District of Columbia gets investment for energy-saving measures
Six elementary schools in the US District of Columbia are to put in place energy-saving measures thanks to a multi-million dollar package from the Department of Energy (DoE).
The district has been awarded $8.8 million (£5.3 million) from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support a variety of energy conservation projects, which will include retrofitting the schools' buildings to make them greener.
Energy-saving business opportunities could also be created because Columbia plans to use part of the money for supporting numerous public energy education initiatives, which could lead to consumers investing in green products.
New energy-efficient equipment and controls will be used instead of existing mechanical and electrical equipment, which will be replaced at various public properties.
According to energy secretary Steven Chu, the funding "will provide an important boost for state economies" and not only lead to the creation of business opportunities that will aid in economic recovery, but create jobs as well.
Several other states across the country are benefiting from green funding provided by the DoE.
