WHY HOUSING POLICY IS CLIMATE POLICY

Saving our planet is not just about what kind of car you drive, or recycling. It’s about how we build houses too. Most people have no idea that buildings create greenhouse gas emissions too because of the energy it takes to heat, cool, and light our homes. How we design, construct, and regulate housing plays a pivotal role in addressing climate change. By integrating climate-conscious principles into housing policy, cities can reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and create more communities as climate change sets in.

Here’s a few ways housing policy can help keep us under the next global warming threshold.

Residential buildings are among the largest consumers of energy. In the U.S., homes account for 21% of our total energy consumption. Energy efficiency is directly tied to home design. Poorly insulated homes, for example, require a lot more energy to keep at comfortable temperatures during heatwaves or the dead of winter. It’s important to include energy-efficient standards in building codes, retrofitting older buildings with insulation. Using solar panels can also significantly reduce our carbon footprint. California’s Title 24 sets stringent energy performance guidelines for new homes and it’s led to major reductions in energy use and emissions. Policies like these are crucial for tackling climate change.

Housing policy influences patterns of urban development, which in turn affects how much we drive, walk, bike, or take public buses. Suburban sprawl means long commutes and nonexistent public transit, which raises greenhouse gas emissions. Conversely, if we encourage denser developments with walkable neighborhoods and public transit, we do a lot less damage. Cities like Portland, Oregon have “urban growth boundaries” to do just this – and it works.

As extreme storms, rising sea levels, and heatwaves become more frequent, homes must be built to withstand them. Policies that promote flood-proofing, building with fire-resistant materials, and efficient cooling systems are essential for protecting vulnerable populations. That’s why TPHA has developed home designs with fire resistance, wind resistance, and water conservation.

Climate resilience is doubly important to integrate into low-income housing. These are the communities hit hardest by climate disasters, and they lack the resources to rebuild or wait for insurance. Ensuring that affordable housing is climate-resilient protects people and reduces the long-term costs of disaster recovery. More places should New York City’s lead with their Building Retrofit Program.

Globally, the building sector is responsible for about 40% of annual carbon emissions. By enforcing green building standards, providing incentives for low-carbon construction materials, and retrofitting of older buildings, governments can dramatically reduce emissions across the sector. For example, the European Union’s Green Deal includes provisions for a “Renovation Wave” aimed at upgrading millions of buildings across Europe.

It’s time policymakers wake up to the connections between housing and climate, and lean into development strategies for a more sustainable future. Housing policy is critical. By promoting energy-efficient homes, limiting urban sprawl, ensuring green affordable housing, and decarbonizing the building sector, we can slow climate change.