About 40 volunteers from UC Merced and other UC campuses in the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) Energy Service Corps spent two hours Wednesday making two buildings at the Merced County Fair fairgrounds more energy efficient.

Participants in the "Alternative Energy Spring Break" replaced about 150 old light bulbs with new energy efficient ones, installed weatherstripping around several doors and caulked cracks around some windows in the Administration Building and Pavilion. The goal of the spring break project is to reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution and save money on utility bills.

Amy Martinez, a UC Merced student from Atwater, (she's wearing the "Flip It Off" T-shirt), is serving as the  Alternative Spring Break Coordinator. She said," I'm really excited that all these students gave up their spring break to do something important for the community."

For more information, please contact UC Merced Campus Organizer for Energy Service Corps., Danielle Lauber, at (516) 286-4422.

To contact the Fair call (209) 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com. Visit the Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com and connect with us – find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.