Spartanburg area school districts have received almost $1.2 million federal stimulus funds from the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

Spartanburg School District 1 received $97,318 to replace two heating and air conditioning systems at New Prospect Elementary School with more efficient units. The district will also install energy efficiency lighting at Inman Intermediate School, Inman Elementary School and O. P. Earle Elementary School.

Spartanburg School District 2 received $218,281 to install renewable and energy efficient heating and air conditioning equipment at Rainbow Lake Middle School in Chesnee, South Carolina.

Spartanburg School District 3 received $110,404 to replace an inefficient, 30-year-old heating and air conditioning system at Cowpens Elementary School as well as to install a new gas-fired heating boiler.

Spartanburg School District 4 received $93,993 to replace an inefficient, 20-year-old heating and air conditioning system at Woodruff High School.

Spartanburg School District 5 received $157,939 to replace existing external and internal light fixtures to improve energy efficiency and to reduce energy costs for the school district.

Spartanburg School District 6 received $258,726 to make substantial improvements to Fairforest Middle School, which was built in 1954. The district will replace and upgrade heating and air conditioning equipment and upgrade lighting fixtures.

Spartanburg School District 7 received $258,649 to replace inefficient heating and air conditioning equipment at Park Hills Elementary School, Jesse Boyd Elementary School and in the district administration offices. Additional lighting upgrades will be made in 11 gyms district-wide.

“These stimulus grants will help Spartanburg County schools make much needed energy efficiency improvements that will lead to greater annual savings for the districts and taxpayers,” Ashlie Lancaster of the South Carolina Energy Office said. “Spartanburg county  will save almost $220,000 annually in utility costs.”

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.