HUD releases new home energy standards
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) just rolled back its energy efficiency requirements for HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) grantees.
This decision comes after a final determination by the courts blocked efforts to impose the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the 2019 ASHRAE 90.1 standard as the minimum energy efficiency standard.
Following this, all HUD HOME- and HTF-assisted new construction projects are only required to meet the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2007.
While this is a step backward in many ways for energy efficiency standards, housing groups such as the National Association of Home Builders argue that any increased energy efficiency is outweighed by construction costs.
