GOAL STATEMENT
Between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2013, HUD aimed to enable a total of 159,000 cost effective energy efficient or healthy housing units, as part of a joint HUD-DOE goal of 520,000 in FY 2012–2013 and a total goal of 1.2 million units in FY 2010–2013.
HUD has committed to creating energy efficient, healthy housing as part of a broader commitment to fostering the development of inclusive, sustainable communities. The residential sector is responsible for fully 21 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions; creating energy efficient housing is part of a long-term strategy to reduce the environmental impact of these buildings and at the same time increase housing affordability by reducing utility costs for both owners and residents. HUD itself spends an estimated $6.4 billion annually on utilities (both water and energy)—either in the form of allowances for tenant-paid utilities, through direct operating grants for public housing or through housing assistance payments for in privately-owned assisted housing. Much of HUD’s portfolio of public and assisted housing consists of older housing built before the advent of energy codes, and therefore does not have the level of energy efficiency that has resulted from newer, more efficient housing. Resulting utility costs account for around 22 percent of public housing operating budgets, and a similar share in the assisted housing sector. Costs are also high in much of Indian Country and in Alaska Native villages due to climate and housing conditions in these locations.
Support and promote an energy-efficient, green, and healthy housing market by providing financing or strengthening incentives for retrofitting existing housing, and for energy-efficient new construction through HUD programs.
HUD’s energy strategy is designed to address the issue of residential energy costs, an aging public and assisted housing stock, and the growing fiscal demands on HUD’s budget to cover rental property utility costs. The strategy aims to address the disproportionate energy cost burden on low- and moderate-income families, improve the health and quality of HUD-assisted housing for building residents, and support innovative financing for energy retrofits of both single family and multifamily housing. HUD made continued progress in FY 2013 in aligning energy efficiency standards across the Department and implementing more uniform tracking and reporting systems. For example, building on the Recovery Act Management and Performance System (RAMPS), the Office of Public and Indian Housing developed the Energy Performance Information Center (EPIC) to begin collecting data for energy investments made through the Public Housing Capital Fund grant program and Energy Performance Contracts.
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MEASURING OUR PROGRESS
Key Performance Measure: Cost-effective, healthy, energy efficient and green retrofits and new housing
To assess progress towards increasing the energy efficiency and health of the nation’s housing stock, HUD tracks the number of new or retrofitted HUD-assisted or HUD-financed housing units that are healthy, energy-efficient, or meet green building standards.
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Results: Cost-effective, healthy, energy efficient and green retrofits and new housing
Secretary's Message
