Sumter School District 17 has been awarded $241,757 in federal stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to repair and enhance an energy management system that controls the heating and air conditioning systems for the district’s ten schools.

The school district has seen energy costs increase in recent years as energy management systems have been overridden, disconnected or removed in most of its schools. This grant, one of the first 150 awards totaling $40 million that will be issued to public entities in the next few months, will help the district avoid some of the costs lost because the existing management system has become ineffective. 

“Sumter 17 is very appreciative of this opportunity to utilize this grant to help better control our heating and air,” Superintendent Dr. Zona Jefferson said. “We know it will save money for the taxpayers of Sumter County and help us in our efforts toward going green.”

Making this simple upgrade will equal big savings for the district and taxpayers. The school district will save over $57,000 annually for at least 20 years.

“This is the type of project we love to see,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “This award will significantly lower Sumter District 17’s utility bills for the next couple of decades, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

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 is guaranteed an allocation based on the size of the organization’s energy bill.