White House Unveils a New Climate Fix: Building Codes and Energy Retrofits
Green building standards for new homes are intended to kickstart the push toward a clean-energy economy.
Construction workers from SunPower Corporation install a rooftop solar panel array on new homes.
Photographer: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images North AmericaThe Biden administration announced a plan on Thursday to adopt new building energy standards for homes built and financed by the federal government, a move that officials said will result in energy savings of more than 35% for families.
The new building energy codes would apply to an estimated 170,000 new homes per year, including newly built or financed subsidized housing, both urban and rural — much of it meant for families of limited means who could particularly benefit from energy cost savings.