Hi Crazymom - I have a question where do you think that EWEB got the money? Do you pay an electric and water bill? They get it from you and me. Just because it is federally mandated does not mean they need to do it all at once, do it as they burn out. When the new energy efficient bulbs came did you go and buy 15 bulbs and replace all the old bulbs at your house? I very much agree with saving energy, but lets not spend a dollar to save a nickel. I unplug alot alot of my electronice when not in use to save energy and my money. (kind of drives the wife and kids crazy she goes to turn it on and when it does not turn on she then has to plug it in)I would bet the cost of the contractor is not included unless you have an inside lead and know something they did not put in the story. This is all done in the name of saving energy it is not a bonus thats why we are doing to save. Also have you looked at the warning label on the new bulb and where you have to disppose of them, its nuts. Thanks for the comments.

The total cost of the project is about $681,000, that would include any money paid to a private contractor. Also, EWEB is paying for roughly 40% of the cost of the project, that leave the university with approximately $470,000 to pay for the project. So it will take roughly 5 years to pay off this project. Then there is the energy savings on society. This energy savings is the equivalent to the energy used by 150 homes each year, that is huge. And lastly it is federally mandated to switch out these less efficient bulbs. So, since they will have to switch out the ballasts and bulbs anyway, this approximate $98,000 savings each year is a bonus.

Well, I figure that means that the university owe each student one grande mocha with white chocolate. No mochas for the faculty.

So we spent $681,000 to save $90,000 a year. This is a university I'm sorry its going to take 7 1/2 years for this to pencil out. Don't forget the cost of the lightbult they are taking out it is still a perfectly good light bulb so you need to figure in the cost of that bulb. They are hiring a private contractor to change out the bulbs How much is that going to cost. Are you serious, with business economics like this our society is doomed. I give us 3 generation.