Biden administration announces $400 million to help states adopt climate-friendly building codes

The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it will open up applications for the first tranche of funding — $400 million — to help states and territories take up energy efficient building codes.

A senior administration official told reporters on Monday that under the codes new buildings and major renovations would be done with better construction and in a way that is more efficient and resilient.

The Energy Department said in a press release announcing the funding that homes built using modern energy codes are 40 percent more efficient than homes built 15 years ago.

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this funding will ensure that states and local communities have the tools necessary to lead the way in increasing the performance and the overall health of buildings through energy codes,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in the press release. 

The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act. It is a portion of a total of $1 billion that the climate, tax and healthcare law provides to help state and local governments take up building energy codes.