University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry have been awarded federal economic stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

USC Beaufort received $82,756 to make two improvements campus-wide. The university will reduce the amount of outside air required for ventilation by using state of the art filters and monitoring systems. It will also install equipment which will utilize outside air for cooling when its temperature is suitable. These improvements will help the university save more than $15,000 annually in utility costs.

The Technical College of the Lowcountry received $81,966 to replace four inefficient heating and air conditioning systems with newer models and expand the college’s energy management system at the Hampton campus. The college will also replace exit signs with LED lighted models, upgrade lighting fixtures throughout campus and install occupancy censors in class rooms and restrooms. The college will save more than $17,000 annually in utility costs after making these improvements.

“Both USC Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry will see significant savings as a result of these energy efficiency improvements,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office.

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. The state’s 85 school districts are sharing $20.3 million in grants and loans for energy efficiency.