HUD Wasting $1 Billion a Year on Energy, Says Report

HUD is spending well over $5 billion annually to pay for heat and power for public housing authorities and subsidized rental units, or to assist low-income households who pay those utility bills directly, yet it is failing to take full advantage of existing energy-efficiency programs and “wasting taxpayers’ money,” says Charlie Harak, author of the report, “Up the Chimney: How HUD's Inaction Costs Taxpayers Millions and Drives Up Utility Bills for Low-Income Families.”