Adrianne Todman, Deputy Secretary | https://www.hud.gov/leadership#sec
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have revealed the adoption of new Minimum Energy Standards for single and multifamily homes, aiming to reduce monthly costs for homeowners and renters across the nation.
Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, emphasized the importance of these updated standards, stating, "Families should never have to find themselves making hard choices about whether to heat their home in winter or use cooling during a heat wave."
The implementation of these standards is in alignment with The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires HUD and USDA to adopt the latest energy standards without negatively impacting the affordability and availability of covered homes.
Dr. Basil Gooden, USDA Rural Development Under Secretary, underlined the commitment to providing safe, decent, and affordable housing in rural America, stating, "People everywhere deserve to benefit from affordable energy costs in the places they call home that they can invest back into their families, businesses and communities."
The significance of the updated energy standards is particularly crucial for low- and moderate-income households, as energy bills constitute a substantial portion of their expenses. On average, low-income households spend three times more of their income on energy bills than the national average, making the cost-saving benefits of the new standards especially impactful for these families.
Moreover, the energy efficiency improvements are projected to result in substantial savings for homeowners, with energy costs expected to be reduced by more than $950 per year. The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA's commitment to building more energy-efficient homes is a step towards ensuring a better future for all, especially in rural areas.
The announcement also highlighted the environmental benefits of the updated standards, with an estimated reduction of 6.35 million metric tons in carbon emissions over 30 years, leading to an annual societal cost savings of $13.9 million.
These new energy standards will not only lower monthly costs for homeowners and renters but also enhance the resilience of homes to extreme weather events and contribute to reducing carbon emissions, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable and affordable housing sector for all.
