42 USC 6834 - Federal building energy efficiency standards

Collapse to view only § 6834. Federal building energy efficiency standards

§ 6831. Congressional findings and purpose
§ 6832. Definitions
§ 6833. Updating State building energy efficiency codes
§ 6834. Federal building energy efficiency standards
§ 6835. Federal compliance
§ 6836. Support for voluntary building energy codes
§ 6837. Omitted
§ 6838. Cost-effective codes implementation for efficiency and resilience
§§ 6839, 6840. Repealed.

§ 6831. Congressional findings and purpose

(a) The Congress finds that—

(1) large amounts of fuel and energy are consumed unnecessarily each year in heating, cooling, ventilating, and providing domestic hot water for newly constructed residential and commercial buildings because such buildings lack adequate energy conservation features;

(2) Federal voluntary performance standards for newly constructed buildings can prevent such waste of energy, which the Nation can no longer afford in view of its current and anticipated energy shortage;

(3) the failure to provide adequate energy conservation measures in newly constructed buildings increases long-term operating costs that may affect adversely the repayment of, and security for, loans made, insured, or guaranteed by Federal agencies or made by federally insured or regulated instrumentalities; and

(4) State and local building codes or similar controls can provide an existing means by which to assure, in coordination with other building requirements and with a minimum of Federal interference in State and local transactions, that newly constructed buildings contain adequate energy conservation features.

(b) The purposes of this subchapter, therefore, are to—

(1) redirect Federal policies and practices to assure that reasonable energy conservation features will be incorporated into new commercial and residential buildings receiving Federal financial assistance;

(2) provide for the development and implementation, as soon as practicable, of voluntary performance standards for new residential and commercial buildings which are designed to achieve the maximum practicable improvements in energy efficiency and increases in the use of nondepletable sources of energy; and

(3) encourage States and local governments to adopt and enforce such standards through their existing building codes and other construction control mechanisms, or to apply them through a special approval process.

(Pub. L. 94–385, title III, § 302, Aug. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1144; Pub. L. 97–35, title X, § 1041(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 621.)

§ 6832. Definitions

Except as otherwise provided, in this subchapter:

(1) Omitted

(2) The term “building” means any structure to be constructed which includes provision for a heating or cooling system, or both, or for a hot water system.

(3) The term “building code” means a legal instrument which is in effect in a State or unit of general purpose local government, the provisions of which must be adhered to if a building is to be considered to be in conformance with law and suitable for occupancy and use.

(4) The term “commercial building” means any building other than a residential building, including any building developed for industrial or public purposes.

(5) The term “Federal agency” means any department, agency, corporation, or other entity or instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including the United States Postal Service, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

(6) The term “Federal building” means any building to be constructed by, or for the use of, any Federal agency. Such term shall include buildings built for the purpose of being leased by a Federal agency, and privatized military housing.

(7) The term “Federal financial assistance” means (A) any form of loan, grant, guarantee, insurance, payment, rebate, subsidy, or any other form of direct or indirect Federal assistance (other than general or special revenue sharing or formula grants made to States) approved by any Federal officer or agency; or (B) any loan made or purchased by any bank, savings and loan association, or similar institution subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration.

(8) The term “National Institute of Building Sciences” means the institute established by section 1701j–2 of title 12.

(9) The term “residential building” means any structure which is constructed and developed for residential occupancy.

(10) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.

(11) The term “State” includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory and possession of the United States.

(12) The term “unit of general purpose local government” means any city, county, town, municipality, or other political subdivision of a State (or any combination thereof), which has a building code or similar authority over a particular geographic area.

(13) The term “Federal building energy standards” means energy consumption objectives to be met without specification of the methods, materials, or equipment to be employed in achieving those objectives, but including statements of the requirements, criteria, and evaluation methods to be used, and any necessary commentary.

(14) The term “voluntary building energy code” means a building energy code developed and updated through a consensus process among interested persons, such as that used by the Council of American Building Officials; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers; or other appropriate organizations.

