October Map of the Month

By William D. Bryan, Ph.D.

On July 1, 2024, Georgia’s Safe at Home Act went into effect. Passed earlier this year, the law establishes that for any lease signed after July 1 Georgia landlords have a “duty of habitability” and must ensure that their rental unit is “fit for human habitation.” This includes maintaining a safe and healthy property and addressing tenants’ maintenance requests in a timely manner, and it gives tenants legal recourse if these conditions are not met.  

The Safe at Home Act is a critical step forward, but significant housing quality challenges remain for renters throughout Georgia and the South. A 2022 investigatory series by The Atlanta Journal Constitution underscored that thousands of renters in metro Atlanta face severe housing quality shortfalls and have little bargaining power, particularly with absentee landlords. Deferred maintenance has led to mold, pest infestations, and thermal discomfort that exacerbates health issues like asthma and can be a financial drain for tenants.  

While Georgia’s new law provides a pathway to address deferred maintenance, millions of renters in the Southeast still struggle to get their landlords to make critical repairs. Deferred maintenance not only contributes to health struggles, but also undermines housing and community stability by forcing renters to search for better housing. In this way, deferred maintenance can force “involuntary moves” or displacement. While tenants may choose to leave poor housing conditions, this only underscores the lack of formal options for many tenants trying to get maintenance needs and other issues addressed. 

This month’s map uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, administered nationally in August and September of 2024, to show the proportion of renters in each state who reported feeling pressure to move in the past six months because of unresolved repair issues with their housing.  

The data make it clear that a significant number of renters face housing quality pressures that contribute to housing instability. More than half (52%) of all renters in the United States have felt pressure to move in the last six months, with 11% attributing this to a lack of critical repairs. Other factors forcing tenants to consider a move include increases in rent (19%), a missed rent payment (4%), threats of eviction from a landlord (3%), living in an unsafe neighborhood (5%), or because a landlord has changed the locks or removed tenants’ possessions from a unit (0.2%). Nationally, these issues have an outsized impact on low- and moderate-income renters as well as Hispanic renters, who are most likely to feel pressure to move due to housing conditions. 

More than 9 million renters in the South report feeling pressure to move, with nearly 2 million households in the region struggling with deferred maintenance. Even in Virginia, which is generally below the national average, 41% of renters have felt pressure to move in the last six months, driven primarily by sharp increases in rents. In West Virginia, 53% of renters have felt pressure to move and nearly 18% attribute this to unresolved repairs to their housing – the highest rate in the entire nation. 

Housing quality and energy efficiency are closely linked, and energy efficiency programs can provide a key source of funding to address deferred maintenance and health issues. Although the “split incentive” between renters and owners makes it difficult for renters to access energy efficiency, there are proven models that can ensure renters are able to access the benefits of energy efficiency and clean energy and to address housing quality shortfalls. Tariffed on bill programs provide capital for home upgrades with repayments provided by the energy savings from upgrades performed. Because these programs are tied to the electric meter, not to an individual, they are available for renters or owners. Atlanta Housing is working with the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) to provide unsecured loans up to $25,000 to eligible landlords for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades, paired with a rent boost up to $175 per month to offset loan payments. SEEA’s Room to Breathe program – a partnership with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers’ Foundation (AVLF) and SK Collaborative – also provides a model for innovative partnerships that can support tenants in addressing deferred maintenance and securing healthy housing.  

Each of these provides key opportunities for leveraging energy efficiency funding to support the millions of renters in the South who struggle with housing insecurity by addressing deferred maintenance. But housing instability is multifaceted, and to address it at scale resources for tenants and landlords must be combined with robust tenant protections. 

Buildings Blueprint (3rd Quarter)

By Olivia Begalla, Maggie Kelley Riggins, & Elizabeth Willis

Buildings Blueprint

Buildings Blueprint July-September 2024 

A Note From our Team – Blue 

We are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Hurricanes Francine and Helene across our region. To our friends and partners in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Louisiana – we see you, we hear you, and we are profoundly grateful that you are still with us.  To those preparing for Milton, we hope you, your families, and your community are able to stay safe this week.

As our region faces increasingly intense storms and the challenges of aging infrastructure, we understand that events like these are no longer rare. At SEEA, we remain committed to strengthening the resilience of people and communities, helping them not only to survive but to thrive after disasters. As our colleague Jackie Dadakis from Louisiana reminds us, we are in this work to “make buildings more resilient so that our people don’t have to be.”  

We are grateful to see the rapid response from emergency responders, state agencies, essential service providers, and volunteers. Below are just a few current resources to support the region. 

  • FEMA has begun taking applications for the Individual Assistance Program, which includes money for emergency housing at hotels, immediate recovery needs and more. Call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov for more information or to get started on an application. 
  • National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) has reputable and recommended local organizations to support and volunteer through – https://www.nvoad.org/  

For future updates, visit the FEMA website – https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene 

Welcome to SEEA’s Buildings Blueprint where we provide updates and resources on buildings and energy codes in the Southeast and U.S. Islands.   

