York County school districts have been awarded more than $1 million in federal energy stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

York County School District 1 received $159,764 to install an energy management system for computers and vending machines district-wide, upgrade lighting fixtures and begin to convert all exit lights to LED models.

York County School District 2 received $183,724 to replace older lighting systems with more efficient models and install occupancy sensors at Clover High School.

York County School District 3 received $470,001 to install energy management systems at Castle Heights Middle School, South Pointe High School, Rawlinson Road Middle School and the Central Child Development facility. The district will also replace heating and air conditioning systems at South Pointe High School and Rawlinson Middle School.

York County School District 4 received $195,419 to make several improvements in Fort Mill Schools.  Lighting upgrades will be made at Fort Mill High School, Riverview Elementary School, Fort Mill Middle School and Gold Hill Middle School. Hot water tanks will be replaced at Fort Mill High School and Riverview Elementary School. Lighting controls will be installed at Fort Mill Middle School, Gold Hill Middle School, Riverview Elementary School, Fort Mill High School, Springfield Middle School, Nation Ford High School, Orchard Park Elementary School, Springfield Elementary School, Fort Mill Elementary School and Gold Hill Elementary School.

“These stimulus grants will help York County schools make much needed energy efficiency improvements that will lead to greater annual savings for the districts and taxpayers,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “York County taxpayers will save more than $437,000 as a result of these improvements.”

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.