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GREENSBORO — Looks like the county has found a way to save nearly $54,000 in power bills each year: Swap out the lights.

The project would cost about $250,000 across four buildings, but efficiency experts at N.C. A&T say the upgrade would pay for itself in less than five years.

“Those things are simple,” said Harmohindar Singh, director of A&T’s Center for Energy Research and Technology. “Some of the things, any common-sense guy can do it.”

In all, the report that Guilford County commissioners will hear next week will show how the county could save about $137,000 annually on its power bills in four of its buildings with efficiency upgrades that would cost about $1.2 million.

Those buildings include the BB&T Center at Market and Elm streets, the High Point courthouse and jail, the county public health center in High Point and the Bellemeade Center in downtown Greensboro.

With those, Guilford County would follow trailblazers here for efficiency:

-- The Greensboro Coliseum in early 2008 received a $2.9 million upgrade in efficient heating, air and water equipment from Siemens Building Technologies.

-- Singh and other A&T engineers helped make the Proximity Hotel the first hotel to meet the nation’s highest standard for green building.

-- Crews from A&T will next study Greensboro municipal buildings for efficiencies.

Often, though, many efficiencies are as simple as flipping a switch.

For example, the A&T report tells the county to turn off the HVAC system while employees are away from the Bellemeade Center at 201 N. Eugene St.

“We’ll do things like that, and we’ll be sending things out to employees that say 'when you leave the office or the conference room, turn out the lights,’” said Fred Jones, the county facilities director.

Jones’ department maintains the county’s 29 buildings. When a light now burns out somewhere, he said, it’s replaced with high-efficiency fixtures.

But a sweeping change might be more difficult, especially in a year in which Guilford County has sought to cut costs through layoffs and department budget cuts.

“At some point, that may cost us some funds,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston.

Jones said that he’s looking into Duke Energy credits and other staff is searching for federal stimulus money to help with upgrades.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com