Homes and buildings account for more than a third of all greenhouse gas emissions , making them a prime focus for decarbonization efforts. At both the federal and local level, lawmakers are pushing property owners to replace outdated fossil-fuel systems with greener technologies like heat pumps, induction stoves, and solar rooftops .
The climate logic is sound. But in practice, these upgrades are fueling a new kind of housing crisis.
Tenants are at risk of being evicted—not for missing rent, but so landlords can install energy-efficient appliances and pass the costs on to new, higher-paying renters. As a wave of “green gentrification” unfolds, backlash is growing from housing advocates, tenant unions, and even environmental groups across the country.
Pink notices for green upgrades
“Green retrofit work is beneficial—it makes homes healthier, more climate-resilient, and operationally less expensive,” says Chelsea Kirk , director of policy and advocacy at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) . “But when tenants don’t have control over their housing and regulations are weak or unenforced, it can become a weapon.”…