On April 2, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration unveiled the "Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector," aiming to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. [1] Led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in collaboration with other federal agencies, this sector-wide strategy underscores the administration's commitment to combatting climate change and achieving clean energy goals.
Buildings account for over a third of domestic climate pollution and $370 billion in annual energy costs. The Blueprint projects a 90% reduction in total GHG emissions from buildings, potentially saving over $100 billion in annual energy costs and preventing $17 billion in annual health costs.
To address energy insecurity and disparities, the Blueprint emphasizes affordability and resilience, with specific objectives focusing on increasing building energy efficiency, accelerating emissions reductions, transforming building-grid interactions, and minimizing emissions from building materials. These targets require accelerated deployment of decarbonization and energy efficiency technologies, with coordinated federal actions including research and development, market expansion, funding, and support for emissions-reducing building codes.
DOE focuses on building innovations, aiming to advance scalable technologies and installation solutions while expanding workforce capabilities. The Affordable Home Energy Shot™ initiative seeks to reduce upfront home upgrade costs and energy bills, facilitating progress towards emission reduction targets.