(MyKeeneNow) – A Peterborough company has been awarded $1.7 million in federal funding to advance the development of affordable, energy-efficient heat pumps for residential use in cold climates.

Evari, Inc., a local business, received the grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) program, according to a news release. The goal of the project is to create low-cost heat pumps that will help homeowners in New Hampshire and beyond reduce their energy bills while contributing to broader efforts to lower carbon emissions.

The funding has been applauded by New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Representative Annie Kuster. All three lawmakers emphasized the importance of energy-efficient technologies in addressing both economic and environmental concerns, the release said.

Senator Hassan noted that making clean heating options more accessible will not only benefit individual families but also contribute to the state’s climate goals. “This funding will spur innovation in energy efficiency and create long-term savings for New Hampshire households,” she said in the release.

The funding for Evari comes amid a broader push by the New Hampshire delegation to secure federal support for clean energy projects. Earlier this year, the state received significant federal investments through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

Senator Shaheen, a key advocate of clean energy initiatives, has played a central role in securing these investments. Along with her colleagues, she has supported various legislative efforts aimed at promoting energy efficiency and lowering costs, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes provisions from her bipartisan Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

Residents of New Hampshire interested in energy-saving programs and resources can consult Senator Shaheen’s Federal Energy Resource Guide for further information.