Stricter energy codes would lower residents’ housing costs, improve their health and make them more resilient to the impacts of climate change, according to environmental and consumer groups.

The government-sponsored enterprise has collaborated with state housing finance agencies to develop standardized loan documents to simplify the use of downpayment assistance programs.

Although the GSEs financed fewer affordable units in small multifamily properties, the number of affordable units in Fannie- and Freddie-financed high-rises and garden apartments spiked from 170,000 to 248,000.