Charter School Capital & BioStar Launch Charter School Energy
Launch of program establishes first of its kind solution exclusively helping charter schools access sustainable energy solutions and reduce overall energy costs
PORTLAND, Ore. (March 12, 2019) –– Charter School Capital, the first national financial services provider who exclusively focuses on charter schools and the students they serve, unveiled Charter School Energy, powered by BioStar Renewables, today at the California Charter Schools Conference. Charter School Capital and BioStar Renewables joined forces to create this first ever sustainable energy program exclusively designed for charter schools.
Charter School Energy is a full-service energy upgrade program that allows charter schools to access renewable and energy-efficient solutions for their buildings with flexible financing options. The program enables schools to improve their learning environment while reducing utility and maintenance expenses, so that budget can be reallocated to programs and other education resources.
“Every school facility has its own set of challenges around energy use and utility expenses,” said Charlie Burrows, director of new products at Charter School Capital. “Charter School Energy meets those challenges with customized solutions that save schools money while significantly enhancing learning environments, so administrators can focus on what matters most – educating students.”
Charter School Energy upgrades improve learning environments through energy-efficient windows, smart LED commercial lighting, and HVAC with thermostat systems. And renewable energy production, like solar or wind power, even allow schools to offset some or all of the building’s remaining energy consumption.
“Our energy solutions will provide charter school leaders with the peace of mind in knowing that their facilities are optimized for a prime learning experience,” said David Smart, president and COO of energy reduction at BioStar Renewables. “Comfortable environments are a natural offshoot of energy-efficiency and energy cost savings will allow schools to reallocate funding earmarked for energy to education resources and technology, and other learning environment enhancements.”
According to the International WELL Building Institute, studies suggest that a school’s physical design can affect a child’s academic performance by as much as 25 percent. LED lighting alone has a significant impact on health, well-being and mental cognition. Other upgrades affect air quality and comfort.
Charter schools with an environmental-focused curriculum or area of study will uniquely benefit from Charter School Energy upgrades given that case studies in energy efficiency and renewable energy can be cultivated right on campus.
“Nearly 3.2 million students attend charter schools in the country, and we’re eager to optimize the schools in which those kids learn,” said Smart. “Charter School Capital is providing solutions that simply weren’t possible until recently. No one else is doing what they’re doing. They’re confident in their investment and willing to take the risks necessary to see true change come to fruition. We are thrilled to be onboard with their mission.”
“We are pleased to recommend BioStar Renewables as a preferred partner,” said Burrows. “Their mission to effect change through building improvements while decreasing costs is in alignment with our goals and fulfills a much-needed resource. Our partnership with them is a natural fit.”
About BioStar Renewables:
BioStar Renewables is a renewable energy investment and development company focused on solutions that both produce and reduce kilowatts. The company’s principals have built over 1,000 Megawatts of solar, biomass and CHP projects. These renewable solutions, combined with expertise in energy management and reduction, provide customers a comprehensive energy plan. Click here to learn more.
About Charter School Capital:
Launched in 2006, Charter School Capital helps schools access, leverage, and sustain the resources charter schools need to thrive, allowing them to focus on what matters most – educating students. Charter School Capital has invested more than $1.8 billion in funding to 600+ charter schools, helping them provide a high-quality education to more than one million students across the country. For more information, visit charterschoolcapital.org or email GrowCharters@charterschoolcapital.org.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kelliann Amico, APR | Amico Public Relations | kelliann@amicopr.com | (503) 705-6203
David Smart | BioStar Renewables | dsmart@biostarrenewables.com | (913) 369-4100
Healthy Design: The WELL Building Standard
If we want our built environment to be truly sustainable, we need to consider the 3 P’s of Sustainability – people, the planet and profits. The sustainability community, along with architects and builders, have long been concerned with the effect of our buildings on the planet. And in recent years, improvements in technology, supply chains, building practices and funding sources have resulted in many green building techniques that are profitable from day one. These methods and materials that reduce the impact on our planet have entered the mainstream.
But now, a new standard that addresses the effect of buildings on people is gaining recognition. The WELL Building Standard recognizes that the well-being of the people that inhabit buildings is just as important as the building itself. Not only does the standard lay out guidelines by which we can measure and improve the way our buildings affect our health, it sets a framework to increasing long-term, overall employee productivity. It’s the human-centric version of LEED certification. BioStar Renewables has always been dedicated to offering solutions that improve buildings’ energy use and the health of the people inside. But now, they’re taking their commitment to a new level by obtaining a WELL Accredited Professional (AP) certification.
