Honeywell and city officials in Port St. Lucie, Fla. have kicked off a $7.1 million project to improve facilities and infrastructure to enhance the city’s sustainability.

The upgrades are not only expected to trim the city’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, but should generate enough utility and operating savings to pay for the work and related financing costs. Honeywell guarantees those savings through a 15-year energy savings performance contract and will reimburse the city if the actual returns fall short of the estimates. In addition, Port St. Lucie expects the project to deliver nearly $3 million in savings beyond those guaranteed.

“It’s nice to say you’re going green, but it’s nicer to get green back,” said Port St. Lucie City Manager Greg Oravec. “We’re in the same position as other municipalities across the state and country, trying to do more with fewer resources each year. Anytime we can cut millions in unnecessary expenses, make critical improvements and return cash to the budget, it’s an absolute victory for the city and taxpayers.”

Considered the centerpiece of the project, Honeywell will build a district cooling plant to provide chilled water to City Hall and two other buildings that are part of the main municipal complex. The plant will include an ultra-efficient frictionless chiller that will replace several aging units that currently serve the complex. In addition, Honeywell will upgrade lighting in more than 40 Port St. Lucie facilities and parks. Engineers will also add controls that allow city personnel to better manage heating, cooling and lighting systems, among other enhancements.

Honeywell will help implement more than 15 energy conservation measures in all, which is expected to cut the city’s electricity consumption by almost 5.4 million kilowatt-hours per year – enough energy to power 460 homes on average. The subsequent reduction in carbon dioxide is equivalent to taking more than 730 cars off the road, according to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.