St. Louis Communities Boost Great Energy Savings

The St. Louis metropolitan area is home to approximately 2.8 million people made up of several distinct and diverse communities. Like many American cities, St. Louis’ local leaders juggle shifting community priorities while stewarding taxpayer dollars and budgets. One consistent struggle comes from managing and repairing costly aging infrastructure.

By working with Trane, each city was able to build a customized approach to meet the specific goals of three St. Louis communities while maximizing the investment. OMNIA Partners helped streamline the process and offer the best value through a cooperative purchasing agreement. 

Modernizing for Community Comfort & Prosperity

A first-ring suburb, historic Des Peres’ many community buildings were aging and needed repair. The iconic 100-year-old City Hall had an old mechanical system that was inefficient and costly to run. The comfort of the Public Safety Building that houses first responders had become unreliable with failing HVAC systems and insulation. And the community center was aging, uncomfortable, and didn’t represent the pride that residents felt for their community.

Des Peres’ leaders acted swiftly by working with Trane to modernize each of the in-need facilities by leveraging an energy savings performance contract. In an extra step toward savings, Des Peres procured the project through OMNIA Partners, a cooperative purchasing resource offering streamlined project procurement and best-value pricing. Trane helped Des Peres improve each facility with:

• New Mechanical HVAC Systems
• City-Wide Building Automation Systems
• High-Efficiency Interior and Exterior Lighting Modernization
• Enhances ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Throughout Each Building
• A New On-Site Emergency Generatior and Dehumidification System

Streamlining Community Savings with ESPC & OMNIA Partners

Just north of St. Louis, St. Ann is home to roughly 13,000 residents. St. Ann’s officials had compiled a lengthy list of costly repairs and improvements community spaces needed. Aging HVAC systems, failing heaters and exhaust systems, and dilapidating roofing was costing thousands to repair.

Relying on Trane as its single, turnkey provider for project management and installation streamlined the execution process and drove important cost-saving efficiencies. Working with Trane’s local building experts, city leaders opted to modernize several facilities with high-efficiency HVAC systems, exterior and indoor lighting, and controls upgrades. 

St. Ann’s leaders leaned into further increasing their savings by procuring the project through a cooperative purchasing contract with OMNIA Partners. Relying on cooperative purchasing offered best-value, pre-negotiated pricing and streamlined equipment, controls, and service procurement directly from Trane – reducing the cost to fund, execute, and manage the project.

Maximizing Return on IAQ & Infrastructure Investments

A modern community with a population of over 70,000 residents, St. Charles’ public facilities serve as the backbone of the city. In 2020, facing costly repairs and a growing need to improve indoor air quality in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Charles’ leaders turned to their local Trane team to help improve the comfort, IAQ, and efficiency of their community’s most critical spaces. A holistic plan to improve IAQ throughout each facility was put into action, including HVAC system enhancements, increased ventilation, and over 50 systems installations. 

To avoid system failures and costly repairs, Trane quickly stepped into action to replace the chiller and cooling tower through an OMNIA Partners cooperative purchasing agreement. This streamlined and value-priced procurement saved St. Charles money while helping to prevent system failure and staff discomfort throughout City Hall.