FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Cut Energy Bills, Housing Costs and Climate Pollution | The White House

Administration Invests Over $100 Million to Renovate Homes with Zero Energy and Climate Resilient Technology

Announcement will help advance goal of cutting the cost of decarbonizing housing in half within a decade while lowering energy bills and increasing affordable housing supply

The Biden-Harris Administration has advanced the most ambitious climate agenda in history, aiming to reduce emissions across every sector of the economy, including the buildings sector, and provide affordable clean energy to all Americans. Last week, the Administration set a bold target to reduce the cost of decarbonizing new and existing housing by 50% within a decade. This initiative aims to deliver energy bill savings and curb greenhouse gas emissions from operating, constructing, and renovating buildings.

In the United States, more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions come from the buildings sector, with 20% attributed to heating, cooling, and operating homes. By investing in solutions to reduce pollution from homes, the U.S. can curb 37% of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. This investment not only protects people’s health but also lowers energy and housing costs for hardworking families, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Renovating Homes for Zero Energy and Climate Resilience

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced awards of over $100 million through the Inflation Reduction Act to renovate the homes of more than 1,500 low-income families. These renovations aim to make the homes zero energy and climate resilient, showcasing the potential to preserve quality, affordable housing while cutting energy waste to zero and increasing resilience to extreme weather events worsened by climate change. These investments align with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and the Administration’s commitment to environmental justice, preserving the long-term viability and affordability of affordable housing and expanding housing options for communities.

In addition, the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Energy have opened applications for the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit program. This program will incentivize clean energy investments in underserved communities, providing a tax credit boost for small solar and wind projects placed in service in low-income or Tribal communities.

These announcements build on key actions taken by the Administration to boost climate resilience in buildings, lower home energy costs, increase investments in housing supply, and promote safer, healthier housing.

Lowering Energy and Housing Costs for Families and Achieving a Zero Emissions Building Sector

• The Department of Energy has launched the “Affordable Home Energy Shot” initiative, aiming to reduce the cost of decarbonizing new and existing housing by 50% while addressing the burdens faced by low-income households and communities of color. This initiative aligns with the President’s Justice40 Initiative and the Housing Supply Action Plan to increase affordable housing production.
• The Biden-Harris Administration has set a goal of making zero emissions, resilient new construction and retrofits common practice by 2030. To achieve this goal, the Administration is developing a national definition for zero emissions buildings, which will accelerate climate progress by driving investments into energy-efficient homes and buildings.
• The Department of the Treasury has amended the 45L new energy efficient homes tax credit, offering up to $5,000 per home to eligible contractors who construct, reconstruct, or rehabilitate energy-efficient homes.
• The Department of Energy has provided clean energy funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program and awarded cash prizes and technical assistance through the Buildings Upgrade Prize to accelerate energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades.
• The Department of Energy has opened applications for $400 million for states and territories to adopt and implement the latest building energy codes or zero building energy codes, aiming to reduce utility bills, increase efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance climate resilience.
• FEMA has announced the availability of $1.8 billion for two resilience grant programs designed to increase climate resilience nationwide and prepare communities for extreme weather events.

Additional Actions and Resources

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development has released a Climate Resources for Housing Supply Framework, providing key funding opportunities for a climate-focused housing supply strategy. The Funding Navigator tool allows users to browse and sort funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• The Environmental Protection Agency has prioritized net-zero emissions buildings, including multi-family housing, in its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund competitions.

These actions demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to reducing energy burdens, increasing housing supply, advancing fair housing, cutting climate pollution, boosting climate resilience, lowering household energy costs, and preserving the viability and affordability of America’s housing stock.

###

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
• Indicator: Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
• Indicator: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
• Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
• Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
• Indicator: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: whitehouse.gov

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.