The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has expressed approval following the Trump administration's decision to delay the implementation of a mandatory energy code policy by six months. This policy, initially introduced by the Biden administration, affects certain Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs.
Buddy Hughes, chairman of NAHB and a home builder from Lexington, N.C., commented on the development: “Today’s announcement by HUD to delay for six months the compliance dates of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the minimum energy-efficiency standards for certain single-family and multifamily housing programs is an important step forward to help ease the nation’s housing affordability crisis.”
Hughes emphasized that this delay could significantly reduce construction costs. He added, "NAHB urges the USDA to take the same action soon and thanks the Trump administration for recognizing the importance of bringing down the cost of housing."
The compliance with this rule, according to Hughes, would have posed challenges for builders in maintaining affordable housing prices. The Home Innovation Research Labs estimated that adhering to the 2021 IECC could increase new home prices by over $20,000. However, builders have reported potential cost increases up to $31,000.
In response to these potential financial burdens, Hughes stated that "NAHB will continue to pursue all avenues on the congressional, regulatory and legal fronts to overturn this harmful energy code rule.”
