The Charleston County School District has been awarded $1,296,664 in federal economic stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

The district will make many improvements to schools around the county. Occupancy sensors will be installed in many classrooms. The district will also make improvements to heating and air conditioning units to make them more efficient. 

“This grant will help Charleston County schools reduce their large energy cost burden,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “These improvements and upgrades throughout the county will help Charleston taxpayers save more than $523,000 annually in utility costs.”

The state’s 85 school districts are sharing $20.3 million in grants and loans for energy efficiency.  The state’s public colleges and universities are receiving a total of $12.2 million, and state agencies are getting $7.4 million for energy efficiency improvements.  Each entity’s allocation is based on the size of the organization’s energy bill.