Two local school districts are being honored for their efforts at energy efficiency.

On Friday, representatives from AEP Ohio presented South Point Local Schools with a check for $22,445 as a rebate for the district’s energy saving initiatives.

The district spent nearly $184,000 on a LED retrofit project, Nick Clay, technology coordinator for the schools, said.

“We were aware of the substantial savings available to our district by converting from fluorescent tubes and metal halide fixtures to LED technology, but cost was a limiting factor,” Clay said. “AEP Ohio stepped in with their “Business Incentives Program” to help partially fund the project. Their contribution helped us make the decision to move forward with the project.”

The district will save about 54 percent on all classroom and hallway lighting energy bills, and 60 percent on gymnasium lighting bills, Clay said.

“This project will save the district money and reduce the amount of electricity we use for many years,” he said.

“We appreciate the effort and will to make a difference,” Douglass Hood, an energy adviser with AEP Ohio said. “We look forward to working with them on future projects to be energy efficient.”

Clay said that phases I and II, which involved the conversion of 1,100 lights, was carried out by a crew of six men from JMK Electric and was completed in one day.

Meanwhile, Dawson-Bryant Elementary schools have received the Energy Star award from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency. The award was given to the elementary school and the high/middle school.

The award is given out for superior energy performance in buildings that use 35 percent less energy and generate 35 percent less greenhouse gases than similar buildings in the nation. The performance rating was created by the agency in 1992.

The buildings are presented with certificates marking the distinction and decals of the Energy Star logo to be displayed at the entrances to the schools. Profiles for the buildings can now be found online at www.energystar.gov/buildinglist.