Office of Public Relations:                                           For more information, contact: Stephen E. Snyder

(229) 931-2028                                                                         (229) 931-2037 ssnyder@canes.gsw.edu

(229) 931-2072 fax

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Sept. 10, 2009

GSW receives $861,000 through ARRA

to fund energy-conservation projects       

               ATLANTA—Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) has received funding under the State Facilities Retrofit Program to fund 13 energy-conservation measures totaling $861,000. The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) is providing the funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In all, GEFA has funded 71 projects at 25 University System of Georgia (USG) colleges and universities.

            The energy-conservation measures to be funded consist of lighting retrofits, mechanical/HVAC upgrades and installation of control systems across campus, and miscellaneous window and door sealing.

            "One of our main objectives over the last few years was to make our older buildings more energy efficient,” said Cody King, GSW Vice President of Business and Finance. “Tight budgets have made identifying local funding for these types of projects impossible. Thanks to the aid from GEFA, these projects can be completed making our campus much more energy efficient."

            “Students, faculty, staff, and the administration continue to generate and support our campus economizing efforts allowing GSW to obtain special project funding like this ARRA stimulus package,” said George Smith, GSW Physical Plant director. “The campus Sustainability Committee not only focused on reducing facility expenses but also addressed and instituted initiatives reducing utility costs while supporting the Physical Plant’s efforts to keep the campus beautiful with fewer operating expenses.”

            Since 2007, increasing energy efficiency in the University System of Georgia’s colleges and universities has been the focus of a system-wide initiative that supports one of the Board of Regents’ strategic goals – to operate more efficiently as a system. “Conservation with Action” has been seriously emphasized on Georgia Southwestern’s campus since 2003.

            “Why is this critical to sustainability?” added Smith. “For every utility dollar saved, we reduce the educational costs to our students and their parents.”

            The funded projects will conserve an estimated $145,000 annually in utilities costs across the GSW campus while achieving other key objectives of the ARRA such as job creation/retention, the support of green industries, and environmental stewardship.

            A list of the projects to be funded can be found here. For more information on GSW’s projects, please call (229) 931-2037.

- GSW -