Ten state laws passed this year could potentially lead to 103,000 additional homes a year, according to a new American Enterprise Institute study. About half of the projected homes are accessory dwelling units. California and Washington account for the largest estimates, but the numbers are projections—not a guarantee of construction. The analysis points to how zoning and development changes could expand the range of homes builders can deliver.
Incentives are reaching more homeowners, too. Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data reports that consumer use of rebates, incentives and tax credits for energy-efficient upgrades increased 48.9% from 2024 to 2026. In 2026, 66.1% of builders surveyed reported receiving some form of incentive. State programs led, with municipal programs and federal 45L funding also represented.
California’s 2027 HOA laws address energy-efficient window replacements, electric appliance and heat-pump installations, and EV charging stations. The International Code Council has also opened the proposal period for Group A changes to the 2030 International Codes, with proposals due January 12, 2027.
In Boise, a $2.5 million contribution from Micron Technology will help extend the city’s geothermal network to a planned affordable housing development with more than 300 units. The city estimates residents could save up to 80% on utility bills, though actual savings will depend on the completed project and its operating costs.
A Baltimore homeowner’s retrofit shows how energy upgrades can intersect with health and home repairs. A nonprofit coordinated roof repairs, insulation, electric appliances and rooftop solar for Sherry Frazier at no cost to her. The project totaled about $73,200.
This year’s Phius Passive Projects Design Competition features high-performance buildings beyond the single-family home, including larger and more complex projects. The winners offer examples of climate-responsive design aimed at reducing energy demand while supporting indoor comfort. See the winners:
FEMA announced $1.3 billion in disaster recovery and resilience funding, including a $400 million opportunity for flood-risk reduction and nearly $900 million in recovery and mitigation grants. The programs are intended to help communities reduce repeated flood damage, recover from disasters and prepare for future hazards.
Matt Power, editor-in-chief of Green Builder magazine, offers ideas for making housing more attainable and addressing its full cost. His recommendations include building attainable homes, directing infrastructure funding toward housing, rewarding energy performance and resilience, and making factory-built housing easier to deliver. Read Matt’s article:
Watch the full This Week’s Sustainable Building News episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Rather read the script? Have a great sustainability news tip or trend to share? Send it to Cati O’Keefe at cati.okeefe@greenbuildermedia.com or submit it to be considered as a guest blog.
November 18: 2026 Southwest Utility Energy Efficiency Workshop, Santa Fe
November 16-18: AHF Live: The Affordable Housing Developers Summit, Chicago
November 18–20: 1st International Online Conference on Sustainable Construction (GO BUILD 2026) (Virtual)
December 9: International Conference on Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design Engineering (ICSAUDE), New York
January 28-29: ICGBS 2027: 21. International Conference on Green Building and Sustainability, New York
February 2-4, Design & Construction Week 2027 (IBS & KBIS), Las Vegas
March 1-5, 2027, ASCE2027: The Infrastructure and Engineering Experience, Philadelphia
April 5–8, 2027: National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show, Austin