(15) The term “CABO” means the Council of American Building Officials.

(16) The term “ASHRAE” means the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

(Pub. L. 94–385, title III, § 303, Aug. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1145; Pub. L. 95–91, title III, § 301(a), title VII, §§ 703, 707, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577, 606, 607; Pub. L. 97–35, title X, § 1041(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 621; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 570(c), Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1950; Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 101(a)(1), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2782; Pub. L. 110–140, title IV, § 433(b), Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1614; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40511(b), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1059.)

§ 6833. Updating State building energy efficiency codes

(a) Consideration and determination respecting residential building energy codes

(1) Not later than 2 years after October 24, 1992, each State shall certify to the Secretary that it has reviewed the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether it is appropriate for such State to revise such residential building code provisions to meet or exceed CABO Model Energy Code, 1992.

(2) The determination referred to in paragraph (1) shall be—

(A) made after public notice and hearing;

(B) in writing;

(D) available to the public.

(3) Each State may, to the extent consistent with otherwise applicable State law, revise the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy efficiency to meet or exceed CABO Model Energy Code, 1992, or may decline to make such revisions.

(4) If a State makes a determination under paragraph (1) that it is not appropriate for such State to revise its residential building code, such State shall submit to the Secretary, in writing, the reasons for such determination, and such statement shall be available to the public.

(5)

(A) Whenever CABO Model Energy Code, 1992,1

1 So in original. The comma probably should not appear.

(or any successor of such code) is revised, the Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after such revision, determine whether such revision would improve energy efficiency in residential buildings. The Secretary shall publish notice of such determination in the Federal Register.

(B) If the Secretary makes an affirmative determination under subparagraph (A), each State shall, not later than 2 years after the date of the publication of such determination, certify that it has reviewed the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy efficiency and made a determination as to whether it is appropriate for such State to revise such residential building code provisions to meet or exceed the revised code for which the Secretary made such determination.

(b) Certification of commercial building energy code updates

(1) Not later than 2 years after October 24, 1992, each State shall certify to the Secretary that it has reviewed and updated the provisions of its commercial building code regarding energy efficiency. Such certification shall include a demonstration that such State’s code provisions meet or exceed the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1–1989.

(2)

(A) Whenever the provisions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1–1989 (or any successor standard) regarding energy efficiency in commercial buildings are revised, the Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after the date of such revision, determine whether such revision will improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The Secretary shall publish a notice of such determination in the Federal Register.

(B)

(i) If the Secretary makes an affirmative determination under subparagraph (A), each State shall, not later than 2 years after the date of the publication of such determination, certify that it has reviewed and updated the provisions of its commercial building code regarding energy efficiency in accordance with the revised standard for which such determination was made. Such certification shall include a demonstration that the provisions of such State’s commercial building code regarding energy efficiency meet or exceed such revised standard.

(ii) If the Secretary makes a determination under subparagraph (A) that such revised standard will not improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, State commercial building code provisions regarding energy efficiency shall meet or exceed ASHRAE Standard 90.1–1989, or if such standard has been revised, the last revised standard for which the Secretary has made an affirmative determination under subparagraph (A).

(d) Technical assistance

(e) Availability of incentive funding

(1) The Secretary shall provide incentive funding to States to implement the requirements of this section, and to improve and implement State residential and commercial building energy efficiency codes, including increasing and verifying compliance with such codes. In determining whether, and in what amount, to provide incentive funding under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the actions proposed by the State to implement the requirements of this section, to improve and implement residential and commercial building energy efficiency codes, and to promote building energy efficiency through the use of such codes.