The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) is leading the global movement to transform our buildings and communities in ways that help people thrive. It is a model for design and construction based on the principle that buildings can improve our comfort, drive better choices, increase productivity and generally enhance, not compromise, our health and wellness. The standard has also been shown to increase business profitability. It is estimated that a company’s performance can be increased by nearly 22% if their offices are well designed. For a building to achieve WELL certification, seven optimization concepts are measured: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind.
BioStar’s focus will be to install advanced LED commercial lighting systems that are healthy and comprehensive to the building’s use. Excellent lighting design can reinforce, rather than disrupt, the body’s circadian rhythm, improving energy, mood and productivity. Circadian lighting uses LEDs and programmable controls to emulate the natural environment. This human-centric commercial lighting design changes color and brightness based on the time of day. The WELL Building Standard has requirements for window performance and design, daylighting, illumination levels appropriate to the activity in a room, glare control, color quality and lighting controls.
BioStar is actively working toward becoming WELL AP certified in order to optimize customers’ built environments to maximize productivity and wellness. At the recent Greenbuild Expo 2018, the team met with vendors and developers who are actively utilizing the WELL standard.
“We look forward to advancing our knowledge and gaining the ability to help clients obtain the WELL building certification. Key partnerships with industry experts will enable us to lead turnkey LED commercial lighting projects with top-quality materials and excellent design standards. We’ve engaged with several Assisted Living communities across the country who are interested in exploring human centric lighting pilot programs to increase their residents’ quality of life.”
said David Smart, Senior V.P. of Sales at BioStar.
The WELL Building Standard is enhancing the ability of BioStar, and the building industry as a whole, to achieve sustainable design that is positive for people, the planet and profits.
BioStar & Forum Equity Partnership
BioStar Renewables and Forum Equity Partners Announce $15 Million Development Capital Financing Commitment for Solar Power Generation Projects.
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS & TORONTO, ONTARIO – March 13, 2018 – BioStar Renewables, a diversified late-stage renewable energy developer, and Forum Equity Partners, a leading private equity investor focused on real assets, today announced a deal to provide $15 million in development capital for BioStar’s pipeline of late-stage solar power generation projects throughout the United States. The financing will significantly expand BioStar’s capability to advance its pipeline earlier in the development cycle in order to provide capital, construction management and long-term asset management for energy projects worldwide.
Bill Love, CEO of BioStar says,
“We look forward to using this capital to expand our business at a time when renewable energy has reached a tipping point in our society. In 2017 solar and wind made up 62% of all new power construction in the U.S. The additional funds will allow BioStar and our co-development partners to bring more solutions and greater value to our customers in an expedited manner.
This predevelopment capital, combined with our ability to provide construction financing, sponsor equity, tax-credit monetization, and long-term debt rounds out the entire capital-stack from early stage through long-term asset ownership.”
Bram Walters, Managing Partner of Power & Renewables at Forum Equity Partners said,
“BioStar’s platform provides a full suite of capabilities to advance projects from development through operation and long-term asset management, which fits directly with Forum’s focus on providing financing across the development cycle. BioStar’s highly experienced team has the demonstrated ability to manage the high-risk, early-stage development process.
We look forward to providing BioStar with the capital required to rapidly grow their business and the potential long-term equity investment opportunities that will arise from being involved at an earlier stage of development.”
About Biostar Renewables:
BioStar Renewables is a renewable energy investment and development company that focuses on solutions that both reduce and produce kilowatts. The company’s principals have built over 1,000 megawatts of solar, biomass, and combined heat and power projects. This, in combination with energy management and efficiency services, provides a holistic approach for a comprehensive energy plan. BioStar provides the full capital-stack from early development through completion and will own/operate systems for the full project tenure to ensure customers have operational and contract continuity. Click here to learn more.
About Forum:
Forum is an alternative asset private equity investor with a focus on power and renewables, infrastructure, and real estate. Working with our partners and clients, we achieve aggressive growth and success beyond expectations through innovation and consistent performance as a top-tier alternative asset class developer, investor, and manager. Forum continues to deliver a cumulative return on invested capital in the top 1% of alternative asset managers and oversees approximately $1.0 billion enterprise value of assets under management. Over the last two decades, Forum has acquired, sold, developed, or bid, on a committed financing basis, over CAD$3 billion of assets. For more information, visit www.forumequitypartners.com
BioStar & Amerex Partnership
BioStar Renewables was the installing contractor and energy auditor.
