April 8, 2024 — Letter

The coalition writes in strong support of finalizing the HUD-USDA determination regarding energy efficiency building codes, and to clarify the record on some substantive issues that have been raised by parties opposing the adoption of the relevant codes. It is well documented that the modern, up-to-date building codes currently being considered by your agencies – IECC 2021 and ASHRAE 90.1 2019 – will lower housing costs for homebuyers. The Preliminary Determination projects that the proposed updates will save residents of single-family homes $752 every year in energy costs, resulting in lifetime net savings ranging from $7,536 to $46,836, depending on the region. A typical single-family borrower will see positive cash flow within the second year of owning a home built to those standards.