HALLOWELL -- Frank Farias has spearheaded an initiative replacing lights throughout much of Richmond's Marcia Buker Elementary School, replacing inefficient fixtures in the school's hallways, main office and multi-purpose room.

"It's a great opportunity to get money back and keep rolling it in," Farias, the Richmond School Department maintenance supervisor, said of the Efficiency Maine-sponsored lighting rebate program he used to fund the overhaul.

Farias was one of dozens of school facilities managers and superintendents who attended an event Friday at Hall-Dale Elementary School aimed at helping school officials improve energy efficiency in their districts' buildings.

The nonprofit Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships organized much of the Maine School Facilities Summit. The state Department of Education and Department of Environmental Protection were among the event sponsors.