<div>October 02, 2019 Senators Hassan, Collins and Representatives Gomez, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Lower Energy Costs for Consumers, Increase Energy Efficiency Bipartisan Bills Will Reinstate and Extend the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit for Homeowners and Builders WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) last week introduced the bipartisan Home Energy Savings Act to help lower energy costs for families and reduce carbon emissions by reinstating and strengthening a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades. The bipartisan group will also introduce the New Home Energy Efficiency Act to help incentivize greater energy efficiency in the construction of new homes. “These bipartisan bills are a win-win-win: helping Granite State families lower their electric bills, spurring investment in the clean energy economy, and helping to reduce carbon emissions,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m glad to be working across the aisle on these commonsense bills that will help households improve their energy efficiency.” “Energy efficient upgrades not only have an important role in reducing carbon emissions, but can also save families hundreds of dollars each year by substantially lowering their heating and electricity costs,” said Senator Collins. “By updating and extending these two effective tax credits, our bipartisan bills will encourage contractors to incorporate energy efficient designs and materials in new buildings, as well as make it easier for homeowners to invest products such as energy efficient windows, air conditioners, water heaters, and biomass stoves.” “With energy costs steadily rising and wage growth lagging far behind the expectations of working families across the country, the bipartisan Home Energy Savings Act can be a breath of fresh air for those who feel suffocated by the pressures of financial hardship,” said Congressman Gomez. “Through reinstating and strengthening a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades, this legislation has the capacity to simultaneously lower energy costs and reduce the very carbon emissions that contribute to the mounting climate crisis. Together, with the help of those like Senators Maggie Hassan, Susan Collins, and Congressman Mike Kelly, we can push this legislation through Congress and continue to provide tax relief and assistance to America’s working families.”  “Jobs, affordable energy, and a cleaner environment all in one simple plan? It might sound too good to be true, but this bipartisan legislation is a triple win! By incentivizing smart investments in energy efficient homes, we build a better future for American workers, energy consumers, and the environment in which we live. Who can’t get behind a plan like that?” said Congressman Kelly. The Home Energy Savings Act would reinstate, strengthen, and expand the energy efficiency tax credit for homeowners by establishing higher goals for energy efficient home upgrades and increasing homeowners’ incentives to make energy efficient upgrades. The New Home Energy Efficiency Act would reinstate, strengthen, and expand the tax credit for builders of new energy efficient homes by modernizing the credit’s efficiency standards and increasing the incentive for home builders to meet these standards. <a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Home%20Energy%20Savings%20Act%20&amp;%20New%20Home%20EE%20Act%20one%20pager%20940pm%20100119.pdf">Click here </a>for a one-pager on the two bipartisan bills, <a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Home%20Energy%20Savings%20Act.pdf">click here </a>for the legislative text of the Home Energy Savings Act, and <a href="https://www.hassan.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/New%20Home%20Energy%20Efficiency%20Act.pdf">click here </a>for the legislative text of the New Home Energy Efficiency Act. These bipartisan bills have wide-ranging support from over 35 organizations and businesses, including from the Alliance to Save Energy, National Resources Defense Council, the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the National Association of Home Builders, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.      ### <div class="indented"><div class="indented">Home Energy Savings Act and New Home Energy Efficiency Act Senators Maggie Hassan and Susan Collins Representatives Jimmy Gomez and Mike Kelly</div></div> The problem: As middle class families struggle with rising energy costs (the average household spends <a href="https://rpsc.energy.gov/energy-data-facts">almost $2,000 per year </a>on energy and <a href="https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/reports/2015/energybills/">over 30% of households </a>struggle to pay their energy bills), residential building emissions also make up <a href="https://rpsc.energy.gov/energy-data-facts">more than 20% of the total energy</a> consumed in the U.S. Despite the economic and environmental importance of residential energy efficiency, two key energy efficiency incentives in the U.S. tax code expired at the end of 2017: 1. Incentive for homeowners: This incentive, in section 25C of the tax code, provided a tax credit to homeowners that covered part of the cost of upgrades that improve the energy efficiency of their homes, such as homeowners’ investments in energy efficient windows, air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, electric heat pumps, and water heaters. 