Hampton County school districts have received almost $170,000 federal stimulus funds from the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements throughout the county in school facilities.

Hampton County School District 1 received $94,731 to install a solar hot water heater at Ben Hazell Primary School and to upgrade lighting fixtures to more energy efficient models. These improvements will help the district save more than $14,000 annually in energy costs.

Hampton County School District 2 received $74,933 to install lighting controls on fixtures in the Estill High School parking lot, replace older, inefficient heat pumps throughout the district and upgrade lighting fixtures in kitchens and temporary classrooms. These improvements will help the district save more than $22,000 annually.

“Hampton County taxpayers will realize significant cost savings as a result of these energy efficiency improvements,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office.

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 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.