
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 21, 1993                   TAG: 9309210099
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

TECH GETS ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTS GRANT

Virginia Tech has been awarded a $100,000 matching grant to install fluorescent lights, occupancy sensors and variable-speed motor drives in McBryde Hall as energy savers.

The grant is among more than $1.5 million awarded in energy conservation grants to 25 Virginia schools and hospitals through Virginia's Institutional Conservation Program. The program is administered by the Energy Division of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

The grant requires a match of $119,269 from Virginia Tech. The annual energy cost savings from the new equipment is estimated at $50,780.

Larry D. Smith is the project manager.

The program was started in 1979 under the National Energy Conservation Policy Act. Since then, nearly $27 million in matching grants have gone to more than 200 public and private nonprofit schools and hospitals in Virginia.

The division will start a new program funding cycle in January, with $1 million that comes from overcharges by oil companies that come to the state. Further information is available from the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 2201 W. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23220, or by calling Vernon W. Banks, program supervisor, at (804) 367-6697.

by CNB