Ballard-area schools receive state funds for energy efficiency

Three Ballard-area schools have received state funds as part of nearly $3.8 million in grants to Seattle Public Schools from the Washington State Department of Commerce to help fund energy-efficiency projects.

The Seattle Public Schools grant awards were announced Aug. 11 by Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Department of Commerce. They were part of a grant award totaling almost $17 million to 29 public education institutions statewide.

Ballard High School, as well as Green Lake Elementary, was awarded $749,000 for replacing HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) systems and controls and to retrofit lighting. The total cost of the project is $2,445,249.

The state awarded $513,300 for replacing the HVAC system, controls and retrofitting lighting at Viewlands Elementary School. The total cost is $2,043,300.

Whitman Middle School, along with seven other schools, was awarded $45,530 for retrofitting lighting in its gymnasium. The total cost of the project is $183,530.

Outside of the Ballard-area, Eckstein, McClure, Meany, Aki Kurose, Mercer and Washington middle schools and Hay Elementary School were the seven other schools that received money for retrofitting gymnasium lighting.

Arbor Heights, Decatur/Thornton Creek, Graham Hill, Green Lake, Northgate and Schmitz Park elementary schools received $1,030,360 for replacing HVAC systems and boilers out of a total cost of $3,733,800.

The state awarded $565,800 for replacing HVAC systems and controls and lighting retrofits at Madrona and Pathfinder K-8 schools. The total cost is $2,043,300.

Lawton Elementary School received $496,565 for replacing the HVAC system and controls and lighting retrofits out of a total cost of $2,178,425.

Hawthorne Elementary School received $457,629 for replacing the HVAC system and controls and retrofitting lighting.