International Falls city buildings are expected to become more energy efficient under a program offered by Minnesota Power.

The Falls City Council Monday agreed to participate in the company’s Conservation Improvement Program, known as CIP, which offers incentives based on energy and/or demand savings.

Mayor Bob Anderson told the council Monday city staff met with a Minnesota Power consultant who prepared an energy plan for each building the city owns.

“There is an opportunity to save money,” Anderson said, adding he recommended the city become part of the program. He said the paybacks for investment range from two years to 10-12 years. As an example, he cited an investment of $2,000 to $4,000 to upgrade lighting in the Falls Municipal Building which would provide a two-year payback on the investment.

Councilor Paul Eklund supported joining the program. He said it’s difficult to purchase the existing tubes used for lighting in the municipal building and replacing the system with more energy efficient lighting would save money and energy.

Councilor Cynthia Jaksa called the program an excellent idea and said an energy-efficiency program presented to the council a year or so ago required extensive accounting.

“Tracking the data would have been a burden on staff,” she said. “This doesn’t look as burdensome.”

Councilor Pete Kalar said the savings would be used for future energy efficiencies.

Jaksa asked if industries like Boise Inc.’s paper mill could be a part of the program, and Anderson also asked if the local hospital would be eligible.

Information about the program provided to the council stated CIP is an enhancement to the existing PowerGrant program and to promote ongoing investment in energy efficiency would be offered as a pilot program opportunity for increased incentive.

To qualify, according to the information, the city must agree to establish and maintain a separate energy efficiency account where the incentive money earned through qualifying energy efficiency projects would accumulate for the purpose of funding future projects.

Minnesota Power provided examples of qualifying projects, which include electrical and lighting retrofits and upgrades with less than a seven-year payback; and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing projects with less than a 20-year simple payback.