Students at three Tahoma schools will have brighter classrooms and hallways soon thanks to the installation of new lighting ballasts and lamps paid for with a combination of energy grant funds, rebates from Puget Sound Energy and school district funds.

Tahoma is among 59 school districts that received energy grant funds from the state Legislature. Tahoma’s share is $213,000, with another $80,000 in rebate funds coming from Puget Sound Energy. The district will contribute about $130,000.

The project will replace ballasts and lamps at Rock Creek Elementary, Glacier Park Elementary and Cedar River Middle School. Those schools were chosen because they have the oldest lighting fixtures among district schools.

Lake Wilderness Elementary will not receive new lights because it is likely to be completely remodeled or rebuilt within the next few years.

The project was identified as part of an energy audit program conducted by McKinstry Co.

Mark Foster, Western Washington K-12 account executive for McKinstry, said the project will pay for itself in energy savings while providing much improved lighting for students and staff. Foster said the district can expect energy savings of about $23,000 annually. Installation is likely to be complete in time for the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

McKinstry will continue looking for ways to help the district reduce energy costs and adopt more environmental sustainability measures. The district is committed to reducing energy costs by at least $150,000 this year.