House Coalition Urges HUD and USDA to Uphold Energy-Efficient Building Codes

Strategic Insights -

A recent letter signed by California Rep. Dave Min and Maryland Rep. Johnny Olszewski, co-chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition's Building Resilient Housing Task Force, cautioned the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) against rolling back energy-efficient building codes. These codes, implemented to reduce household energy costs and increase home resilience to disasters, have already demonstrated significant benefits to homeowners and renters. The task force expressed concern that revoking these codes would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including those pursuing the American Dream.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition's Building Resilient Housing Task Force co-chairs are advocating for the preservation of energy-efficient building codes to reduce household energy costs and increase home resilience to disasters.
  • The task force is comprised of 101 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, founded in January 2009, to advance policies addressing climate change, promoting clean energy innovation, and developing renewable energy resources.
  • The coalition's members, including Reps. Dave Min (CA-47) and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), emphasize the importance of existing building codes in reducing energy costs and mitigating the impact of natural disasters on households.
  • Revoking these building codes would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including low-income households and those pursuing the American Dream.
  • Implementing energy-efficient building codes has already made American households safer and more prosperous, with benefits including reduced energy costs and increased resilience to disasters.

Statistics:

  • 101 members of the U.S. House of Representatives comprise the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
  • The coalition was founded in January 2009 to advance policies addressing climate change and promoting clean energy innovation.
  • The Building Resilient Housing Task Force is dedicated to preserving energy-efficient building codes to reduce household energy costs and increase home resilience.
  • These building codes have already demonstrated significant benefits to homeowners and renters, including reduced energy costs and increased resilience to disasters.
  • The task force is urging HUD and USDA to uphold these building codes and protect cost savings for Americans during a time of acute need.

Sources:

  • "Letter to HUD and USDA Secretaries" from Reps. Dave Min (CA-47) and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) as Co-Chairs of the Building Resilient Housing Task Force (Link: [insert link to the original source, not internal document link])
  • "About SEEC" from the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) (Source: Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, not specified in the original text, rather implied contextually)