(2) Additional funding shall be provided under this subsection for implementation of a plan to achieve and document at least a 90 percent rate of compliance with residential and commercial building energy efficiency codes, based on energy performance—

(A) to a State that has adopted and is implementing, on a statewide basis—

(i) a residential building energy efficiency code that meets or exceeds the requirements of the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code, or any succeeding version of that code that has received an affirmative determination from the Secretary under subsection (a)(5)(A); and

(ii) a commercial building energy efficiency code that meets or exceeds the requirements of the ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004, or any succeeding version of that standard that has received an affirmative determination from the Secretary under subsection (b)(2)(A); or

(B) in a State in which there is no statewide energy code either for residential buildings or for commercial buildings, to a local government that has adopted and is implementing residential and commercial building energy efficiency codes, as described in subparagraph (A).

(3) Of the amounts made available under this subsection, the Secretary may use $500,000 for each fiscal year to train State and local officials to implement codes described in paragraph (2).

(4)

(A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection—

(i) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010; and

(ii) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.

(B) Funding provided to States under paragraph (2) for each fiscal year shall not exceed one-half of the excess of funding under this subsection over $5,000,000 for the fiscal year.

(Pub. L. 94–385, title III, § 304, as added Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 101(a)(2), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2783; amended Pub. L. 109–58, title I, § 128, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 619.)

§ 6834. Federal building energy efficiency standards

(a) In general

(1) Not later than 2 years after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, after consulting with appropriate Federal agencies, CABO, ASHRAE, the National Association of Home Builders, the Illuminating Engineering Society, the American Institute of Architects, the National Conference of the States on Building Codes and Standards, and other appropriate persons, shall establish, by rule, Federal building energy standards that require in new Federal buildings those energy efficiency measures that are technologically feasible and economically justified. Such standards shall become effective no later than 1 year after such rule is issued.

(2) The standards established under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) contain energy saving and renewable energy specifications that meet or exceed the energy saving and renewable energy specifications of the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (in the case of residential buildings) or ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004 (in the case of commercial buildings);

(B) to the extent practicable, use the same format as the appropriate voluntary building energy code; and

(C) consider, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal agencies, and where appropriate contain, measures with regard to radon and other indoor air pollutants.

(3)

(A) Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall establish, by rule, revised Federal building energy efficiency performance standards that require that—

(i) if life-cycle cost-effective for new Federal buildings—(I) the buildings be designed to achieve energy consumption levels that are at least 30 percent below the levels established in the version of the ASHRAE Standard or the International Energy Conservation Code, as appropriate, that is in effect as of August 8, 2005; and(II) sustainable design principles are applied to the siting, design, and construction of all new and replacement buildings;

(ii) if water is used to achieve energy efficiency, water conservation technologies shall be applied to the extent that the technologies are life-cycle cost-effective; and

(iii) if lifecycle cost-effective, as compared to other reasonably available technologies, not less than 30 percent of the hot water demand for each new Federal building or Federal building undergoing a major renovation be met through the installation and use of solar hot water heaters.

(B) Not later than 1 year after the date of approval of each subsequent revision of the ASHRAE Standard or the International Energy Conservation Code, as appropriate, the Secretary shall determine, based on the cost-effectiveness of the requirements under the amendment, whether the revised standards established under this paragraph should be updated to reflect the amendment.

(C) In the budget request of the Federal agency for each fiscal year and each report submitted by the Federal agency under section 8258(a) of this title, the head of each Federal agency shall include—

(i) a list of all new Federal buildings owned, operated, or controlled by the Federal agency; and

(ii) a statement specifying whether the Federal buildings meet or exceed the revised standards established under this paragraph.

(D) Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall establish, by rule, revised Federal building energy efficiency performance standards that require that:

(i) For new Federal buildings and Federal buildings undergoing major renovations, with respect to which the Administrator of General Services is required to transmit a prospectus to Congress under section 3307 of title 40, in the case of public buildings (as defined in section 3301 of title 40), or of at least $2,500,000 in costs adjusted annually for inflation for other buildings:(I) The buildings shall be designed so that the fossil fuel-generated energy consumption of the buildings is reduced, as compared with such energy consumption by a similar building in fiscal year 2003 (as measured by Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey or Residential Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Agency), by the percentage specified in the following table:

Fiscal Year	Percentage Reduction
2010	55
2015	65
2020	80
2025	90
2030	100.