Download the PDF featuring our Amerex partnership.
Block & Company Realtors Cut Energy Use Across Portfolio
A leader in commercial real estate service and innovation, Block & Company Inc. has established an initiative to save energy and money across their portfolio of properties. Searching for energy efficiency solutions that make economic sense, they have partnered with BioStar Lighting and Light My Life LLC, completing LED projects at the Skelly Building, The Landing Mall, Summit Woods pads and Summit Crossing pads.
At the Skelly Building on the Country Club Plaza, home of Block & Company Inc.’s headquarters, the LED upgrade achieved 71% energy reduction, saving almost 300,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Including maintenance savings, the retrofit reduces total lighting costs by 75%, resulting in a 1.9-year payback after a rebate from KCP&L.
The upgrade at the Skelly Building has been well received by tenants, particularly regarding the better quality light in the parking garage. The garage lighting was transformed from a dark orange glow to a fresh and bright light that makes the garage feel safer. The parking fixtures have built-in occupancy sensors which automatically dim after a period of inactivity, maximizing energy savings.
At The Landing Mall, the company saved over 527,000 kilowatt-hours per year by replacing fixtures and lamps in all interior common areas and public spaces, offices, restrooms and parking structures. The new lights produce a stylish modern look and better security, while eliminating maintenance headaches due to replacing tall lights on ceilings and in parking lots.
The four projects together will save over 447,000 kilowatt-hours of energy use, resulting in total operating cost savings of more than $1 million over 10 years. This will prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 750,900 miles driven by an average car or 46 homes’ electricity use for one year.
Block & Company Inc. recognizes the importance of energy efficiency and continues to proactively reduce their carbon footprint by making their buildings more efficient.
“We believe in the aggressive approach to LED lighting and plan to convert as many properties as fast as we can in the future,”
says David M Block, President of Block & Company Inc. Realtors.
About Block & Company
Block & Company, Inc. Realtors is a full service commercial real estate company headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri since its inception in 1946. The firm’s services include brokerage, development, investment, asset/property management, tenant representation, and corporate real estate services. With transactions extending to 187 cities in 35 states, Block & Company manages millions of square feet of retail, restaurant, office, and industrial space. Block & Company is proud to be known as one of the Midwest’s premier full service real estate organizations, consistently ranked among the industry leaders by trade magazines, local business publications, and our industry peers.
BioStar Wins 25 Under 25® Award
BioStar was recognized as one of Kansas City’s best small businesses and a winner of the 2017 25 Under 25® Awards.
Hosted by Thinking Bigger Business Media, the awards are presented to 25 local businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Each winner has demonstrated financial strength, the ability to overcome adversity and challenges, a commitment to the community and a powerful company vision.
“Small businesses are a powerful, but often overlooked force in Kansas City,”
said Kelly Scanlon, CEO of Thinking Bigger Business Media and the creator of 25 Under 25®.
“Together, these companies employ thousands upon thousands of people, deliver innovative products and services, and help support our government, schools, nonprofits and other public resources. Of course, most of our winners are too humble and too busy to brag about their contributions. But it’s a story that needs to be told. The 25 Under 25® Awards are proud to celebrate the important service of small businesses.”
An independent panel of judges consisting of area business leaders chooses the winning companies.
BioStar Projects Honored by DOE’s Better Building Challenge
MC Realty, Tutera Group and U.S. Toy were recently honored with awards presented by the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, in conjunction with US Green Building Council, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and International Facility Management Association (IFMA) for exemplary energy efficient LED lighting upgrades completed by BioStar Lighting. The awards recognize real estate owners who are leaders in implementing exceptional energy savings through high-efficiency lighting and controls.
Tutera Group and U.S. Toy were honored at the BOMA 2016 International Conference. MC Realty accepted their award at the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo alongside other corporations that are actively working to reduce their energy use such as Arby’s Restaurant Group and MGM Resorts International.
MC Realty received two 2016 Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) campaign awards for “Highest Percentage Energy Savings in a Retrofit at a Single Parking Structure” and “Exemplary Office Sector Parking Facility”. BioStar’s design team achieved 83% energy savings at Poindexter Garage.
