The Great Regression Begins (And Other Building Code News)
10:08
There’s no other way to say it: The U.S. has regressed to a mid-20th Century energy policy and shunned all sustainability efforts.
America is rapidly falling behind nearly every major country when it comes to clean energy.
Sen. Durbin (D-IL) recently sent a letter to constituents. In it, he stated that the Congressional reconciliation bill (P.L. 119-21, formerly known as the redundantly-titled One Big Beautiful Bill Act) terminates many Inflation Reduction Act clean energy incentives, including the Residential Clean Energy Credit and Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit, both of which have been used to lower bill-costs by thousands of dollars.
It also eliminates clean vehicle credits at the end of 2025, repeals the Residential Developer Credit for building new, energy-efficient homes and will phase out advanced manufacturing clean energy credits by 2027. Court battles might hold up the effective dates of some of these actions, but the outlook is not great.
If it hasn’t started already, there will be increased oil drilling on formerly public lands. There are attempts to prop up the (dying) coal industry. They’ve paved the way for increases on the allowable emissions from smokestacks. The EPA is taking steps to reverse the Endangerment Finding, a foundational scientific determination that underpins the US government's ability to curb climate change. Basically, everything that a long-time reader of this space would not choose to do.
There is a slim silver lining on the increasingly dark cloud over the U.S. Some states are still moving forward on energy and/or water efficiency measures. It’s not 100% doom and gloom out there. Below are some rays of sunshine to help inspire you about the prospects of our environmental future.
Completed:
Massachusetts – The Mass Save 2025-2027 Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Plan was approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities on February 28, 2025. The plan’s goal is to reduce 625,000 metric tons of CO2 from electricity and delivered fuels savings and 375,000 MT from gas savings. The new plan would represent an 18.3% reduction compared to the past three years. Mass Save will also give any gas or electric company customer the opportunity to receive a heat pump rebate and other simplified customer experiences.[1]
Clayton, MO – In February 2025, the City of Clayton passed an ordinance to enact building energy benchmarking requirements for city owned buildings in 2025. Those requirements would then apply to all buildings over 100,000 gross s.f. starting in 2026. Four City of Clayton buildings and 50-60 private properties are included in the ordinance. Benchmarking will ultimately lower energy usage in Clayton, reduce building owners’ costs, and improve building performance.[2]
The standards are now aligned with the City of St. Louis’ standards that were established in 2017.
Illinois – The 2023 Illinois Stretch Energy Codes for both residential and commercial buildings became available for adoption by municipalities on January 1, 2025. This includes state funded facilities and privately funded commercial facilities/residential buildings in municipalities that adopted the stretch code.[3]
Maryland – On May 20, Governor Wes Moore signed two energy-focused bills into law. SB937, named “The Next Generation Energy Act”, looks to increase in-state power generation and battery energy storage while simultaneously keep customer rates down by limiting how utilities can spend ratepayer dollars.
SB937 also withdraws approximately $200 million from a state fund that collects payments from electricity suppliers who cannot meet the state’s renewable energy mandates and redirects the money to refunds for ratepayers. The rebate will average about $80 per household, split between two payments over the 2nd half of 2025.
The Renewable Energy Certainty Act (SB931) creates uniform standards for the placement of solar farms. In some instances, SB931 would overrule local jurisdictions that had sought to restrict the farms with zoning rules.[4]
Unresolved:
United States (part 1) – H.R. 1871, the Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 5 by Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) and has bipartisan cosponsors.
The bill amends section 136 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any subsidy “provided (directly or indirectly) by a public utility to a customer, or by a State or local government to a resident of such State or locality, for the purchase or installation of any storm water management measure, or provided (directly or indirectly) by a State or local government to a resident of such State or locality for the purchase or installation of any wastewater management measure, but only if such measure is with respect to the taxpayer’s principal residence”.
This tax relief has long been sought by those in the water efficiency space, as they feel slighted that energy efficiency rebates get this type of financial advantage, but water efficiency has always been treated differently.
Unfortunately, H.R. 1871 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on the day it was introduced and has been stalled there ever since.
Meanwhile, there is some uncertainty around the future of the EPA’s Energy Star program. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only well-recognized federal program under threat from the administration. On May 9, 2025, the White House issued a directive calling for “the weakening or elimination of federal efficiency standards for toilets, urinals, faucets, clothes washers, dishwashers, and pre-rinse spray valves.”
