HUD/USDA Building Code Update Will Give Lower Income Families Access to Clean, Healthy Homes

Homeowners & Renters in Federally-Supported Housing will Save Money on Energy Costs

April 25, 2024

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a final policy determination to update building energy codes for renters in low-income housing. The new codes will result in energy efficiency improvements of 37% and cut energy costs for residents by more than $950 per year. On top of reducing monthly costs, the new HUD/USDA building energy codes will lessen vulnerability to fuel price spikes, support the health, comfort, and safety of residents, and achieve long-term reductions in carbon emissions.

The update will also ensure that a population often out of reach of home upgrades - renters and low-income residents - have access to new technology and safety improvements. While building codes are set at the state and local levels, the federal government is able to set minimum standards for new and renovated buildings that are federally supported through mortgages or grants.

This is the first meaningful update to building codes for federally-supported housing since the agencies were Congressionally-mandated to adopt and periodically update energy efficiency improvement standards by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Last summer, Sierra Club joined a wide coalition of organizations urging the agencies to finalize these updates by submitting more than 6,000 comments during the open public comment period.

In response, Sierra Club Building Electrification Campaign Director Amneh Minkara released the following statement:

"Too often renters and folks in low-income housing are left behind from programs that offer energy efficiency upgrades that lower utility bills and provide better housing stability. These updated building energy codes will help ensure better access to climate-friendly appliances and healthier, more affordable homes regardless of a family's income. These new energy efficiency building codes were a long time coming and represent one piece of a bigger puzzle to make housing more affordable. The Sierra Club and our partners across the country are committed to working alongside federal and state agencies to assist low-income homeowners and renters access clean, safe, energy efficient housing. Today's announcement by the Biden administration will help us achieve this necessary goal."

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

Building Electrification