On April 25, the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) announced final energy efficiency standards for new home construction. The refreshed standards will impact up to a quarter of all new homes nationwide and will cut energy bills by up to a third, paying for the efficiency improvements within two years on average. The affected units include affordable housing apartments (supported by HUD programs) as well as starter homes eligible for low-down-payment mortgages (insured by FHA and USDA). This announcement comes on the heels of a rule requiring new and majorly renovated federal buildings to be zero-emissions by 2030.
