With the help of local 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, 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.