Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. (May 24, 2011) – The Town of Batesburg-Leesville was awarded $47,702 in federal stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to replace the heating and air conditioning system and upgrade the old, inefficient lighting system with new, more-efficient LED lights.

The scope of the project is twofold and involves energy saving measures to be implemented within the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department. The first part of the project involves replacing an aged HVAC unit located on the building with a more energy efficient HVAC unit. The HVAC unit that is to be replaced was originally installed when the building was constructed in 1978. The second part of the project involves upgrading or retrofitting the building’s lighting system to an energy efficient LED lighting system and installing motion detection devices in key areas throughout the building to further reduce energy costs. This LED lighting system was the first of its kind funded through this program. The project was completed in May of 2011.

The thought process behind the grant project was initiated by Chief W. Wallace Oswald as a means of reducing the amount of spending by the town that was attributable to the energy consumption of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department through its day to day operations. It is estimated that these cost saving measures will save the Town of Batesburg-Leesville approximately $150,000 in energy savings over the next 10 years. Chief Oswald added that it is essential that all employees should look for ways to become better stewards of public funding for which we have been entrusted for the betterment of the Batesburg-Leesville Community. Chief Oswald selected innovative LED Technology due to its cost saving potential, its heat reduction qualities and the longevity of the LEDs as compared to conventional florescent bulbs. Chief Oswald continued by conveying his appreciation to numerous representatives of the Central Midlands Council of Governments and the SC Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office, for would it not have been for their support with this project, these energy saving measures could not have been implemented.

(taken from Batesburg-Leesville Sentinel website)