While most green building projects realize a savings after they’re built, UALR’s new engineering and information technology building got an early break.

UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson Friday received a rebate check for $21,115.20 from Entergy Arkansas officials in advance of the May completion of the new Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology (EIT) building.

Customer Service Director Oscar Washington of Entergy Arkansas presented the check to Anderson this afternoon in a ceremony outside the new building in recognition of the energy-saving features in the new structure on the northwest side of campus.

The building, which will open for classes this fall, is projected to save $34,675 in energy costs as compared with costs incurred if the structure were built merely to code.

“Encouraging our customers to use electric energy efficiently is good for business and good for the environment,” said Richard Smith, Entergy’s manager of Utility Business Development and Support. “It makes electricity bills more affordable for the long-term and is a key component in our strategy for meeting customer demand for electricity.”

The six-story, 114,000-square-foot EIT building was designed to meet the U.S Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building rating system. LEED standards focus on five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

UALR Chancellor Anderson, flanked by members of the university’s Sustainability Committee, said the EIT building is just one of numerous initiatives on campus designed to control energy costs and reduce the environmental footprint.

“We’re very grateful for this rebate,” said Anderson. “More importantly, we appreciate Entergy and the Arkansas Public Service Commission for giving state businesses and organizations the incentive to preserve our environment. This will have lasting implications for our campus and state.”

Dave Millay, UALR associate vice chancellor/facilities management, said the rebate will help pay for the installation of highly efficient lighting, heating, air conditioning, and chiller equipment.

The investment is projected to reduce power consumption by about 12.5 percent as compared to if the building had been built to minimum building code standards. Electricity demand savings will be about 133 kilowatts per year, and annual energy savings will be approximately 460,000 kilowatt hours

The UALR rebate was made possible by a measure approved in 2007 by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Known as the Quick Start Program, the program accumulates a fund by adding $0.00027 per kilowatt hour onto all Arkansas large and commercial customers’ energy bills.

A portion of that fund is earmarked to be used as an incentive to large customers to replace inefficient equipment with more efficient equipment.