Affordability

Heat pumps

Electrifying this affordable housing complex made financial sense

In Sacramento, California, property owner BRIDGE Housing moved ahead with a heat-pump-plus retrofit designed to save both itself and its residents money.

By Alison F. Takemura . 30 May 2025
Clean energy

Chart: Top 15 states where IRA repeal could raise energy bills

The climate law’s tax credits encourage developers to build clean energy, the cheapest form of power around. Without those incentives, bills would climb.

By Dan McCarthy . 4 April 2025
Heat pumps

Mass. regulator orders National Grid to set lower winter rate for heat pumps

The decision instructs the state’s second-largest utility to develop a more affordable wintertime electricity rate for customers who have a heat pump.

By Sarah Shemkus . 4 October 2024
ENN

In North Carolina, housing affordability at center of debate over building codes

Builders claim efficiency upgrades will prices homes out of reach, but numerous experts say energy savings more than make up the difference.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 12 June 2023
ENN

A $440 utility deposit almost kept her from finding a home

Oklahoma regulators allow utilities to charge hefty deposits for people with poor credit or a history of late payments. Some say such policies punish the poor.

By Kayla Branch . 10 August 2022
ENN

North Carolina takes crucial steps toward addressing energy affordability

While agreeing to raise electric rates for Duke Energy customers, regulators also increased money for low-income weatherization and called for proposals to make rates more affordable.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 19 May 2021
ENN

Habitat homes achieve efficiency and affordability

As energy efficiency advocates press for tougher energy codes in Minnesota, Illinois and elsewhere, they're pointing to affordable housing supporters such as Habitat for Humanity to help make their case.

7 May 2012