The Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy  provides a comprehensive overview of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies for local governments and energy efficiency, transportation, community planning and design, solid waste and materials management, and renewable energy. City, county, territorial, tribal, and regional government staff, and elected officials can use these guides to plan, implement, and evaluate their climate change mitigation and energy projects. Saving energy through energy efficiency improvements can cost less than generating, transmitting, and distributing energy from power plants, and provides multiple economic and environmental benefits. The governments, many low-income households are reducing housing costs and GHG emissions by improving their energy efficiency. Energy costs can contribute substantially to the overall financial burden of housing  families.

Many low-income households are reducing housing costs and GHG emissions by improving their energy efficiency. Energy costs can contribute substantially to the overall financial burden of housing, and can make housing unaffordable for many families. This guide describes how local governments have planned and implemented programs to reduce the energy-cost burden on low-income households while also generating other energy, environmental, and economic benefits for the local community and region. It is designed to be used by public housing authorities, other public and private entities that provide affordable housing assistance, local government staff, elected officials, and citizen groups.