A contract approved by the Board of Regents will make energy-efficient buildings a campus-wide affair.

A new Energy Savings Performance Contract extends improvements that started in 2001 to more campus buildings.

The board approved an ESPC on Oct. 30, said Bryan Russell, director of Planning, Design and Construction.

The contract means that a company will begin implementing cost-saving, energy-efficient improvements to buildings on campus beginning in January, Russell said.

This is Western’s second ESPC, he said. The first one, in 2001, was also the first in Kentucky.

It was an effective method for upgrading facilities, Russell said.

The first ESPC targeted only 10 buildings on campus, but the new contract includes more buildings, said Ben Johnson, assistant director of Planning, Design and Construction.

“Virtually all buildings on campus except dorms and small buildings will undergo some kind of improvement,” Johnson said.

Western will implement $9.6 million worth of energy-reducing improvements to 38 buildings on campus, according to the project summary approved by the Board of Regents.

Western will borrow the money to pay for the improvements. Once they’re complete, the money will be paid back over 15 years, Chief Financial Officer Jim Cummings said.

The improvements will save $1 million in utilities each year, meaning they will pay for themselves in 15 years, according to the summary.

The changes made to each building will vary depending on the building’s efficiency needs, Johnson said.

Some improvements include installing more efficient lighting, re-insulating pipes and updating toilets to be more efficient, he said.

An energy audit was conducted beginning last June to determine what improvements should be made and where, Johnson said.

“The savings has to pay for the measures, so you have to ensure that they pay for themselves,” he said. “It’s self-funding.”

Russell said the installation of the improvements should take 12 to 18 months to complete.

Johnson Controls Inc., a company that helps improve energy use in buildings, was chosen to implement the changes, Russell said.

As much work as possible will take place during hours when the buildings aren’t being used to minimize disruption of faculty and students, Johnson said.

Energy conservation is important, and, by initiating the ESPC, Western is being proactive, he said.