school facility with aging infrastructure and a broad renovation scope
• Multiple equipment types with different eligibility rules
• Limited time to sort through utility requirements during an active capital project
• Pressure to reduce project cost without adding more administrative burden

For school systems and project partners, this is where incentive dollars often get missed. The equipment may be installed, but the paperwork, timing, and program details can still hold up the funding.

 

Solution

Spectrum Energy reviewed the project against BGE program requirements and identified the equipment with the strongest incentive potential.

That work included:

• Reviewing the HVAC scope and matching eligible equipment to current BGE guidelines
• Identifying qualifying equipment across the project
• Preparing and submitting the required incentive applications
• Coordinating documentation so the owner and project partner did not have to manage the process alone

The installed equipment on the project included:

• 9 Aaon DOAS rooftop units
• 7 Aaon air handling units
• 1 400-ton air-cooled chiller
• VFD pumps 
• 22 Daikin ductless split system AC/HPs

From that broader scope, Spectrum Energy secured incentives for:

• 3 Aaon DOAS rooftop units
• 1 Daikin air-cooled chiller
• 20 Daikin ductless split systems
• VFDs

This is a good example of how Spectrum adds value. The team does not simply submit forms. They sort through the project, find what qualifies, and move the incentive process forward with less friction for everyone involved.