2024-2030 National Heat Strategy Emphasizes Energy Codes to Combat Extreme Heat

In a move to address the escalating threat of extreme heat, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has joined forces with the White House and the interagency National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) to highlight the first-ever National Heat Strategy for 2024-2030. This strategy marks a significant milestone in the federal government’s ongoing efforts to protect communities from the growing dangers of extreme heat. 

What is the National Heat Strategy?

The National Heat Strategy is a framework designed to reduce the impacts of extreme heat on communities across the United States. As part of a whole-of-government response, the plan outlines a series of solutions including: 

• Guidance for federal agencies in assessing at-risk populations
• Establishing early-warning systems 
• Implementing safety measures through regulation
• Increasing planning efforts
• Supporting community initiatives aimed at adapting to rising temperatures

The National Heat Strategic Plan builds on recent federal initiatives like the National Climate Resilience Framework and the National Resilience Guidance, all designed to integrate resilience into planning and management across the federal government and the nation.

One of the key components of this strategy is the support for the adoption and updating of energy codes, such as the International Code Council’s International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC). As identified by three Department of Energy National Laboratories, energy codes help buildings remain comfortable and safe in extreme heat events, reducing injuries and deaths. Energy codes help lower energy costs, allowing for reduced energy demand to counter extreme heat events, helping both building owners and renters and the energy grid. 

The Importance of Energy Codes in Combating Extreme Heat

Energy codes like the IECC are vital tools in the fight against climate change and extreme heat. By setting minimum standards for energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings, these codes ensure that new and existing structures are better equipped to withstand the challenges posed by rising temperatures.

The adoption and implementation of the IECC can lead to significant benefits. For example, it enhances building performance by boosting energy efficiency, reducing the need for cooling during extreme heat, and lowering energy costs. The IECC also strengthens building resilience, ensuring safe indoor temperatures during heatwaves and safeguarding public health.

By supporting the adoption and implementation of energy codes like the IECC, HUD is helping to create a safer, more resilient future for communities across the nation.

Learn more and access the Code Council’s energy resources here.