Lowcountry schools to receive stimulus money

Charleston and Dorchester County School Districts receive stimulus money for energy efficiency improvements. The state’s 85 school districts are sharing $20.3 million for energy efficiency.

By News 2
Published: November 13, 2009

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Charleston County School District to make energy efficiency improvements with stimulus aid

The Charleston County School District has been awarded $1,296,664 in federal economic stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements.

The district will make many improvements to schools around the county. Occupancy sensors will be installed in many classrooms. The district will also make improvements to heating and air conditioning units to make them more efficient.

“This grant will help Charleston County schools reduce their large energy cost burden,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “These improvements and upgrades throughout the county will help Charleston taxpayers save more than $523,000 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.

Dorchester area school districts are receiving almost $490,000 in federal energy stimulus funds from the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s South Carolina Energy Office to make energy efficiency improvements in their buildings.

Dorchester County School District 2 will receive $391,060 to make upgrades to lighting fixtures and heating and air conditioning systems at Dubose Middle School. These improvements will help District 2 reduce its energy bill by more than $49,000 annually.

Dorchester County School District 4 will receive $97,784 to install highly efficient lighting fixtures at St. George Middle School, saving the district more than $30,000 annually.

“These grants will help Dorchester County school districts make improvements to their facilities and save taxpayers almost $80,000 per year in utility costs,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office.