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Burning fossil fuels in homes and buildings is one of the largest sources of pollution in the United States, impacting our health and accelerating the climate crisis. Equipping buildings with highly efficient and zero emission appliances is critically important to ensure that communities across the country have clean air to breathe, affordable energy bills, and a liveable planet.
Retrofitting our existing building stock off of fossil fuels is a complicated challenge to get right, but we are up to the task. It’s critical work to make homes and buildings resilient and safe, while also ensuring an affordable and equitable transition.
When it comes to newly constructed buildings, things are much simpler if electrification efforts start on the ground level, so to speak. In fact, it is already cheaper in most parts of the country to construct all-electric from the start. Homes built to higher performance standards can be constructed at the same or similar costs as standard construction, and incentives from the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are making it even more cost-effective.
How can we make sure new and majorly remodeled buildings meet these clean standards? One answer: Updated building codes. From highly rated insulation, to higher amp electrical boxes, and wiring ready to hook up to solar panels or handle charging an electric vehicle, building codes offer consistency and ensure a basic level of quality, safety, and technology is used in construction.
The federal government is doing its part by establishing all-electric codes for its own building stock. It is also supporting states and localities that want to implement code updates with technical assistance and funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and IRA.
The Department of Energy (DOE) released its National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building, which provides clear, certifiable criteria to designate clean buildings. To meet the new definition, a building must be highly energy efficient, free of on-site emissions from energy use, and powered solely from clean energy. DOE is also leading by example and working to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in new and majorly renovated federal buildings beginning in 2030 and has updated energy efficiency standards for consumer appliances like furnaces and water heaters to save consumers money and reduce energy use.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have spearheaded updates to energy codes for folks living in government-assisted housing. Many low-income households in the US have trouble paying energy bills. Public health, climate resilience, and energy affordability are crucial for all Americans, not just those that can pay out of pocket.
These new codes set by the HUD and USDA will increase energy efficiency, cutting costs for residents of government subsidized housing by $950 per year.
The federal government can go even further still; if the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) adopts code requirements similar to HUD/USDA, these price drops and sustainable guidelines can reach an even broader audience. Developers of new-construction homes financed with a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage would need to meet these updated federal building energy codes, which are projected to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 6.35 million metric tons and save $13.9 million.
However, tensions around building codes and energy efficiency have jumped to the forefront of environmental discourse as Big Gas lobbyists have started to feel the heat.
Many state and local standards are based on internationally accepted model codes from groups like the International Code Council (ICC). Over the years, the ICC’s standards have slowly become more and more rooted in sustainability and efficiency to meet modern needs. In fact, building to modern standards (2021 IECC set by the ICC) can save 27% in energy costs compared to building to 2009 standards, is just one example of the impact of these codes.
Yet, in March, the fossil fuel industry filed appeals to the ICC’s proposed rules that would have favored electric appliances and electric vehicle chargers in new construction. Rather than fighting back, the ICC board of directors went against their expert staff and consensus committee decisions, caving to the fossil fuel companies request to gut common sense pro-efficiency provisions. Because the US has no national building codes, ICC model codes often set the minimum standard that most US states follow, making this capitulation to fossil-fuel interests especially dangerous.
Legislative rollbacks and misinformation campaigns funded by fossil fuel industry groups threaten to derail much needed progress even further. Gas utility companies have increased kickbacks for the National Association of Home Builders if they include gas appliances, offering money, free training about the ‘benefits’ of fossil fuels, meals at events, and even trips or plane tickets.
Future threats to green buildings continue to appear on the horizon. Congressional Republicans are attempting to rollback and undermine important energy efficiency appliance standards, claw back money from consumers appropriated in the IRA, and more underhanded anti-consumer efforts to protect their fossil fuel donors.
Still, there are leaders in Congress who understand the importance of energy efficient buildings.
Legislation such as the American Energy Efficiency Act (AEEA) would represent a critical step forward. The AEEA proposes a national Energy Efficiency Resource Standard, setting ambitious targets for energy savings that increase over time. Energy efficiency manufacturing and associated industries already employ over 2 million people. This bill aims to create over 400,000 jobs, reduce household energy costs by $56 billion nationally, and reduce emissions by almost 300 million tons. Amidst all this, the AEEA would leave room for states to advance their own goals even further, creating a standard but not a limit.
By reducing dependence on fossil fuels and embracing clean energy solutions, communities can enjoy cleaner air, lower energy costs, and increased resilience to climate challenges. A world where building codes prioritize environmental sustainability not only benefits current generations, but also lays the groundwork for a healthier and more resilient future.
As citizens, our voices matter. Reach out to your congressional representatives and push them to stand up for energy efficiency standards. Share your personal story of how high energy prices or air pollution has affected you or your community - it can make a difference. We have the power to drive meaningful change and ensure a healthy, accessible world for generations to come.