UNLV received a $25,000 rebate from Nevada Power Company recently for a lighting retrofit project designed to save energy by reducing the amount of electricity needed to light several campus buildings.

The rebate to UNLV was the first issued by the electrical utility under its new Take Control Lighting Program, which is designed to reward those who convert to lighting that will use less electricity. The funds will be spent on future energy-conserving efforts at the university, according to Harold Archibald, UNLV director of building services.

UNLV is spending $3 million on the project, which involves replacing old lights with new, more energy-efficient models in nine campus buildings and replacing chillers in four buildings. The university contracted with e3.Custom Energy Solution and with Positive Energy to do the lighting retrofit work.

The rebate is specifically related to the lights replaced in three campus buildings - the Rod Lee Bigelow Health Sciences Building, Juanita Greer White Life Science Building, and the Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex.

A total of 3,930 fixtures were replaced in those three buildings. Work already has begun on the next phase of the project, which will involve additional buildings.

"We already were working on making our campus more energy efficient when Gov. Guinn mandated state agencies to improve their power consumption," Archibald said. "When we heard about the Nevada Power rebate program, we redoubled our efforts because we felt it would be an honor to be the first one in the state to be recognized under this worthwhile program."

Archibald predicted that UNLV will recoup the $3 million it is spending on the project within 10 years as a result of lower power bills.

Juanita Fain, UNLV vice president for administration, said, "I applaud our building services department for being ahead of the curve in seeking out energy-saving alternatives. Saving money clearly is good for UNLV, and saving energy is good for everyone."

For additional information on UNLV's energy-saving programs, call Archibald at 895-4089.