Journal-News.com

DAYTON — While college students are driving the Segway to a better environment, local university administrators are also going green.

Nearly all incandescent light bulbs at the University of Dayton will be gone by May 1, according to Bruce Bullman, associate director of Facilities Management for Residential Properties.

"We want to save the university money and be energy efficient," Bullman said.

Wittenberg University, Wright State University, Xavier University and Ohio State University have all either made the switch or have plans to switch out the light bulbs.

John Paulsen, director of the physical plant at Wittenberg said the university completed the switch in all residence halls as part of a three-year renovation program.

"It was a fairly substantial interior renovation; lighting was just one part of that," he said.

According to Bullman, the initial cost at UD is around $12,000 but savings could approach $85,000 in one year.

"They use 75 percent less energy," said Joel Brand, environmental sustainability coordinator for UD. "(Energy-efficient bulbs) are alternatives to the way we live without making too much of a sacrifice."

Wright State organized a light bulb exchange in the fall as part of a service learning project for first-year students.

Yasmeen Khan — coordinator for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, University College — said it allowed students to bring their incandescent light bulbs and freely trade them for energy-efficient ones. She said a program grant paid for the 3,000 bulbs used.

"It's a great easy way to get students involved in campus and in the environment," she said.

OSU has converted 85 percent of their campus to energy efficient bulbs, according to the director of Communication for Facilities Operation and Development, Libby Eckhardt.

Eckhardt said in addition to switching out light bulbs, the university is changing from old exit signs to LED exit signs that use less energy.

Xavier made the switch in the summer, according to the operations manager Mark Hanlon.

"Energy efficiency was the overriding factor," he said.