PITTSBURGH -- The University of Pittsburgh is issuing a challenge for its students to go green.

The university’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation has launched a contest that encourages students to create affordable energy-saving techniques.

As part of the 2008 Energy Efficient Building Technologies Challenge, students must design a product or system that will reduce older building’s dependency on electricity.

Organizers believe applying new technology to existing buildings can benefit everybody.

“If you can have residential homeowners, as well as business owners saving money, and putting things in their buildings that not only makes it energy efficient, but also help them save money -- it’s better for everybody,” said Gena Kovalcik of the University of Pittsburgh.

The team with the best product will win $5,000.