The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on July 12 revealed a $90 million allocation of competitive grants to assist states, cities, tribes, and collaborating entities in adopting modernized energy codes for buildings. The funds aim to support the implementation of updated standards and practices for more energy-efficient construction according to a press release by the U.S. Department of Energy.
"Cutting emissions from buildings across America and ensuring they’re more energy efficient are critical components of President Biden’s plan to tackle the climate crisis and create cleaner and healthier communities," Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a press release issued on July 12.
Through the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants will back 27 projects spanning across 26 states and the District of Columbia, ensuring that buildings meet the latest energy efficiency standards, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and decreased energy costs for American households and businesses, according to the release. The selected awardees will offer vital technical assistance in updating state and local building codes, which is projected to save Americans a substantial $138 billion on utility bills and curtail 900 million metric tons of CO2 emissions by the year 2040 according to a press release by the U.S. Department of Energy.
“With unprecedented support from the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Department is providing new funding to help cities and states modernize their building codes — lowering energy costs for American families and businesses while improving public health,” Granholm said, according to the release.
The primary emphasis of the initiative is to offer education and training opportunities to industry professionals regarding the most current building codes, the Department of Energy press release reported. The selected recipients of the awards will play a crucial role in developing, attracting, and training new workers while retaining existing ones. This effort aims to strengthen a skilled and diverse workforce capable of adhering to modern building standards, staying updated with cutting-edge technologies and construction practices, and contributing to the realization of an inclusive clean energy future.
