The town of Bridgewater, MA, has been awarded a $231,000 Green Communities Grant. The grant will pay for efficiency improvements leading to estimated annual savings of $55,000, according to The Raynham Call.
The town is part of the Green Community state program that has a stated goal of reducing energy use by 20 percent over five years. Initially, Bridgewater received a $200,000 grant, which was used for energy efficiency upgrades to the library, police station and fire sub-station. The latter two have achieved a 15 percent savings. Bridgewater became eligible for the later grant once the initial monies were spent.
The government often helps communities, small business owners and others drive efficiency. Earlier this year, for instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made more than $280 million available to rural agriculture producers and small business owners. The funds, distributed through the Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, enabled recipients to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make efficiency improvements.
