Facility managers have many funding sources for building projects besides using their own capital. This panel session will bring together project financing experts, building efficiency experts, and tax knowledge to help a facility manager better understand methods for funding their building improvement projects.

Panelists include:

• Timothy Unruh, Executive Director, National Association of Energy Service Companies

• Charlie Zitnik, Senior Vice President, Public Finance, DA Davidson Companies

• Madonna Rykken, Business Development Manager, Florida Power and Light (FPL) Energy Services Group

Viewers will learn about performance contracting, which involves making energy-efficient improvements to buildings and using the resulting savings to fund the project. In addition, the presentation emphasizes the importance of a preliminary assessment to determine if there are opportunities for cost savings. Three key considerations for potential savings are energy costs, operational costs (repairs, maintenance, etc.), and capital improvement budgets.

Another funding concept covered is project leveraging, wherein the savings generated can be used to pay down a loan, potentially sourced from federal incentives like investment tax credits or greenhouse gas reduction funds. The presentation emphasizes the value of addressing maintenance needs promptly, highlighting the contrast between well-maintained properties and those requiring constant renovations.

The session includes real-world examples of successful projects, including a school district in Florida that saw $18.5 million in savings over the contract period. Another case involves working with the Kennedy Space Center on a $20 million project, including energy-efficient measures and a 2-megawatt ground-mounted PV system.