Lexington School District 3 was awarded $108,316 in federal economic stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

The district will replace 10 heating and air conditioning units with new high efficiency models at Batesburg-Leesville Primary School.

“Batesburg-Leesville Primary School will experience a significant decrease in its energy bills with the installation of this new equipment,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “These upgrades will save taxpayers more than $23,000 annually in utility 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.