2. Incentive for new homes: This incentive, in section 45L of the tax code, provided a tax credit to home builders that construct new homes meeting high energy efficiency standards. The solution: Two bills – the Home Energy Savings Act and New Home Energy Efficiency Act – would help lower consumers’ energy bills and reduce carbon emissions by restoring and strengthening these vital tax credits, while simultaneously creating jobs. In 2018, the energy efficiency sector employed <a href="https://www.usenergyjobs.org/">2.3 million Americans, </a>with roughly 70% of these jobs in construction and manufacturing. The bipartisan Home Energy Savings Act would: <ul><li>Reinstate and extend the energy efficiency tax credit in section 25C of the tax code through 2026</li><li>Establish higher goals for energy efficient home upgrades by modernizing the product-specific efficiency standards in section 25C of the tax code</li><li>Increase homeowners’ incentives to make energy efficiency upgrades by:</li></ul> 1. Increasing the credit from covering 10% to 15% of the cost of efficiency upgrades2. Raising the lifetime cap on the credit from $500 to $1,200 to encourage multiple efficiency projects3. Increasing incentive caps for individual product categories, e.g. raising the credit for a high-efficiency air conditioner investment from $300 to $600 The bipartisan New Home Energy Efficiency Act would: <ul><li>Reinstate and extend the new home energy efficiency tax credit in section 45L of the tax code through 2022</li><li>Establish higher goals for new energy efficient homes by modernizing the efficiency standards in section 45L of the tax code</li><li>Increase home builders’ incentives to increase the energy efficiency of new homes by expanding the credit from $2,000 to $2,500 for new homes meeting modern energy efficiency standards</li></ul> The Home Energy Savings Act and the New Home Energy Efficiency Act are supported by: A.O. SmithAir-Conditioning, Heating &amp; Refrigeration InstituteAlliance for Green HeatAlliance to Save EnergyAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient EconomyAmerican Institute of ArchitectsAndersen Windows &amp; DoorsAssociation of Energy EngineersCarrier CorporationCitizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)Covestro LLCDaikin US CorporationDanfossDFW International AirportDuPontE4TheFutureEnergy Systems GroupGoodman ManufacturingHannon ArmstrongHearth, Patio &amp; Barbeque AssociationHome Performance CoalitionIlluminating Engineering SocietyIngersoll RandJohnson ControlsKnauf InsulationNational Apartment AssociationNational Association of Home BuildersNational Association of State Energy OfficialsNational Insulation AssociationNational Leased Housing AssociationNational Multifamily Housing CouncilNatural Resources Defense CouncilNorth American Insulation Manufacturers AssociationPolyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers AssociationRheem Manufacturing CompanySheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National AssociationSignifyU.S. Green Building Council</div>

Lawmakers Announce Bills to Extend, Increase Home Energy Credits

Lawmakers Announce Bills to Extend, Increase Home Energy Credits

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

In an October 2 release, Senate Finance Committee member Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, along with House Ways and Means Committee members Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., announced the Home Energy Savings Act and the New Home Energy Efficiency Act to help lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

In an October 2 release, Senate Finance Committee member Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, along with House Ways and Means Committee members Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., announced the Home Energy Savings Act and the New Home Energy Efficiency Act to help lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

In an October 2 release, Senate Finance Committee member Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, along with House Ways and Means Committee members Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., announced the <a href="/lr/resolve//2b06c">Home Energy Savings Act</a> and the <a href="/lr/resolve//2b06d">New Home Energy Efficiency Act</a> to help lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

In an October 2 release, Senate Finance Committee member Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, along with House Ways and Means Committee members Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., announced the Home Energy Savings Act and the New Home Energy Efficiency Act to help lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.