The House has approved the Lower Energy Costs Act, a legislation supported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to repeal a section of the Inflation Reduction Act that provides $1 billion in grants to pressure state and local governments to adopt expensive and restrictive energy codes. NAHB also succeeded in adding an amendment to the bill to prevent the Department of Energy from implementing a proposed rule that would limit consumer access to gas stoves. While supporting cost-effective and modern energy codes, NAHB opposes grant programs that prevent amendments to energy codes that would account for local conditions and cost-effectiveness. According to the report, adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code can cost a homebuyer up to $31,000 in additional costs, which could exacerbate the housing affordability crisis.

 

Alicia Huey, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), issued the following statement, "While NAHB supports the adoption of cost-effective, modern energy codes, forcing the adoption of costly energy codes to qualify for these grants would raise housing costs and limit energy choices for consumers."

The passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act is a step towards preventing the adoption of costly and restrictive energy codes that can be detrimental to the affordability of housing and limit energy choices for consumers.
https://www.nahb.org/blog/2023/03/energy-bill