BioStar Lighting and MC Realty have partnered on 9 LED lighting projects, mainly retrofitting parking garages and stairwells with energy efficient LEDs. Notable projects include the garage at the Marriott Downtown and the Broadway Square Building. At Broadway Square, BioStar retrofitted the parking garage and common area lighting. In total, MC Realty’s upgrades will save an estimated 2,000,000 kWh per year which is equivalent to the electricity use in 208 US homes. This will reduce lighting costs for electricity and maintenance by more than 80%, saving more than $265,000 annually.
Tutera Group received the “Exemplary Commercial Real Estate and Hospitality Sector Site” award from the Interior Lighting Campaign for the LED upgrade of the office building containing their headquarters at 7611 State Line Road. More than 600 lights were retrofitted, reducing the building’s lighting energy use by 62% and saving over 100,000 kWh of electricity per year. The commercial real estate and senior living management company is now in the process of upgrading their portfolio of properties and has completed 13 turnkey LED retrofits with BioStar.
“With most of our Kansas City portfolio complete, we are excited to leverage BioStar’s nationwide capabilities and start looking at other projects outside of the Kansas City metro. BioStar is currently evaluating nine more of our assisted living communities throughout Missouri and Illinois,” says CEO Joe Tutera.
U.S. Toy received the “Exemplary Retail, Food Service or Grocery Sector Site” award from the Interior Lighting Campaign for the complete LED upgrade of their headquarters in Grandview, MO. BioStar replaced more than 450 fluorescent fixtures in the office in a weekend and retrofitted their warehouses. The projects resulted in a total energy savings estimate of 340,000 kWh per year, reducing their lighting energy use by nearly 70% and eliminating maintenance headaches.
According to Seth Freiden, CEO of U.S. Toy, upgrading to energy efficient lighting with BioStar “supports U.S. Toy’s ongoing commitment to sustainability including retrofitting our factories with energy-efficient lighting, controls, solar, and increased use of recycled packaging.”
“BioStar’s projects represent some of the best-in-class facility retrofit lighting projects in the United States,” said Paul Wessel, director, USGBC. “By implementing high-performance energy-efficient lighting systems, companies like MC Realty, Tutera Group and U.S. Toy are not only cutting energy use and maintenance costs, but helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global electricity consumption.”
BioStar is thrilled that their clients were honored for their energy efficiency efforts.
“Our design team focuses on high-quality project-specific solutions that result in maximum energy savings, ensure the best paybacks and guarantee a long product life. The Department of Energy awards recognize the exemplary performance of these solutions,” said Mark Mansheim, former President of BioStar Lighting.
BioStar Projects Honored by US Green Building Council & DOE
Annual LEEP awards honors organizations for cutting energy use in parking facilities
(Kansas City, MO and Los Angeles, CA) – Oct. 26, 2016 – Today, MC Realty announced its a recipient of two 2016 Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) campaign awards for “Highest Percentage Energy Savings in a Retrofit at a Single Parking Structure” and “Exemplary Office Sector Parking Facility”. The Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA), International Facility Management Organization (IFMA), International Parking Institute (IPI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in conjunction with the Department of Energy Better Buildings Alliance, collaborate on this annual recognition of real estate owners that have achieved exceptional performance in parking facility energy reduction through high-efficiency lighting and controls. MC Realty accepted their award alongside other corporations that are actively working to reduce their energy use such as Arby’s Restaurant Group and MGM Resorts International.
MC Realty has been a leader in commercial building energy efficiency, especially in downtown Kansas City. A regular attendee and workshop sponsor for organizations such as the US Green Building Council, City Energy Project and BOMA, MC Realty has done more than just promote energy efficiency in 2016. They have implemented energy efficiency aggressively in their buildings. BioStar Lighting and MC Realty have partnered on 9 LED lighting projects, mainly retrofitting parking garages and stairwells with energy efficient LEDs. Notable projects include the garage at the Marriott Downtown and the Broadway Square Building. At Broadway Square, BioStar retrofitted the parking garage and common area lighting including the main lobby and restrooms on each floor.
BioStar’s design team achieved 83% energy savings at Poindexter Garage, the project that won Highest Percentage Energy Savings. In total, MC Realty’s upgrades will save an estimated 2,000,000 kWh per year which is equivalent to the electricity use in 208 US homes. This will reduce lighting costs for electricity and maintenance by more than 80%, saving more than $265,000 annually. By simply upgrading their lighting, MC Realty has prevented 1,400 metric tons of greenhouse gasses per year and made an impact on Kansas City’s energy demand.
