Greenwood area school districts have been awarded more than $400,000 in federal stimulus funds from the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

Greenwood County School District 50 received $248,337 to make lighting upgrades at the Career Center and district office and install new windows and heating and air conditioning equipment at the Instructional Services Center. A new energy management system will also be installed at Springfield Elementary School. These improvements will help the district save more than $48,000 annually in utility costs.

Greenwood County School District 51 received $73,749 to replace an existing natural gas heating boiler and outdated window air conditioning units at Ware Shoals High School. These changes will save the district over $15,000 annually, reduce equipment related noise in the classroom and improve temperature comfort levels for students and teachers.

Greenwood County School District 52 received $79,569 to upgrade lighting fixtures at Ninety Six Primary School and to install energy management systems at the primary school and at Ninety Six Elementary School. These improvements will help the district save more than $37,000 annually in utility costs.

“These grants will help Greenwood County school districts make improvements to their facilities, saving the districts and taxpayers a good deal of money through reduced energy bills,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “Greenwood county taxpayers will save more than $100,000 annually in energy 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.