Maine municipalities are often faced with budget pressures and high operating costs to maintain large and older municipal buildings that house town offices, public works garages, fire stations, and wastewater treatment facilities. Energy efficiency is a great way for municipalities to save energy and money, and often improve comfort, safety, and maintenance costs in the process. Energy efficiency also helps keep tax rates stable.

Through federal stimulus funds administered by Efficiency Maine from 2009 to 2013, 129 Maine communities received Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants to upgrade their energy infrastructure and help reduce operating costs.