Gov. Linda Lingle has released $2.5 million to design and construct energy-efficiency improvements to the air-conditioning system at Bilger Addition on the University of Hawai'i at Manoa campus.

The funds will be used to install more efficient technologies and improve the operational effectiveness of the system and is estimated to reduce the building's electrical consumption by approximately 700,000 kilowatt hours per year once completed.

"Like all of our state agencies, the University of Hawai'i is making a concerted effort to improve its energy efficiency and cut down on its electrical costs," Lingle said in a news release issued by her office. "This project will reduce the campus' energy consumption as part of efforts by my administration to move forward with bond-funded capital improvement projects to our infrastructure and state facilities."

Design is scheduled to begin in November and be completed in June 2009. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2009 and be completed in June 2010.