Manhattan ? Kansas State University has been helping make businesses a little greener through an internship program that just finished its fifth year.

The program gives engineering and environmental sciences students a chance to research ways to reduce industrial emissions and waste and conserve natural resources.

The university says the interns have collectively identified savings of more than 18 million gallons of water, 257 tons of solid waste and $740,000 in costs for Kansas business and industry.

Savings in electrical and natural gas usage were identified as well.

Twenty-nine students and more than 22 institutions have participated in the program over the years.