University of Arkansas Working to Increase Energy Efficiency

The University of Arkansas' Office for Sustainability is working with several local towns to increase energy efficiency and expand renewable energy.

Some of those cities are in Central Arkansas, including North Little Rock, Searcy, Hot Springs and Gould.

Arkansas is ranked 38th in the nation for energy efficiency, but the university's applied sustainability center wants to change that.

The Director says Arkansas could be a leader in solar and other forms of alternative energy, but first, city leaders must understand how to create a strategic plan.

Participants will get a scorecard outlining exactly how much energy it takes to run the city, and then head to the university to learn how to cut that usage.

According to the center, making a community more sustainable also attracts investment, creates jobs and insulates the local economy from rising energy costs.