Local governments can create economic, environmental, and public health benefits for their communities by improving energy efficiency in affordable housing. Households across the nation spend $230 billion on energy to heat, cool, light, and live in their homes each year. These energy costs contribute to the overall financial burden of housing, and can make housing unaffordable for many families. 

By designing energy efficiency programs to serve affordable housing, local governments can help address this energy burden while taking significant steps toward meeting their energy and environmental goals, and providing multiple benefits to owners and renters. 

This guide focuses on how local governments can take an active role in improving energy efficiency in affordable housing units they own and develop, and advance energy efficiency in affordable housing owned and developed by other public and private entities. It provides information on the benefits of improving energy efficiency in affordable housing, expected investment and funding opportunities, and case studies. 

• Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing (PDF)(62 pp, 3 MB)