H.R. 5184: Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards Act

This bill, titled the "Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards Act" or "Affordable HOMES Act," aims to change existing rules regarding energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing. Specifically, it proposes the following:

Repeal of Energy Standards

The bill seeks to repeal the authority of the Secretary of Energy to enforce energy efficiency standards that were established for manufactured housing under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This means that:

• The specific section (section 413) regarding these standards will be removed from the law.
• A final rule from May 2022 set by the Department of Energy, which established new energy conservation standards for manufactured housing, would no longer be in effect.

Impact on Affordable Housing

The proponents of the bill argue that removing these efficiency standards may promote the development and availability of manufactured homes, potentially making them more affordable. This could lead to an increase in accessible housing options for those in need.

Administrative and Regulatory Changes

The bill will effectively change the regulatory landscape for manufactured housing by eliminating federal oversight concerning how energy-efficient these homes must be. This could allow for more flexibility in the design and construction of manufactured homes.

Consideration for Future Standards

With this bill, there is an implication that any future standards regarding energy efficiency for manufactured homes would not be enforced at the federal level, potentially leaving state and local authorities to set their own regulations, if any.

Relevant Companies

• PHM (PulteGroup, Inc.): As a major builder of various types of housing, including manufactured homes, changes in the regulatory environment around energy efficiency could impact their construction practices and costs.
• KBH (KB Home): Similar to PulteGroup, KB Home could experience operational changes due to the repeal of energy efficiency standards and may adjust their building processes accordingly.