WASHINGTON, DC — Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson has announced nearly $500,000 in energy grants for the state of New Hampshire to promote energy efficiency and reduce utility bills.

The New Hampshire Governor’s Office will receive $448,272 from the Department of Energy (DOE). Through a cost-sharing arrangement, the state will contribute an additional $240,000 to support the new projects.

One project to be funded is the Rebuild America Program, which is improving the energy efficiency of public buildings and schools by 30% to 50%. The program will renovate more than 13 million sq ft of building space in state-owned buildings, including the university system. It will also help seven school districts and 10 municipalities renovate buildings.

Other projects being funded include the New Hampshire Industries of the Future Program, to implement conservation technology, and the Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services, which will advance the state’s adoption of energy-efficient residential and commercial building codes.