NAHB Commends Resolution to Block Biden’s Gas Water Heater Ban
NAHB strongly supports congressional resolutions introduced in both chambers of Congress that seek to block the Biden administration’s recent attempt to ban natural gas water heaters.
The Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval regarding the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Final Rule establishing Standards for Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters was introduced in the House by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) and in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
“The nation’s home builders applaud Rep. Palmer and Sen. Cruz for introducing this resolution,” said NAHB Chairman Carl Harris. “As the primary energy source for millions of American homes, natural gas plays a critical role in ensuring affordable and reliable energy. This rule’s impact on the water heater market could set a dangerous precedent for further restrictions on natural gas appliances, ultimately making it harder for home owners to maintain affordable living standards.”
The new DOE standards will have a significant impact on home owners and home builders, raising costs and creating unnecessary challenges. NAHB believes the push for a shift to more expensive condensing gas water heaters presents substantial hurdles for remodeling and replacement projects, especially in older homes. Furthermore, NAHB is concerned that this rule is part of a broader agenda to phase out natural gas appliances, ultimately limiting consumer choice and driving up utility costs.
NAHB is urging Congress to approve the resolution of disapproval to prevent the harmful effects of this rule on home owners and the broader housing industry. The DOE should focus on promoting energy efficiency without unnecessarily driving up costs and limiting consumer choice.
The House resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Julia Letlow (R-La.), Mike Collins (R-Ga.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) and Jim Baird (R-Ind.).
Latest from NAHBNow
Apr 01, 2025
Millennial Buyers Prefer Better, Not Bigger HomesAs the housing industry celebrates New Homes Month in April, millennial buyers say they are willing to compromise when it comes to space. NAHB analysis found that millennial buyers prefer more square footage than other generations, but most would choose a smaller feature-rich home for the same purchase price.
Apr 01, 2025
Uncertainty Reigns as 'Liberation Day' on Tariffs ApproachesPresident Trump has hailed April 2 as “Liberation Day,” when he said he will announce global tariffs that could have far-reaching ramifications for the residential construction industry.
Latest Economic News
Apr 01, 2025
Private Residential Construction Spending Rises in FebruaryPrivate residential construction spending increased by 1.3% in February, rebounding from a 1.2% dip in January. The growth was largely driven by higher spending on single-family construction and residential improvements. On a year-over-year basis, the February report showed a 1.6% gain, indicating a modest growth in private residential construction spending during market uncertainties.
Apr 01, 2025
Soft Job Openings Estimate for ConstructionAfter a period of slowing associated with declines for some elements of the residential construction industry, the count of open construction sector jobs remained lower than a year ago, per the February Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Mar 31, 2025
Affordability Pyramid Shows 94 Million Households Cannot Buy a $400,000 HomeNAHB recently released its 2025 Priced-Out Analysis, highlighting the housing affordability challenge. While previous posts discussed the impacts of rising home prices and interest rates on affordability, this post focuses on the related U.S. housing affordability pyramid. The pyramid reveals that 70% of households (94 million) cannot afford a $400,000 home, while the estimated median price of a new home is around $460,000 in 2025.