The 2016 LEEP campaign participants and award winners added nearly 65 million square feet of additional high-performance lighting in parking facilities and achieved an estimated 60 percent in energy savings compared to existing or baseline numbers.
“MC Realty & BioStar’s project represents one of the best-in-class retrofit parking lot facility lighting projects in the United States,” said Paul Wessel, director, USGBC. “By implementing high-performance energy-efficient lighting systems, companies like MC Realty are not only cutting energy use and maintenance costs, but helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global electricity consumption.”
The 2016 LEEP awards winners were acknowledged at the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Los Angeles. Since its launch in 2012, the LEEP campaign has added more than 550 million square feet of parking structure or lot space, which correlates to annual energy savings of 137 kilowatts or $14 million, enough to power 12,000 homes in the United States annually.
David Smart Makes Partner at BioStar
David Smart has achieved shareholder status at BioStar Lighting, thanks to his success as Vice President of Sales. David has sold over $4 million dollars in LED lighting retrofits within 2 years. His clients include nationally recognized businesses and large commercial property owners such as Hallmark, UMB Bank, Block & Co., DST, MC Realty, Tutera Group and US Toy Co. David possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and has been passionate about sustainability from a young age. Selling and managing energy efficient lighting installations comes naturally to him. He has set himself apart in the industry by providing customer-focused solutions that include best-in-class products resulting in maximum savings for clients.
BioStar Lighting’s mission is to provide complete solutions that will substantially improve energy efficiency and eliminate lighting maintenance and bulb replacement. These commercial LED lighting solutions make businesses more profitable and sustainable, using less energy, while increasing the quality of light. David’s experience includes negotiating purchasing agreements, sales and development, project management and utility consulting.
David also contributes to the Kansas City community by speaking about energy efficiency at local outreach events. Past speaking engagements include a KCP&L workshop and presentations for the US Green Building Council, City Energy Project and Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA). In 2016 he also helped launch a new charity KCU30, which raises money for local nonprofit organizations. In its first year, KCU30 raised more than $4000 for Missy’s Boutique at the KU Cancer Center. He has also been a Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City Chapter for more than two years, and he is in his second year on the BBBS junior board, the Big Impact Group.
LED Lighting Contributes to Quality Senior Assisted Living
The Piper is a unique luxury assisted living facility that utilizes an innovative design philosophy which provides a “home within a home”. The design team transforms assisted living into warm, nurturing homes that foster independence. The lighting design helps create this atmosphere and contributes to residents’ health and well-being. LED lighting was an essential part of the new construction plans. BioStar provided over 3000 lights for the 100,000 square foot, 120 unit building complex and for the 5 acres of landscaping and parking.
LED lighting has been proven to increase well-being and to be beneficial in healthcare environments. The light output is the closest spectral match to sunlight of any type of light, providing the safest, healthiest and easiest light to see. It has been shown to decrease headaches, dizziness and nausea that can be caused by the gaps and spikes in color of fluorescents and incandescents, as well by the common flickering and hum of fluorescents.
The positive effect of LED lighting on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) have been demonstrated by research. It is possible to control the color temperature and brightness of LED lights so the ideal light can be used in each room. A slight difference in color can affect how well we sleep and how alert we feel when we are awake. The blue spectrum suppresses melatonin which improves sleep quality. LEDs contribute to a healthy sleep/wake cycle which is crucial to mental cognition and physical well-being. In a recent study, a 24-hour controlled LED lighting scheme increased night time sleep in ADRD patients by 24% and reduced behaviors like nocturnal wandering, agitation, and abusive outbursts. They are also used to treat depressive disorders because the similarity to natural sunlight improves mood and decreases
stress.
Vision loss and eye disorders can also be prevented with LED lighting. They only produce light in the visible range with no damaging UV or infrared radiation. UV light contributes to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. Superior control of light
levels provided by LEDs also prevents straining the eyes which is especially important to seniors whose eyes let less light in and take longer to adjust to changes in light levels.
The efficiency of LED lighting also drastically reduces lighting costs, allowing capital to be used in other ways that help provide high-quality care for residents. LED lighting uses an average of 75% less energy and lasts 25 times longer than incandescents. They are about 4 times more energy efficient and last 5 times longer than fluorescents. The decreased costs help The Piper to be able to provide personalized care, good food and luxury furnishings.
The health benefits, welcoming atmosphere and decreased costs make LED lighting ideal for senior care and healthcare in general. They are an essential aspect of The Piper’s breakthrough concept in senior living.
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