The Department of Energy announced March 4 that it is making $90 million available to help states and localities adopt and implement building energy codes, which set energy efficiency standards for new buildings, additions and major renovations. This is the second tranche out of a total of $225 million designated by the 2021 infrastructure law for building energy code modernization. In July 2023, the DOE awarded the first $90 million to 27 projects nationwide, including workforce development programs and a national network to support state and local governments as they develop new codes. …Homes built with current energy codes are nearly 40% more efficient than those built just a few years ago, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. In the release, the DOE touts the benefits that updated energy codes promise for communities: lower utility bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved grid reliability.