Several high energy-efficiency projects that were started at Iowa State University two years ago are beginning to pay off.

According to the Inside Iowa State webpage, the projects were partially funded by government stimulus funds through the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and are estimated to save the university around $460,000 in energy costs annually.

$4.8 million in grant money went towards the installation of new high-efficiency water boilers in the Jacobsen Athletics Building and Olsen Building, and the replacement of outdated Veterinary Medicine water boilers with high-efficiency steam generators. Combined, these two projects are expected to save the university $410,000 annually.

Another $2.1 million in grant money paid for new lights, water chiller and water boiler in the Applied Sciences Center. The project is expected to save $48,300 in energy costs annually.

In another project that is currently underway at the Applied Sciences Center, two old water boilers will be replaced with high-efficiency steam generators.