Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) announced the results of a survey Friday that sheds light on skyrocketing school energy costs.

Israel says his survey of 17 Long Island school districts shows their energy costs have doubled in the past eight years. Most of the increases have occurred in the past two years as oil prices shot up above $100 a barrel.

Three cents of every homeowner's school tax dollar goes to the heating, air conditioning and lighting for Long Island?s schools, many of which run on energy systems from the 1950s.

By law, school districts can allocate 3 and one-half percent of their total budget for a so-called umbrella fund, which includes these costs. But if energy prices keep climbing and the fund is depleted, schools may either have to raise taxes or cut programs and staff.

Israel sponsored legislation that passed the U.S. House calling for Washington to kick in for half the cost of green building projects for local school systems. So far there has been no action in the Senate.

Deer Park High School is one of the schools taking steps to lower energy bills. The school will have four new natural gas boilers installed free of charge from National Grid.

National Grid says it?s eager to work with other schools to bring down their energy bills.

Click for more on Deer Park High School?s energy solutions