March 15, 2012

Virginia Tech is hoping to save more than $8 million in utility costs over 11 years by undergoing an energy conservation initiative in six campus buildings.

The university says Cassell Coliseum, Jamerson Athletic Center, Hahn Hall-South, Derrick and McBryde halls, and the central steam plant, will get new lighting, heating and cooling control upgrades, water-conservation measures, cooling-tower retrofits, and other improvements.

The $5.3 million project is scheduled to be completed by early 2013.

Virginia Tech's energy and sustainability manager, Fred Selby, said Wednesday that the new infrastructure should reduce energy consumption by more than 10 percent in the respective buildings and lower carbon dioxide emissions by about 4,200 metric tons.

It's also expected to save more than 4 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.