The University of Louisiana at Monroe is taking steps to be­come energy efficient.

The goal is to reduce the amount of energy used across the campus.

The university has lined up two major projects in the at­tempt to conserve energy.

The first ongoing project is the installment of building au­tomation.

The building automation project will allow the automatic programming of temperature in classes and buildings when they are vacant.

Jason Roubique, the facili­ties planning officer at ULM, is excited about the new energy project.

“We plan to have the temper­ature in the winter between 68 and 69 degrees when the build­ing is occupied and let it drop to about 62 degrees when the building becomes vacant,” Rou­bique said.

This act will conserve money ULM normally uses in heating and cooling cost.

The second ongoing project is the replacement of the lighting on the campus with fluorescent lighting.

Although the lamps for the fluorescent lighting are a little more expensive, it will offset with the lower cost of energy.

Whitley Parker, sophomore English education major from Delhi, is glad ULM is starting to go green.

“I support any project that ULM takes on,” Parker said.

“We need to be open to vari­ous methods to saving money and saving our school.”

Roubique, along with the Louisiana Department of En­ergy, is encouraging everyone to be as energy efficient as possible.

“We are encouraging every­one to become energy efficient but we are not requiring them to do so,” Roubique said.

They are suggesting that stud­nets turn off lights when leaving a room, turn off running water faucets when not in use and only run air and heating systems when necessary.

The funding for the projects are monies from the Louisiana Department of Energy, along with other funds and stimulus money.

Therefore the projects will not interfere with the cost of tuition.

Jaden Leach, a freshman el­ementary education major from West Monroe, is joining the “ULM Goes Green” team.

“Having an energy efficient campus is very important,” Leach said.

“Not only does energy ef­ficiency save us money, it also cuts down on pollution.” said Leach.

Both projects are ongoing and are planned to be set into action as soon as possible.