$481,000 grant will support geothermal systems at 3 Champaign, Ill., schools

From The Champaign Gazette: The Champaign (Ill.) school district is getting a $481,000 state grant to help pay for geothermal systems at three elementary schools. The Illinois Energy Plan provides grants to develop renewable energy resources, energy efficiency projects, biofuels and other "green" technologies. The money will help pay for geothermal heating and cooling systems at Westview, Bottenfield and Robeson elementary schools. The cost of those systems is $5.1 million, and they will provide air-conditioning to those schools. The geothermal systems will save an estimated $965,000 over 20 years on energy costs.