OPTERRA Energy Services Honored as Finalist for Prestigious NAESCO Project of the Year Award
OPTERRA Energy Services has announced that its innovative partnership with Broward County, Florida, has been named a finalist for the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) Project of the Year Award, a distinguished recognition celebrating excellence in energy efficiency, infrastructure modernization, and sustainability leadership.
This recognition underscores OPTERRA’s ongoing commitment to transforming community infrastructure through sustainable energy solutions. The Broward County initiative—one of the most comprehensive municipal modernization programs in the region—highlights how collaboration between public agencies and private-sector energy experts can yield long-term economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Advancing Community Infrastructure and Sustainability
At the heart of the award-nominated project lies a clear vision: to create a smarter, greener, and more resilient future for Broward County’s two million residents. Spanning libraries, parks, government facilities, and transit hubs, the $6.5 million modernization initiative serves as a model for how local governments can upgrade essential services while aligning with ambitious climate action goals.
Through a combination of advanced technologies, efficiency measures, and renewable energy systems, OPTERRA helped Broward County reduce operational costs, enhance public comfort and safety, and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative reflects a deep understanding of how integrated energy solutions can serve both fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship.
“Our project work with Broward County reflects our commitment to building strong and lasting partnerships, prioritizing transparency, accountability, and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle,” said Courtney Jenkins, CEO of OPTERRA Energy Services. “With ongoing collaboration and a shared vision to positively impact the more than two million residents of Broward County, our comprehensive energy plan ensures that the County’s projected energy savings are achieved and sustained for decades to come.”
Smart, Strategic, and Sustainable Upgrades
Broward County worked closely with OPTERRA to develop a data-driven, cost-justified roadmap for implementing efficiency upgrades that directly advance its ambitious climate objectives—specifically, reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2007 levels by 2050.
Key improvements under the project included:
- High-efficiency HVAC systems that optimize indoor comfort while minimizing energy consumption.
- Advanced LED lighting and smart controls that enhance visibility and reduce maintenance costs.
- On-site solar energy generation, supporting clean energy adoption and resilience.
- Building automation and energy management systems to ensure long-term performance and accountability.
- Water conservation measures and programmable thermostats for responsible resource use.
- Upgraded building envelopes, improving insulation and overall system efficiency.
Together, these integrated measures not only drive measurable energy and cost savings but also improve the quality of public spaces—making libraries, parks, and other civic facilities more inviting, comfortable, and sustainable.
A Model for Public-Private Partnership
The Broward County–OPTERRA collaboration stands as a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in addressing the challenges of aging infrastructure and climate resilience. By combining the County’s long-term sustainability goals with OPTERRA’s technical expertise and performance-based contracting approach, the partnership ensured that upgrades were implemented efficiently, transparently, and with guaranteed results.
Dr. Timothy Unruh, Executive Director of the National Association of Energy Service Companies, commended the achievement:
“The NAESCO Member Award Finalists’ projects demonstrate the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in modernizing infrastructure and delivering measurable value to communities. They reflect the innovation and technical expertise that define our members’ contributions to the built environment.”
Such recognition from NAESCO further validates the value of performance contracting—a model that allows governments and institutions to achieve large-scale infrastructure modernization without upfront capital expenditures, paying for improvements over time through guaranteed energy savings.
Driving Long-Term Impact
Beyond cost and efficiency gains, the Broward County project has delivered significant environmental and social outcomes. By integrating clean energy systems and conservation technologies, the initiative contributes to Florida’s broader sustainability agenda, supporting cleaner air, reduced emissions, and more climate-resilient communities.
Moreover, the upgrades foster greater operational reliability, ensuring that essential community spaces remain functional and comfortable during extreme weather events or power disruptions—an increasingly vital benefit in a changing climate.
About NAESCO and OPTERRA Energy Services
The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) serves as the United States’ premier accreditation and advocacy organization for the energy services industry. NAESCO’s annual Project of the Year Awards highlight the best-in-class efforts of member companies that are reshaping America’s infrastructure through innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.
OPTERRA Energy Services is a national leader in designing and implementing turnkey energy solutions that help public and private sector clients reduce costs, improve infrastructure, and achieve sustainability targets. With a focus on long-term partnership and performance assurance, OPTERRA delivers integrated energy programs that enhance community well-being while addressing today’s most pressing climate challenges.