(II) Upon petition by an agency subject to this subparagraph, the Secretary may adjust the applicable numeric requirement under subclause (I) downward with respect to a specific building, if the head of the agency designing the building certifies in writing that meeting such requirement would be technically impracticable in light of the agency’s specified functional needs for that building and the Secretary concurs with the agency’s conclusion. This subclause shall not apply to the General Services Administration.(III) Sustainable design principles shall be applied to the siting, design, and construction of such buildings. Not later than 90 days after December 19, 2007, the Secretary, after reviewing the findings of the Federal Director under section 17092(h) of this title, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense for considerations relating to those facilities under the custody and control of the Department of Defense, shall identify a certification system and level for green buildings that the Secretary determines to be the most likely to encourage a comprehensive and environmentally-sound approach to certification of green buildings. The identification of the certification system and level shall be based on a review of the Federal Director’s findings under section 17092(h) of this title and the criteria specified in clause (iii), shall identify the highest level the Secretary determines is appropriate above the minimum level required for certification under the system selected, and shall achieve results at least comparable to the system used by and highest level referenced by the General Services Administration as of December 19, 2007. Within 90 days of the completion of each study required by clause (iv), the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense for considerations relating to those facilities under the custody and control of the Department of Defense, shall review and update the certification system and level, taking into account the conclusions of such study.

(ii) In establishing criteria for identifying major renovations that are subject to the requirements of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall take into account the scope, degree, and types of renovations that are likely to provide significant opportunities for substantial improvements in energy efficiency.

(iii) In identifying the green building certification system and level, the Secretary shall take into consideration—(I) the ability and availability of assessors and auditors to independently verify the criteria and measurement of metrics at the scale necessary to implement this subparagraph;(II) the ability of the applicable certification organization to collect and reflect public comment;(III) the ability of the standard to be developed and revised through a consensus-based process;(IV) an evaluation of the robustness of the criteria for a high-performance green building, which shall give credit for promoting—(aa) efficient and sustainable use of water, energy, and other natural resources;(bspan) use of renewable energy sources;(cc) improved indoor environmental quality through enhanced indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, day lighting, pollutant source control, and use of low-emission materials and building system controls; and(dd) such other criteria as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and(V) national recognition within the building industry.

(iv) At least once every 5 years, and in accordance with section 17092 of this title, the Administrator of General Services shall conduct a study to evaluate and compare available third-party green building certification systems and levels, taking into account the criteria listed in clause (iii).

(v) The Secretary may by rule allow Federal agencies to develop internal certification processes, using certified professionals, in lieu of certification by the certification entity identified under clause (i)(III). The Secretary shall include in any such rule guidelines to ensure that the certification process results in buildings meeting the applicable certification system and level identified under clause (i)(III). An agency employing an internal certification process must continue to obtain external certification by the certification entity identified under clause (i)(III) for at least 5 percent of the total number of buildings certified annually by the agency.

(vi) With respect to privatized military housing, the Secretary of Defense, after consultation with the Secretary may, through rulemaking, develop alternative criteria to those established by subclauses (I) and (III) of clause (i) that achieve an equivalent result in terms of energy savings, sustainable design, and green building performance.

(vii) In addition to any use of water conservation technologies otherwise required by this section, water conservation technologies shall be applied to the extent that the technologies are life-cycle cost-effective.

(span) Omitted

(d) Interim standards

(Puspan. L. 94–385, title III, § 305, as added Puspan. L. 102–486, title I, § 101(a)(2), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2784; amended Puspan. L. 109–58, title I, § 109, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 614; Puspan. L. 110–140, title IV, § 433(a), title V, § 523, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1612, 1662.)

§ 6835. Federal compliance

(a) Procedures

(1) The head of each Federal agency shall adopt procedures necessary to assure that new Federal buildings meet or exceed the Federal building energy standards established under section 6834 of this title.

