Every day, Beech Grove City Schools shows up for its students and its community, and Schmidt Associates is here to partner with Owners who do the same. So when an opportunity arose to invest in energy optimization across the district’s buildings, Beech Grove didn’t hesitate. Led by Schmidt Associates’ Energy Services Manager Bill Gruen and with financial support from AES Indiana, Schmidt Associates guided the district through Find and Fix retro-commissioning (RCx) across five of its schools, at no cost to the district and with zero disruption to the school year.

The result: more than $100,000 in annual savings for a district that’s already giving everything it can to its students, money that can now go back into the classroom.

A District Ready to Invest Wisely

Beech Grove serves a small, tight-knit community in Marion County under the motto “Love Where You Learn.” Like many districts balancing tight budgets with big goals, Beech Grove has always looked for smart, low-risk ways to stretch its resources further. When Schmidt Associates approached the district about the potential for Find and Fix RCx, Beech Grove’s team moved quickly to seize the opportunity, recognizing that this service could deliver real savings without asking the district to take on any financial risk.

Investing in Energy Optimization at No Cost

By pairing Schmidt Associates’ expertise with AES Indiana’s energy efficiency incentive programs, Beech Grove was able to invest in energy optimization without spending a dollar of its own budget:

• Fully funded Find and Fix RCx analysis, made possible through AES Indiana’s energy efficiency programs
• Work completed over summer break, avoiding any disruption to students or staff
• Targeted, low-cost fixes to the existing HVAC and control systems rather than costly equipment replacement

RCx projects typically deliver 5 to 15 percent in energy savings with a payback period of under two years. Beech Grove hit the top of that range, with a 15 percent reduction districtwide and up to 18 percent in its best-performing building. And because AES Indiana covered the entire project cost, the payback was immediate. As an approved AES Indiana RCx study provider, Schmidt Associates also recently completed RCx work at MSD of Warren Township, where incentives significantly reduced implementation costs. Both districts saw substantial energy savings, proof that Beech Grove’s results reflect a proven, repeatable approach rather than a one-time exception.

Results That Add Up

With the work complete and savings verified, Beech Grove now has real, measurable proof of what strategic stewardship can deliver.

 

A Model for Smart, Student-First Decisions

Beech Grove’s story is proof that meaningful energy savings don’t require a large capital budget, just a willingness to act when the right opportunity presents itself. By pairing Schmidt Associates’ technical expertise with AES Indiana’s incentive programs, more than $100,000 a year that once went to utility bills is now available for the classroom instead.

For Beech Grove, every dollar not spent on utilities is a dollar that can show up for students instead. Whether it’s a school district, a hospital system, or a local government, helping Owners find real, lasting savings is exactly the kind of work we’re honored to do.

Real Savings. Little to No Cost to You.

RCx can uncover real savings in your buildings, often at little to no cost thanks to AES Indiana’s incentive programs.