Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Housing Efficiency Standards Act of 2020," aims to update and expand energy efficiency requirements for federally assisted housing. This includes new construction and rehabilitation of public and assisted housing, single family and multifamily residential housing, and manufactured homes. The bill requires these buildings to meet specific energy efficiency standards, such as the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code or the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019. If these standards are revised, the new requirements must be met within one year. The Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture are also given the authority to establish additional or different energy efficiency standards that are at least as stringent. The bill also requires the Secretaries to update guidance and plans for increasing compliance with these standards.
Possible Impacts
1. The Housing Efficiency Standards Act of 2020 could affect people by requiring new construction and rehabilitation of certain types of housing to meet energy efficiency standards. This could impact developers, builders, and contractors, as they may have to make changes to their building plans and techniques in order to comply with the standards.
2. The Act could also affect homeowners and renters by potentially increasing the cost of housing. If builders and developers have to make costly changes in order to meet the energy efficiency standards, they may pass on those costs to the buyers or renters of the housing.
3. The Act could also have a positive impact on the environment and people's health by reducing energy consumption and promoting the use of more sustainable building materials and practices. This could lead to lower utility bills and a healthier living environment for those living in the affected housing.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7240 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7240
To update and expand the requirements for energy efficiency for
federally assisted housing, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2020
Mr. Casten of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To update and expand the requirements for energy efficiency for
federally assisted housing, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Efficiency Standards Act of
2020''.
SEC. 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.
Section 109 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing
Act (42 U.S.C. 12709) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 109. ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.
``(a) Covered Buildings.--The requirements in this section shall
apply to--
``(1) new construction of public and assisted housing and
single family and multifamily residential housing subject to
mortgages insured under the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.);
``(2) new construction of single family and multifamily
housing subject to mortgages insured, guaranteed, or made by
the Secretary of Agriculture under title V of the Housing Act
of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.); and
``(3) rehabilitation and new construction of public and
assisted housing funded under the United States Housing Act of
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.).
``(b) Initial Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--Beginning 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, all new construction and
rehabilitation of housing specified in subsection (a), but not
including any manufactured home, shall meet the requirements of
the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (in this
section referred to as the `IECC'), or, in the case of
multifamily high rises, the requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES
Standard 90.1-2019.
``(2) Manufactured homes.--Beginning 1 year after the date
of enactment of this section, all new construction of
manufactured homes specified in subsection (a) shall meet--
``(A) the requirements of Energy Star Certified
Manufactured Homes; or
``(B) the standards issued by the Secretary of
Energy under section 413 of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17071) when such
standards are issued.
``(c) Revisions.--
``(1) In general.--If the requirements of the IECC, or, in
the case of multifamily high rises, ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard
90.1, are revised, all new construction and rehabilitation of
housing subject to subsection (b)(1) shall meet the
requirements of the revised code or standard beginning 1 year
after--
``(A) the Secretary of Energy makes a determination
under section 304 of the Energy Conservation and
Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6833) that the revised code
or standard would improve energy efficiency; or
``(B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development makes a positive determination under
paragraph (3).
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall
not apply to any category of housing with respect to which the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Secretary of
Agriculture determines that compliance with such revised code
or standard would not be technologically feasible or
economically justified.
``(3) Determination.--If the Secretary of Energy fails to
make a determination under section 304 of the Energy
Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6833) by the
deadline under such section, within 1 year of such deadline the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall determine
whether compliance with such revised code or standard will
improve energy efficiency, be technologically feasible, and be
economically justified for housing subject to subsection
(b)(1).
``(d) Additional or Different Standards.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development and the Secretary of Agriculture may jointly or
separately establish additional or different energy efficiency
requirements for housing specified in subsection (a) if they
are at least as stringent as the code or standard applicable
under this section.
``(2) Continuation of existing requirements.--Any energy
efficiency requirements for new construction and rehabilitation
of housing specified in subsection (a) established by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Secretary of
Agriculture prior to the date of the enactment of the Housing
Efficiency Standards Act of 2020 shall remain in effect to the
extent they are more stringent than the code or standard
applicable under this section.
``(e) Implementation.--
``(1) Guidance regarding standards.--The Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture
shall revise guidance, handbooks, builder certifications, and
other relevant documents to incorporate the requirements under
this section--
``(A) not later than the expiration of the 10-month
period beginning on the date of the enactment of the
Housing Efficiency Standards Act of 2020; and
``(B) in the case of a positive determination under
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (c)(1), not later
than the expiration of the 10-month period beginning on
the date of such determination.
``(2) Effective dates.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development or the Secretary of Agriculture may set an
effective date for the applicable code or standard for one or
more category of housing that is earlier than the effective
date specified in subsection (b) or (c).
``(3) Compliance.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
``(A) within 1 year after the date of the enactment
of the Housing Efficiency Standards Act of 2020,
develop plans for increasing and measuring compliance
with the requirements of this section, including
builder and mortgage finance institution training;
``(B) within 1 year after the date of the
determinations specified in subsection (c) update such
plans; and
``(C) implement the plans in a timely manner.''.
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