EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- El Paso County Commissioners Court on Monday, Nov. 4 voted to move forward with a project to improve energy efficiency and reduce utility use and costs in future years, Commissioner David Stout's office said. The County voted to hire Schneider Electric, a global energy management company, to manage improvements to the Downtown Jail and Jail Annex, to the County Courthouse and to other County facilities. The County had previously hired Schneider Electric in 2023 to review the County's energy use and to recommend energy- and cost-saving improvements to facilities. “Since I entered office, my goal has been to enhance County operations and create efficiencies,” Stout said. "This has been a number of years in the making, and has required the support of various Commissioners Courts and staff members, and today, I am proud we are taking the next step in executing much needed upgrades that will avoid future cost and reduce the County’s carbon footprint.” The proposed improvements include upgrading and modernizing various lighting and water fixtures throughout County facilities, as well as financing the equipping, replacement and modernization of the County Courthouse central plant and chillers, which provide climate control for the Courthouse, according to Stout's office.