The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of General Services, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and concurrently with the conduct of the programs under sections 5503 and 5504 of this title, shall enter into arrangements with appropriate Federal agencies to carry out such projects and activities (including demonstration projects) with respect to apartment buildings, office buildings, factories, crop-drying facilities and other agricultural structures, public buildings (including schools and colleges), and other non-residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, taking into account the special needs of and individual differences in such buildings based upon size, function, and other relevant factors, as may be appropriate for the early development and demonstration of solar heating and combined solar heating and cooling systems suitable and effective for use in such buildings.

In carrying out their functions under this subchapter, all Federal officers and agencies shall take steps to assure that small business concerns will have realistic and adequate opportunities to participate in the programs under this subchapter to the maximum extent possible.

The Administrator and the Secretary in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and other appropriate officers and agencies, shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out this subchapter promptly and efficiently. Each such officer or agency, in consultation with the Administrator and the Secretary, may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out his or its particular functions under this subchapter promptly and efficiently.

The Secretary shall make appropriate use of publicly assisted housing and particularly low-rent housing assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.] in demonstrating solar heating systems and combined solar heating and cooling systems under this subchapter.

Within sixty days after the effective date of the law creating the Energy Research and Development Administration or any other law creating a permanent Federal organization or agency having jurisdiction over the energy research and development functions of the United States (or within sixty days after September 3, 1974, if the effective date of such law occurs prior to the enactment of this subchapter), the energy research and development functions vested in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation under this subchapter and any funds which may have been appropriated pursuant to section 5517 of this title, to the extent necessary or appropriate, may, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, be transferred to and vested in the Energy Research and Development Administration or such other organization or agency.