The Chesterfield County School District was awarded $263,669 in stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

The district will install and upgrade existing heating and air conditioning control systems in Cheraw High School, Central High School, Cheraw Intermediate School, Pageland Elementary School, Cheraw Primary School, McBee Elementary School, Plainview Elementary School and Ruby Elementary School.

“Giving the district the ability to control the heating and air conditioning units in all of its schools will help it cut operating costs, and ensure the equipment is only used when needed,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “The district will save over $91,000 annually.”

The state’s 85 school districts are sharing $20.3 million in grants and loans for energy efficiency.  The state’s two- and four-year colleges 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.