Richland School District 1 has been awarded $921,964 in stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

The district will be upgrading current energy management systems and installing new units in schools that previously did not have these energy saving systems. 

Schools which will receive these upgrades include: Brennen Elementary School, Burnside Elementary School, Central Services, Hopkins Elementary School, Horrell Hill Elementary School, Pine Grove Elementary School, Rosewood Elementary School, Southeast Middle School and South Kilbourne Elementary School.

“Energy management systems are a great way for schools to monitor and control their energy use and become more energy efficient,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “Richland County taxpayers will benefit from these improvements as the district’s utility bill will be reduced by more than $227,000 annually.”

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.