H.R. 5184 — Affordable HOMES Act

This section revises DOE authority under 42 U.S.C. 17071 regarding energy conservation standards for manufactured housing (i.e., factory-built homes subject to federal preemption under HUD regulations). Specifically, it (1) replaces the prior mandate for DOE to establish such standards based on the International Energy Conservation Code with discretionary authority for DOE to recommend revisions to HUD's preemptive standards under 42 U.S.C. 5403(g); (2) requires any such recommendations to be based on cost-effectiveness (considering life-cycle costs), include purchase price impact estimates, and account for manufactured home factory techniques, HUD climate zones, alternative energy performance methods, and payback periods for added costs; (3) strikes the prior civil penalty enforcement provision (previously up to 1% of retail list price); and (4) declares the DOE final rule titled "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing," published May 31, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 32728), to have no force or effect.