This is a direct threat to the WaterSense-labeled products program, which was under attack from (but survived) the first Trump administration. Industry groups have rallied to defend the WaterSense program. Manufacturers have taken a more measured approach, as they don’t want to run afoul of an administration that has been vindictive and punitive.
Such a directive also raises concerns about preempting state authority to set stronger standards, which 17 states and the District of Columbia currently exercise. This administration has favored state authority at times, but only when it suits their goals. At other times, it has shown no hesitation to override states’ authority.
Massachusetts – The state has been busy working on the future.
Legislation for a statewide water conservation strategy is receiving bipartisan support with multiple bills brought forth.On February 27, 2025, Bill S-586 was introduced by James B. Eldridge creating a drought management task force.
When drought conditions exist, this task force would meet at least monthly. The task force would determine official drought levels; maintain and update a statewide drought management plan; and have the authority to create and maintain a regional drought map. Cities and towns would be required to enforce water conservation restrictions issued by the secretary of the task force, though any measures would likely apply to nonessential outdoor water use.
The bill was initially referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, but has now been favorably referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.
Senate Bill 662 was introduced the same day by two Republican Senators and had also been referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. It was the same as SB 662, except it omitted the specification of the task force members, leaving the composition up to the environmental secretary. S-586 has since replaced S-662.
Bill H-1003 was also brought forth on February 27, 2025 and has numerous petitioners. It now reads the same as S-586.
Meanwhile, H4144 (“the Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act”) was filed on May 15, 2025 by Governor Maura Healey. It is estimated that the bill would generate approximately $10 billion in saving over the next 10 years for residents.
The ambitious legislation would eliminate and reduce certain charges on customers’ bills, take steps to create accountability and ensure utilities aren’t passing unnecessary costs onto ratepayers, and reduce barriers to new cutting-edge nuclear technologies. The act would also authorize utilities to establish programs for individual customers to finance clean heating, weatherization, and other home upgrades through their bills over time. As of late June 2025, the proposed legislation was still stuck in the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.[9]
The stretch code would also contain “requirements for mandatory solar photovoltaic panel installation for all buildings deemed suitable for installation”. Finally, the proposed stretch code would “include all provisions of the stretch energy code related to the latest IECC, together with more stringent energy-efficiency provisions promulgated more than 36 months prior”.[10] This bill has been in committee since it was introduced.
This Housing 2.0 presentation is sponsored by: Panasonic
Mike Collignon, author of our Code Watch and Housing 2.0 Program Manager, is Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Green Builder Coalition, a not-for-profit association dedicated to amplifying the voice of green builders and professionals to drive advocacy and education for more sustainable homebuilding practices.
The Great Regression Begins (And Other Building Code News)
There’s no other way to say it: The U.S. has regressed to a mid-20th Century energy policy and shunned all sustainability efforts.
America is rapidly falling behind nearly every major country when it comes to clean energy.
Sen. Durbin (D-IL) recently sent a letter to constituents. In it, he stated that the Congressional reconciliation bill (P.L. 119-21, formerly known as the redundantly-titled One Big Beautiful Bill Act) terminates many Inflation Reduction Act clean energy incentives, including the Residential Clean Energy Credit and Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit, both of which have been used to lower bill-costs by thousands of dollars.
It also eliminates clean vehicle credits at the end of 2025, repeals the Residential Developer Credit for building new, energy-efficient homes and will phase out advanced manufacturing clean energy credits by 2027. Court battles might hold up the effective dates of some of these actions, but the outlook is not great.
If it hasn’t started already, there will be increased oil drilling on formerly public lands. There are attempts to prop up the (dying) coal industry. They’ve paved the way for increases on the allowable emissions from smokestacks. The EPA is taking steps to reverse the Endangerment Finding, a foundational scientific determination that underpins the US government's ability to curb climate change. Basically, everything that a long-time reader of this space would not choose to do.
There is a slim silver lining on the increasingly dark cloud over the U.S. Some states are still moving forward on energy and/or water efficiency measures. It’s not 100% doom and gloom out there. Below are some rays of sunshine to help inspire you about the prospects of our environmental future.
Completed:
The standards are now aligned with the City of St. Louis’ standards that were established in 2017.