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Regional News: 

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) is excited to announce the launch of the Building a Resilient and Efficient Southeast (BRESE) Collaborative, as part of a $90 million initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance energy codes nationwide. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this groundbreaking effort will address the Southeast’s unique climate challenges and regulatory landscape by uniting diverse stakeholders to strengthen building energy codes. Through peer-to-peer cohorts, a Community Code Innovation Prize, and targeted technical assistance, the BRESE Collaborative aims to improve energy code adoption, compliance, and efficiency—ultimately reducing emissions and energy costs across the region. 

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We are excited to announce the launch of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Codes Collaborative Fellows program! This opportunity is open to qualified professionals, and applications will be accepted until November 1, 2024. Selected fellows are expected to begin in January 2025. 

The fellows will work as contractors for the ACEEE with a budget of $160,000 allocated over two years. This budget includes up to $10,000 for travel expenses, including participation in annual in-person Codes Collaborative meetings, the Department of Energy National Energy Codes Conference, and events with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. 

Five proposed project topics are available for fellows, but applicants are also encouraged to suggest their own ideas for review by the National Energy Codes Collaborative: 

  • Career transition roadmaps 
  • Ensuring compliance with HUD/USDA minimum energy standards 
  • Community-based organization engagement 
  • Supporting energy-focused builders 
  • Labor engagement 

Check out the Fellows Program site for more information and to submit an application. 

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office (DOE) of State and Community Energy Programs announced its selection for Round 1 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Support for Building Energy Codes and Innovative Codes. Notably, one state within our region, Hawaii, was awarded $18.1 million to develop and adopt a building performance standard designed to reduce energy costs while also driving the creation of resources, jobs, and training in disadvantaged communities. This initiative represents a significant step forward in making energy efficiency more accessible and equitable across the state.  

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A report from the Climate Jobs National Resource Center highlights the job creation potential tied to the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) tax incentives, projecting that nearly 313,588 jobs could emerge from 1,132 clean energy projects currently in development in the Southeast. While this surge is promising, the clean energy sector faces significant challenges, including labor shortages and a lack of registered apprentices to meet growing workforce demands. The IRA’s emphasis on labor standards is essential for closing these gaps and ensuring a skilled workforce is in place to support the clean energy transition.  

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The U.S. DOE has awarded $190 million in funding through the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant to help K-12 schools enhance energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and create healthier learning environments. Initially, the 21 winners received a $300,000 cash prize, with 16 advancing to phases 2 and 3, entering cooperative agreements for additional awards ranging from $7.5 million to $15 million. This national effort will improve 320 school facilities across 25 states, benefiting over 123,500 students and 9,100 teachers while driving cost savings that can be reinvested in education. 

Prize winners in the Southeast include Broward County Public Schools (FL), Hoke County Schools (NC), and West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (KY). Selectees for cooperative agreements from the Southeast include Marion County School District (SC), Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL), Richmond Public Schools (VA), and Rockingham County Schools (NC).  

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The State Energy Office within the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff has awarded Earth Advantage a contract to develop and implement a statewide voluntary home energy labeling program. Leveraging the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Home Energy Score™, Earth Advantage will create and manage a program aimed at educating South Carolina residents about their homes’ energy performance. This program will encourage energy-efficient upgrades, promote conservation, and facilitate transparency in real estate transactions by providing standardized energy reports. Home energy labeling is an important tool for achieving energy targets and can greatly impact real estate valuation and lending practices, increasing the value and demand for more efficient homes. “It’s encouraging to see more and more states adopting Home Energy Score to drive demand for more efficient homes,” said David Heslam, Executive Director at Earth Advantage. For more information, visit, Earth Advantage.  

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a fully Spanish version of Portfolio Manager, enabling Spanish-speaking building owners, managers, and tenants to easily measure and assess energy use, water consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions in their buildings. Users can also apply for ENERGY STAR certification and access support in Spanish, with additional resources expected in early 2025. To learn more, join the “Portfolio Manager 101 (En español)” webinar on October 20th from 1:00 to 2:15 pm.  

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Events:  

Southeast Energy Summit – November 20-22, 2024 – Nashville, TN 

Save the date! The annual Southeast Energy Summit brings together the brightest minds in the industry to connect, explore and innovate for a more energy-efficient Southeast. Join us November 20-22, 2024 in Nashville, TN to dive into dynamic discussions, celebrate regional accomplishments, and enjoy fun networking events! Some notable sessions include Revitalizing Manufactured Housing: Strategies for Enhancing Efficiency, Affordability, and Resilience, Empowering the Future: Building a Resilient Workforce for the Evolving Energy Landscape, and Show Me the Money: How to Capitalize on Federal Funds. 

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The U.S. DOE maintains a page dedicated to building events in the region, highlighting upcoming webinars and workshops. In the upcoming quarter, participants can look forward to sessions such as “Successful Strategies for Better Insulating,” “Beyond Zero Energy: Balancing Embodied Carbon and Operational Energy Solutions to Achieve Zero Emission Buildings,” and “Resources and Best Practices for Growing the Green Building Workforce.” This resource is an excellent opportunity for those seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.  

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Mark your calendars for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit, scheduled for April 30th to May 2nd, 2025 in Washington, D.C. This annual event serves as a pivotal gathering for partners and key stakeholders to explore emerging technologies and share innovative strategies in energy efficiency, decarbonization, water and waste reduction, and more. Registration opens in early December, so be sure to keep an eye on the Better Buildings website for updates!