A CleanTechnica Story
There’s a lot happening at the US federal and local levels in which affordable housing and sustainability intersect.
The US federal government this week announced awards of more than $100 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to help renovate the homes of more than 1,500 low income families to be zero energy and climate resilient. With the backdrop to reduce the cost to decarbonize affordable housing by 50% within a decade, these energy saving renovations will demonstrate the potential to cut energy waste down to zero, increase resiliency to extreme weather events worsened by climate pollution, and lower costs for families.
Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration set a target to deliver energy bill savings for people in the US while also curbing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that come from operating and renovating buildings. Renovating buildings will also protect people’s health and lower energy and housing costs for hardworking families.
In the US:
- More than a third of GHG emissions comes from the buildings sector;
- 20% is from heating, cooling, and operating our homes; and,
- Solutions to cut pollution from homes will help curb 37% of GHG emissions that come from operating, constructing, and renovating US buildings.
All the investments will be made in affordable housing communities serving low-income families in alignment with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to environmental justice.