Friday, Mar 1 2013 12:20PM

Two federal agencies will provide tools and resources to help rural communities boost energy efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a partnership with the U.S. Energy Department to help rural households lower their climbing energy costs.

Government data found that although urban households use more than three times the amount of energy as rural homes, the latter spends $400 more annually on energy bills. The collaboration between the agencies will provide resources and tools to rural communities on how to better manage their high energy costs. For example, the program will provide educational materials, information on tax credit incentives and other financing mechanisms for deploying renewable energy projects and tips for conducting home energy audits.

The agencies said the collaboration will assist state energy agencies, universities and other groups in obtaining the resources they need to help rural residents keep their costs manageable. In addition, learning how to better manage energy usage may also help rural locales promote clean air and water.

There are a number of programs offered by the USDA to help provide affordable housing assistance, promote job growth and build rural infrastructure. The new energy collaboration may also help promote economic community development by freeing up resources among businesses and homeowners to reinvest in their local economy. 

For more information, check out this resource: The U.S. Department of Agriculture