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A project to improve energy use at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham has finished four months ahead of schedule, according to Richard Byers, director of facilities management and public safety for the college.

Construction on a $10.7 million project to replace the college’s 40-year old heating and cooling systems in 13 campus buildings and three pools began in July 2009. The Energy Trust of Oregon will provide MHCC $884,555 in cash incentives for the improvements, which will save the college 3.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

“The project will reduce our energy costs by one third,” Byers said. “That money will be applied towards our loan we secured to pay for the new equipment.”

Byers said that the college’s original heating and cooling systems had surpassed their useful life by several years, prompting the need for the energy improvements. Between the time installations began in July 2009 and the end of February 2010, MHCC has reported energy cost savings of $173,405.