# Plain Language Summary: Green Neighborhoods Act of 2021

This bill pushes the federal government to make homes more energy-efficient by setting new standards for houses that receive federal housing assistance or loans. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture would establish requirements for energy efficiency in homes they help finance or support. Basically, if you're getting a federally-backed mortgage or living in federally-assisted housing, your home would need to meet certain energy standards—either by being built to modern efficiency codes, reducing energy use by at least 20 percent through renovations, or meeting other approved standards. For brand new homes, there's an additional requirement: they need to have electrical outlets installed so you could charge an electric vehicle in your garage or driveway.

The bill also creates incentive programs to reward people who go beyond the basic standards. If homeowners or developers achieve even better energy efficiency—like reducing energy use by 30 percent or getting Energy Star certification—they could receive financial incentives. The bill recognizes different types of buildings too, including manufactured homes and apartment buildings, and sets different standards for each. It also requires the government to track and measure energy use in buildings to see if improvements are actually working.

Beyond just energy efficiency, the bill encourages "green" and sustainable community development. It funds grant programs to help low-income communities develop sustainable housing and transportation options. The bill also creates apprenticeship programs to train workers in green building trades, ensuring there are skilled people available to do this work. Additionally, it addresses a practical problem: homes that use renewable energy and aren't connected to the electrical grid sometimes can't get homeowners insurance, so the bill requires the government to ensure insurance is available for these off-grid homes.

Green Neighborhoods Act of 2021

Perlmutter, Ed

Green Neighborhoods Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish incentives that encourage participants in HUD programs to increase energy efficiency in new and existing housing.