Advocates and industry groups welcomed newly adopted energy codes today for federally supported homes across the country. The significant update from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) will reduce housing costs, default risks to lenders, and greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.  By improving energy efficiency, the congressionally mandated requirements will save residents an estimated $15,071 for single-family homes and $5,886 per multifamily unit over 30 years, net of costs (compared to homes under existing U.S. requirements), the agencies said. Residents of single-family homes would save $963 every year on energy [...]

As the frequency of extreme temperatures increases, so too will energy costs. Inevitably, the financial strain on hardworking families across the country will reach unprecedented levels. Inadequately insulated and cooled homes pose significant health risks, compounding the challenges faced by residents already burdened with high energy bills. In some cases, individuals are forced to endure uncomfortable and unsafe temperatures in a desperate attempt to reduce these soaring expenses. Building homes to updated energy codes not only protects vulnerable residents but also reduces the overall cost of housing in the country. In Maricopa County, Arizona, the toll of extreme heat [...]

Insurance companies know something you may not: the next home you buy could bankrupt you, or even worse, become your tomb. There’s a reason those companies are fleeing homes in places like Florida. It’s called climate change, it’s real, and it’s scary. Over the last decade the number of heat-related deaths each year in Maricopa County, Arizona has increased over 1000%. The number and costs of billion-dollar disasters in this country have more than tripled. Too many households and businesses already struggle to keep the lights and air conditioning on, and climate change will make that worse. Unfortunately, due [...]