Lee County School District has been awarded $111,738 in federal stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to replace outdated and inefficient heating and air conditioning units in five district schools.

“Lee County School District is appreciative and excited to learn we are receiving energy grant funds to assist with our ‘Green’ effort,” Superintendent Dr. Cleo Richardson said. “This grant award will allow us to replace up to 12 heating and cooling units at five different schools in the district with energy efficient units. Not only are the old units not energy efficient, but because of their age and the lack of funding to replace them by the district are in constant need of repair.”

Heating and air conditioning units will be replaced at Mt. Pleasant Middle School, Dennis Middle School, Bishopville Primary School, Lower Lee Elementary School and West Lee Elementary School. 

“Replacing heating and air conditioning units is very important to gain energy savings,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “With this stimulus money, Lee County School District will save $16,698 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.