BCSD receives energy rebate for LED upgrades

The rebate funds will be deposited into the district-wide LED upgrade account, supporting ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency.

The Berkeley County School District (BCSD) received a $16,120 rebate check from Berkeley Electric Cooperative following the completion of lighting upgrades at Sangaree Middle School. The rebate, presented by Tim Swicord, manager of energy services at Berkeley Electric, will help fund additional LED lighting projects across the district.

LED lighting not only enhances classroom learning environments but also yields significant energy savings due to its high efficiency. Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s rebate program provides financial incentives to encourage further energy-efficient projects within the district.

“This is a win-win for both BCSD and Berkeley Electric Cooperative, and we look forward to helping BCSD with more projects in the future,” Swicord said.

The rebate funds will be deposited into the district-wide LED upgrade account, supporting ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency. Jason Bunch, BCSD’s supervisor of engineering and environmental safety, said the district is currently working on similar upgrades at Sangaree Intermediate School.

Bunch collaborates with the electrical department at high-usage schools to reduce costs. He explained that replacing outdated bulbs with LED alternatives results in substantial energy savings. Traditional bulbs consume 32 watts each, whereas new LED bulbs use only eight watts, saving approximately 24 watts per bulb.

“As you can imagine, this adds up to significant savings on a campus-wide basis,” Bunch said. “The goal is to provide a better, brighter learning environment at a fraction of the cost.”

BCSD continues to explore opportunities to improve energy efficiency while enhancing classroom environments for students and staff.