Union County School District was awarded $139,077 in stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

The district will make several improvements to Buffalo Elementary School. Controls will be added to 36 heating and air conditioning units to better regulate room thermostats.  The district will also make upgrades to lighting fixtures in the elementary school.

“By replacing lighting fixtures and insuring that the heat and air conditioning systems will be monitored Union County School District will see significant savings from greater energy efficiency,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “The district will save almost $17,000 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.