White House Updates Energy Standards for Federally Assisted Housing

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture adopt and require 2021 International Energy Conservation Code

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the White House announced the finalization of updated energy efficiency requirements for housing supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The final determination was published on the Federal Register on Friday, April 26, 2024, with effective dates varying between 18 to 24 months for many programs.

With this announcement, HUD and USDA will adopt and require the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for single family and low-rise (less than 3 story) multi-family housing and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 for remaining multi-family housing. HUD and USDA will accept the 2024 IECC, or future editions of the IECC that, pursuant to a U.S. Department of Energy’s determination, meet or exceed the performance of the 2021 edition, as an alternative compliance path.

The Code Council previously wrote to HUD and USDA in support of updating the 15-year-old standards and encouraged an extended compliance period to facilitate the update. The final rule more than triples the compliance timeline in many instances and permits a phase in of up to two years in high-poverty rural areas to allow for increased training needs of builders, appraisers and code officials in these communities.

“Ensuring federal tax dollars support construction to current building codes that minimize costs for those with the greatest energy burdens is a great milestone and step in the right direction,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “I encourage DOE to quickly finalize its determination concerning the 2024 IECC’s energy conservation benefits, to maximize the tools available and ease the final rule’s implementation.”

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