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Honeywell Helps California Schools Soak Up the Sun, Cut Utility Bills

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

September 2, 2008

thomas

Honeywell logo (PRNewsFoto/Honeywell Building Solutions)

Solar Power Agreements Allow Dixon, Riverdale and Other Districts to Reduce
Carbon Emissions While Saving Millions

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The U.S. Department of
Energy estimates that the nation’s schools spend an average of $175 per
student on energy costs — a figure that continues to rise every year.
Overall, utility bills are the second largest expense behind personnel
costs

At the same time, there is a growing awareness across the country about
environmental impact and the effects of global warming. And many schools
are looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions and serve as models of
energy conservation.

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) is helping school districts in California address
both concerns through an innovative solar program. The company today
announced that Dixon Unified School District and Riverdale Joint Unified
School District in central California have awarded Honeywell solar projects
expected to drive more than $1 million in energy savings for each district
over the next 20 years. Under the agreements, Honeywell will install solar
panels at several facilities and sell the electricity the panels produce to
the districts. The projects require no upfront investment from the
districts, which are able to buy renewable energy at a price below their
current utility rates.

In Dixon, Honeywell will install a SunSeeker(TM) ground-mounted
photovoltaic solar array from Thompson Technology Industries at the
district’s new high school. The array will use single-axis tracking
technology to automatically orient the panels to the sun’s position in the
sky, improving the electrical output of the system. The system is expected
to generate more than 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually —
enough energy to power 120 homes per year and supply more than 80 percent
of the electricity for the school.

“The combination of financial and environmental benefits made the solar
project with Honeywell a sound decision,” said Dixon Unified School
District superintendent Roger Halberg. “The new high school will serve the
district for a long time. And the solar installation will help ensure it is
as carbon neutral as possible.”

Honeywell will install similar technology at Riverdale High School and
Fipps Primary School in Riverdale. These arrays are expected to generate
nearly 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which will cover
more than 60 percent of the district’s total electricity load.

“The fact that going green also provided a financial advantage was very
attractive to us,” said Elaine Cash, superintendent of Riverdale Joint
Unified School District. “This solar project with Honeywell will maximize
our budget resources while maintaining clean, sustainable schools.”

Honeywell also has implemented solar projects for Pleasanton Unified
School District in the San Francisco Bay Area and Poway Unified School
District in San Diego. It estimates that if only 20 percent of California
districts installed similar solar technology, the state could reduce
conventional electricity consumption in schools by 6 to 9 percent.

Collectively, the company’s solar work for schools in California is
expected to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 4.3 million
pounds and nitrous oxide emissions by nearly 4,000 pounds. According to
figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent
to removing more than 460 cars from the road or planting 575 acres of
trees.

In addition to reducing costs and emissions, the solar arrays at all
four districts are expected to serve as an educational tool that faculty
can use to teach students about energy conservation and alternative energy
sources. Through Web-based portals, teachers and students will be able to
see the real- time electrical output from the solar technology and learn
how the systems operate.

“Honeywell is helping these school districts identify the most
appropriate renewable energy technology to meet their unique requirements,
and doing it in a way that is line with their budgets,” said Kent Anson,
vice president of global energy for Honeywell Building Solutions. “In
addition to helping the schools with rising energy costs, the solar arrays
also will provide students a solid educational tool for years to come.”

Honeywell will work with SPG Solar, Inc. to install the panels, and
expects to begin providing electricity to the Dixon and Riverdale districts
by year’s end. The work will partially be funded by solar rebates offered
through the California Solar Initiative, a program aimed at moving the
state toward a cleaner energy future through implementation of solar
systems.

Honeywell International is a $38 billion diversified technology and
manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products
and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry;
automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in
Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York,
London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For additional information, please
visit http://www.honeywell.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the
Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader
in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and
profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe,
comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more
information about Building Solutions, access
http://www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements,
other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or
developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or
anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions and
assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions,
expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not
guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and
business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking
statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and
uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and
long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect
our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Honeywell

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