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.