By: Eric Fisher

AMHERST, Mass. (abc40) -- Many have been trying to lead a greener and more efficent lifestyle. But Amherst College is taking it to a whole new level. Hybrid cars, solar panels, and electric motorcycles are all familiar sights on this campus.

"We feel it's very important for us to lead by example," said Director of Facilities Jim Brassord.

Many of the new programs started up this year, most notably the creation of a cogen power plant on campus. It's called a cogen power plant because it not only uses a jet engine to create electricity, but it captures the heat from the combustion process. That heat is turned to steam, which supplies the school with the energy to cook, cool, and heat.

"Using the fuel twice, once to spin the turbine to generate electricity, and then the waste heat from that to boil water for steam, is a very efficent way of using that energy of fuel," explained Aaron Hayden, the campus Utilities Manager.

Amherst College is also going through each of its buildings, rehabbing them so that they meet the highest energy standards. Most of them are already finished, and any new buildings are built with the latest technology to make them as efficent as possible.

The green way isn't always cheap, and most of the improvements include large capital investments. But at current energy rates, they will pay for themselves over a short amount of time. Brassord says the projects are funded largely in part by trustees, who strongly support all the new eco-friendly initiatives. They hope that the next generation will be raised and taught the ideals of a greener future.

"When perspective students are looking at schools, I think they look to our lead and that we're good global citizens," said Brassord.