Allison MacMunn allison@sunstonestrategies.org, 312.622.4004
WASHINGTON, D.C.—After months of negotiations, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a social spending and climate plan, which includes the Build Back Better Act’s historic climate investments to make our homes and buildings safer, healthier, and more affordable. As the package heads to the Senate, a group of climate, building decarbonization and affordable housing advocates issued the following joint statement:
“Our groups enthusiastically applaud this historic climate investment in homes and affordable housing. This sweeping package will help jumpstart an equitable transition to clean, renewable energy in homes nationwide - a necessary step to cut climate pollution and reduce energy costs for households.”
“The Build Back Better Act’s investment in healthier homes will provide low- and moderate-income households with up to $14,000 to upgrade to highly-efficient, all-electric appliances that can run on 100% renewable energy. Upgrading to these highly-efficient, electric appliances will save on energy costs, and also entirely eliminate home gas bills amid spiking and volatile gas prices. Additional savings for homeowners and tenants are also found in energy efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades in affordable housing included in Build Back Better - the largest and most comprehensive investment in affordable housing in history.
“Build Back Better is a critical first step towards an equitable transition to clean energy in our homes nationwide. These investments will save households hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs, deliver healthier indoor air quality, and create good paying jobs.”
“To address the climate crisis, we must act urgently to reduce emissions across the board, and buildings and homes are a crucial piece of the puzzle. Our groups call on the Senate to pass the package and quickly send it to President Biden’s desk. In addition, while we celebrate the passage of this package as a giant step forward, our groups continue to call on state and local governments to pursue paths to end our reliance on fossil gas in homes and buildings and invest in climate-resilient communities fueled by clean, renewable energy.”
Association for Energy Affordability
BlocPower
Capital Good Fund
CLASP
Elevate
Geothermal Exchange Organization
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
National Housing Trust
Natural Resources Defense Council
NY-GEO (The New York Geothermal Energy Organization)
Rewiring America
RMI
Sealed
Sierra Club
Urban Ingenuity
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.