American Lung Association: New Energy Efficiency Standards Will Reduce Energy Usage and Air Pollution

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new energy efficiency standards for housing financed by HUD and USDA programs. In response to the new standards, the American Lung Association’s President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“Thank you to HUD and USDA for updating the energy efficiency standards. These standards will reduce energy costs for residents, but also result in less energy usage, less air pollution and improve resiliency in extreme weather events resulting from climate change. 

“The new standards will impact 155,000 HUD and 15,000 USDA housing units per year. They will reduce costs for residents as well as cut greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution. In fact, the new standards will generate an estimate reduction of as much as 6.35 million metric carbon emissions over 30 years, which is the same as removing 46,000 cars from the road each year.”6.35 million metric carbon emissions over 30 years, which is the same as removing 46,000 cars from the road each year.”

“While there is much more to do to improve our indoor and outdoor air quality, HUD and USDA’s new energy efficiency standards are an important step forward.”

Learn more and get involved at Lung.org/Healthy-Efficient-Homes. For additional information about how to improve your indoor air quality, visit Lung.org/Clean-Air.