SB937 also withdraws approximately $200 million from a state fund that collects payments from electricity suppliers who cannot meet the state’s renewable energy mandates and redirects the money to refunds for ratepayers. The rebate will average about $80 per household, split between two payments over the 2nd half of 2025.
The Renewable Energy Certainty Act (SB931) creates uniform standards for the placement of solar farms. In some instances, SB931 would overrule local jurisdictions that had sought to restrict the farms with zoning rules. [4]
Unresolved:
United States (part 1) – H.R. 1871, the Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 5 by Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) and has bipartisan cosponsors.
The bill amends section 136 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any subsidy “provided (directly or indirectly) by a public utility to a customer, or by a State or local government to a resident of such State or locality, for the purchase or installation of any storm water management measure, or provided (directly or indirectly) by a State or local government to a resident of such State or locality for the purchase or installation of any wastewater management measure, but only if such measure is with respect to the taxpayer’s principal residence”.
This tax relief has long been sought by those in the water efficiency space, as they feel slighted that energy efficiency rebates get this type of financial advantage, but water efficiency has always been treated differently.
Unfortunately, H.R. 1871 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on the day it was introduced and has been stalled there ever since.
Meanwhile, there is some uncertainty around the future of the EPA’s Energy Star program. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only well-recognized federal program under threat from the administration. On May 9, 2025, the White House issued a directive calling for “the weakening or elimination of federal efficiency standards for toilets, urinals, faucets, clothes washers, dishwashers, and pre-rinse spray valves.”
This is a direct threat to the WaterSense-labeled products program, which was under attack from (but survived) the first Trump administration. Industry groups have rallied to defend the WaterSense program. Manufacturers have taken a more measured approach, as they don’t want to run afoul of an administration that has been vindictive and punitive.
Such a directive also raises concerns about preempting state authority to set stronger standards, which 17 states and the District of Columbia currently exercise. This administration has favored state authority at times, but only when it suits their goals. At other times, it has shown no hesitation to override states’ authority.
Massachusetts – The state has been busy working on the future.
Legislation for a statewide water conservation strategy is receiving bipartisan support with multiple bills brought forth.On February 27, 2025, Bill S-586 was introduced by James B. Eldridge creating a drought management task force.
When drought conditions exist, this task force would meet at least monthly. The task force would determine official drought levels; maintain and update a statewide drought management plan; and have the authority to create and maintain a regional drought map. Cities and towns would be required to enforce water conservation restrictions issued by the secretary of the task force, though any measures would likely apply to nonessential outdoor water use.
The bill was initially referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, but has now been favorably referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.
Senate Bill 662 was introduced the same day by two Republican Senators and had also been referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. It was the same as SB 662, except it omitted the specification of the task force members, leaving the composition up to the environmental secretary. S-586 has since replaced S-662.
Bill H-1003 was also brought forth on February 27, 2025 and has numerous petitioners. It now reads the same as S-586.
Meanwhile, H4144 (“the Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act”) was filed on May 15, 2025 by Governor Maura Healey. It is estimated that the bill would generate approximately $10 billion in saving over the next 10 years for residents.
The ambitious legislation would eliminate and reduce certain charges on customers’ bills, take steps to create accountability and ensure utilities aren’t passing unnecessary costs onto ratepayers, and reduce barriers to new cutting-edge nuclear technologies. The act would also authorize utilities to establish programs for individual customers to finance clean heating, weatherization, and other home upgrades through their bills over time. As of late June 2025, the proposed legislation was still stuck in the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.[9]
Finally, House Bill 4052 was introduced in late April. It would create a municipal opt-in specialized energy code that would include net-zero building performance standards and a definition of net-zero building.
The stretch code would also contain “requirements for mandatory solar photovoltaic panel installation for all buildings deemed suitable for installation”. Finally, the proposed stretch code would “include all provisions of the stretch energy code related to the latest IECC, together with more stringent energy-efficiency provisions promulgated more than 36 months prior”.[10] This bill has been in committee since it was introduced.
This Housing 2.0 presentation is sponsored by: Panasonic
By Mike Collignon
Mike Collignon, author of our Code Watch and Housing 2.0 Program Manager, is Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Green Builder Coalition, a not-for-profit association dedicated to amplifying the voice of green builders and professionals to drive advocacy and education for more sustainable homebuilding practices.Also Read