Let’s talk about the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

This landmark legislation is policymakers’ response to America’s housing affordability crisis, and includes more than 40 measures focused on bolstering construction, expanding financing opportunities, and limiting the number of homes large investors can purchase. Getting the bill passed has been a bipartisan effort from the get-go—and with a 358-32 margin in the House and an 85-5 margin in the Senate, not even a presidential veto could have stopped it from becoming law.

This is an overwhelming bipartisan triumph—and arguably the biggest policy win of the year.

Which brings us to the question: what does this victory have to do with climate? And why did we spend the past year asking all of you to advocate for it?

Well… let’s get into it.

How we build our homes has a substantial impact on our climate—and that impact has historically been negative. Fossil-fueled heating and cooking have been the standard for centuries. Commonly used building materials remain some of the most carbon-intensive to create. And zoning laws have been instrumental in encouraging sprawl and intensive land use, degrading our environment and keeping communities across the country car-dependent.

But just because residential buildings have been major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions doesn’t mean they will be forever. And the ROAD to Housing Act is a prime example of how homebuilding can be a powerful force for climate progress.

Here are just a few of the reasons we’re excited about it:

• More construction means more decarbonization. A recent report from the Sightline Institute found that about 50% of new homes and 75% of new apartments built in 2024 were built with electric heating. This is largely thanks to the strides states and municipalities have made in electrification through their building codes—and it means that, by encouraging construction, the Act will help accelerate decarbonization.

• Energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes are finally getting an update. The current standards for manufactured homes are over 30 years old, resulting in units with insufficient insulation, poorly sealed windows and doors, and outdated heating and cooling systems. The Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to not only establish new rules, but update them on a triennial basis.

• Several provisions support location-efficient development. The Act encourages building homes close together—something that sounds simple, but will go a long way in reducing vehicle travel and shaping more walkable communities. To meet this goal, HUD will help state and local governments update their zoning laws in support of high-density, transit-oriented housing.

To quote the National Housing Trust, “housing policy is climate policy”—and right now, working to help the ROAD to Housing Act’s climate provisions reach their full potential is one of the best things we can do to decarbonize our building sector.

Join us as we seize the opportunity the ROAD to Housing Act has given us!