(2) The Federal building energy standards established under section 6834 of this title shall apply to new buildings under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect shall adopt procedures necessary to assure that such buildings meet or exceed such standards.

(b) Construction of new buildings

(Pub. L. 94–385, title III, § 306, as added Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 101(a)(2), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2785.)

§ 6836. Support for voluntary building energy codes

(a) In general

Not later than 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, after consulting with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, other appropriate Federal agencies, CABO, ASHRAE, the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, and any other appropriate building codes and standards organization, shall support the upgrading of voluntary building energy codes for new residential and commercial buildings. Such support shall include—

(1) a compilation of data and other information regarding building energy efficiency standards and codes in the possession of the Federal Government, State and local governments, and industry organizations;

(2) assistance in improving the technical basis for such standards and codes;

(3) assistance in determining the cost-effectiveness and the technical feasibility of the energy efficiency measures included in such standards and codes; and

(4) assistance in identifying appropriate measures with regard to radon and other indoor air pollutants.

(b) Review

The Secretary shall periodically review the technical and economic basis of voluntary building energy codes and, based upon ongoing research activities—

(1) recommend amendments to such codes including measures with regard to radon and other indoor air pollutants;

(2) seek adoption of all technologically feasible and economically justified energy efficiency measures; and

(3) otherwise participate in any industry process for review and modification of such codes.

(Pub. L. 94–385, title III, § 307, as added Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 101(a)(2), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2785.)

§ 6837. Omitted

§ 6838. Cost-effective codes implementation for efficiency and resilience

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a relevant State agency, as determined by the Secretary, such as a State building code agency, State energy office, or Tribal energy office; and

(B) a partnership.

(2) PartnershipThe term “partnership” means a partnership between an eligible entity described in paragraph (1)(A) and 1 or more of the following entities:

(A) Local building code agencies.

(B) Codes and standards developers.

(D) Local and utility energy efficiency programs.

(E) Consumer, energy efficiency, and environmental advocates.

(F) Other entities, as determined by the Secretary.

(3) Secretary

(b) Establishment

(1) In general

(2) Updated building energy code

(1) consider—

(A) prospective energy savings and plans to measure the savings, including utilizing the Environmental Protection Agency Portfolio Manager, the Home Energy Score rating of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of Energy, the Energy Star Building rating methodologies of the Environmental Protection Agency, and other methodologies determined appropriate by the Secretary;

(B) the long-term sustainability of those measures and savings;

(i) resilience and peak load reduction;

(ii) occupant safety and health; and

(iii) environmental performance;

(D) the demonstrated capacity of the eligible entity to carry out the proposed project; and

(E) the need of the eligible entity for assistance; and

(2) give priority to applications from partnerships.

(d) Eligible activities

(1) In generalAn eligible entity awarded a grant under this section may use the grant funds—

(A) to create or enable State or regional partnerships to provide training and materials to—

(i) builders, contractors and subcontractors, architects, and other design and construction professionals, relating to meeting updated building energy codes in a cost-effective manner; and

(ii) building code officials, relating to improving implementation of and compliance with building energy codes;

(B) to collect and disseminate quantitative data on construction and codes implementation, including code pathways, performance metrics, and technologies used;

(D) to address various implementation needs in rural, suburban, and urban areas; and

(E) to implement updates in energy codes for—

(i) new residential and commercial buildings (including multifamily buildings); and

(ii) additions and alterations to existing residential and commercial buildings (including multifamily buildings).

(2) Related topicsTraining and materials provided using a grant under this section may include information on the relationship between energy codes and—

(A) cost-effective, high-performance, and zero-net-energy buildings;

(B) improving resilience, health, and safety;

(D) the economic impacts of energy codes.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 94–385, title III, § 309, as added Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40511(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1058.)

§§ 6839, 6840. Repealed. Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 101(a)(2), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2783