Cornell has received an $890,940 interest-free loan from New York state to help refurbish and replace lighting with energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures across campus.

The five-year program, which began in 1991 and should be completed next month, already is saving enough electricity to service a town of 4,000 people, Cornell energy engineers said.

"We're getting better lighting with a little over half the electricity we were using before," said Jeffrey Price, program manager in Cornell's Planning, Design and Construction unit. "The lighting is uniformly better and energy efficient throughout campus. This is certainly comparable to the best energy conservation projects anywhere in the country."

The state loan, announced by State Sen. James L. Seward (R- 50th), comes through the New York State Power Authority and will be paid back over the next five years. It saves Cornell about $150,000 in interest over that time.

The lighting program, a $3 million effort, already has saved 3,275 kilowatts, or $680,000 per year, at today's energy costs. New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) also is contributing to the program.

Electricians already have replaced, refurbished or redone lighting in 46 buildings, including dormitories -- a total of 40,000 fixtures that have been either replaced or refurbished. About 40 temporary electricians from as far away as Watertown, N.Y., are helping get the job done, Price said.

"Our electricians have worked, in some cases, day and night, so as not to interfere with activities in the buildings," Price said.

The project manager is Dann Braid, electrical shop foreman is Jake Benninger and the crew chief is Glenn Cotterill.