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HUD Energy Efficiency Programs


	Information by State Print version

In This Section

Identifying Programs that Support Energy Efficiency

HUD Programs

DOE Programs

EPA Programs

State and Local Programs

Non-Governmental Programs

Leveraging Resources for Better Programs

Example

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has several energy initiatives that promote energy efficiency in HUD Homes. They include:

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is a public/private partnership created to develop, demonstrate, and deploy the technologies that will bring about the next generation of housing and work to improve the existing housing stock. The goal of the Partnership is to accelerate the creation and widespread use of advanced technologies in order to improve the affordability, quality, durability, environmental and energy-efficiency of tomorrow's homes. PATH's web site has information for homeowners, homebuilders, research, product manufacturers, and housing institutions to promote the use of energy-efficiency in homes across America.

PATH's TOOLBASE is a leading housing industry resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems. The NAHB Research Center provides the services, with funding from HUD through PATH.
Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI). In response to growing interest about health and safety in the residential environment, the Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the HHI. HUD has identified several housing-associated health and injury hazards considered key targets for intervention, including lead, mold and moisture, pesticides, and radon.

The initiative is designed to build upon the Department's existing activities related to the housing environment's health and safety issues, including lead hazard control, building structural safety, weatherization and energy conservation, electrical safety, and fire protection to address multiple childhood diseases and injuries related to housing in a more coordinated fashion. The introduction of remedial measures for excess moisture reduction, dust control, ventilation, and control of toxins will improve residents' health and comfort. Many of these improvements are more cost effective when made as part of energy and modernization activities.
The Public Housing Energy Conservation Clearinghouse (PHECC). HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing has been working actively with local public housing authorities (PHAs) to reduce the cost of utilities.

Efforts include:
- Establishing requirements and incentives to encourage lower consumption;
- Providing incentives to use innovative funding technique and reduce utility rates;
- Providing technical assistance to PHAs to increase their application of cost-effective energy conservation;
- Launching an initiative with the Department of Energy (DOE) to study PHAs energy consumption, providing training materials concerning energy conservation measures (ECMs) and conduct field demonstrations;
- Establishing PHA assessment systems that include evaluation of energy-efficiency efforts.
  
  The PHECC assists public housing authorities manage utility operations and reduce utility costs. Use the Clearinghouse to learn more about topics such as water- and energy-saving technologies, effective approaches for managing utilities, and electricity deregulation.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Energy Efficient Mortgages. In 1992, Congress mandated a pilot demonstration of energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs) in five States. In 1995, the pilot was expanded as a national program. FHA insured 16,000 EEMs in FY1998 (1.5 percent of total FHA loans) 30,044 EEMs in FY1999 (2.3 percent of total FHA loans) and 28,578 in FY2000 (3.1 percent of total FHA loans).

EEMs recognize that reduced utility expenses can permit a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage to cover the cost of the energy improvements on top of the approved mortgage. FHA EEMs provide mortgage insurance for a person to purchase or refinance a principal residence and incorporate the cost of energy-efficient improvements into the mortgage. The borrower does not have to qualify for the additional money and does not make a down payment on it. A lending institution, such as a mortgage company, bank, or savings and loan association, funds the mortgage loan and HUD insures the mortgage.

Content current as of 12 July 2004

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