The Kershaw County School District has been awarded $270,231 in federal stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to replace outdated and inefficient heating and air conditioning units at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School.

The district will replace five HVAC units with new, high efficiency heat pumps that will provide better air quality control in classrooms and offices at the school.

“Besides the primary benefit of better air quality in Lugoff-Elgin Middle School for the students and staff, the district will see a significant decrease in utility bills as a result of greater energy efficiency,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “The district will save $38,080 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.