42 U.S.C. § 17082

Current through P.L. 118-107 (published on www.congress.gov on 11/21/2024)

Section 17082 - Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Consortium

The term "consortium" means a High-Performance Green Building Consortium selected by the Commercial Director.

(2) Initiative

The term "initiative" means the Zero-Net-Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative established under subsection (b)(1).

(3) Zero-net-energy commercial building

The term "zero-net-energy commercial building" means a high-performance commercial building that is designed, constructed, and operated-

(A) to require a greatly reduced quantity of energy to operate;

(B) to meet the balance of energy needs from sources of energy that do not produce greenhouse gases;

(C) in a manner that will result in no net emissions of greenhouse gases; and

(D) to be economically viable.

(b) Establishment

(1) In general

The Commercial Director shall establish an initiative, to be known as the "Zero-Net-Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative"-

(A) to reduce the quantity of energy consumed by commercial buildings located in the United States; and

(B) to achieve the development of zero net energy commercial buildings in the United States.

(2) Consortium

(A) In general

Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, the Commercial Director shall competitively select, and enter into an agreement with, a consortium to develop and carry out the initiative.

(B) Agreements

In entering into an agreement with a consortium under subparagraph (A), the Commercial Director shall use the authority described in section 7256(g) of this title, to the maximum extent practicable.

(c) Goal of initiative

The goal of the initiative shall be to develop and disseminate technologies, practices, and policies for the development and establishment of zero net energy commercial buildings for-

(1) any commercial building newly constructed in the United States by 2030;

(2) 50 percent of the commercial building stock of the United States by 2040; and

(3) all commercial buildings in the United States by 2050.

(d) Components

In carrying out the initiative, the Commercial Director, in consultation with the consortium, may-

(1) conduct research and development on building science, design, materials, components, equipment and controls, operation and other practices, integration, energy use measurement, and benchmarking;

(2) conduct pilot programs and demonstration projects to evaluate replicable approaches to achieving energy efficient commercial buildings for a variety of building types in a variety of climate zones;

(3) conduct deployment, dissemination, and technical assistance activities to encourage widespread adoption of technologies, practices, and policies (including demand-response technologies, practices, and policies) to achieve energy efficient commercial buildings;

(4) conduct other research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities necessary to achieve each goal of the initiative, as determined by the Commercial Director, in consultation with the consortium;

(5) develop training materials and courses for building professionals and trades on achieving cost-effective high-performance energy efficient buildings;

(6) develop and disseminate public education materials to share information on the benefits and cost-effectiveness of high-performance energy efficient buildings;

(7) support code-setting organizations and State and local governments in developing minimum performance standards in building codes that recognize the ready availability of many technologies utilized in high-performance energy efficient buildings;

(8) develop strategies for overcoming the split incentives between builders and purchasers, and landlords and tenants, to ensure that energy efficiency and high-performance investments are made that are cost-effective on a lifecycle basis; and

(9) develop improved means of measurement and verification of energy savings and performance for public dissemination.

(e) Cost sharing

In carrying out this section, the Commercial Director shall require cost sharing in accordance with section 16352 of this title.

(f) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-

(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(2) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010;

(3) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012; and

(4) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2018.

42 U.S.C. § 17082

Pub. L. 110-140, title IV, §422, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1604; Pub. L. 117-58, div. D, title I, §40104(d), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 933.

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS2021-Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 117-58 inserted "(including demand-response technologies, practices, and policies)" after "policies".

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATESection effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110-140 set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.

WAGE RATE REQUIREMENTSFor provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117-58 including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of this title.

Commercial Director

The term "Commercial Director" means the individual appointed to the position established under section 17081 of this title.

Consortium

The term "Consortium" means the High-Performance Green Building Partnership Consortium created in response to section 17092(c)(1) of this title to represent the private sector in a public-private partnership to promote high-performance green buildings and zero-net-energy commercial buildings.

high-performance green building

The term "high-performance green building" means a high-performance building that, during its life-cycle, as compared with similar buildings (as measured by Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey or Residential Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Agency)-(A) reduces energy, water, and material resource use;(B) improves indoor environmental quality, including reducing indoor pollution, improving thermal comfort, and improving lighting and acoustic environments that affect occupant health and productivity;(C) reduces negative impacts on the environment throughout the life-cycle of the building, including air and water pollution and waste generation;(D) increases the use of environmentally preferable products, including biobased, recycled content, and nontoxic products with lower life-cycle impacts;(E) increases reuse and recycling opportunities;(F) integrates systems in the building;(G) reduces the environmental and energy impacts of transportation through building location and site design that support a full range of transportation choices for users of the building; and(H) considers indoor and outdoor effects of the building on human health and the environment, including-(i) improvements in worker productivity;(ii) the life-cycle impacts of building materials and operations; and(iii) other factors that the Federal Director or the Commercial Director consider to be appropriate.

practices

The term "practices" means design, financing, permitting, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and other practices that contribute to achieving zero-net-energy buildings or facilities.

zero-net-energy commercial building

The term "zero-net-energy commercial building" means a commercial building that is designed, constructed, and operated to-(A) require a greatly reduced quantity of energy to operate;(B) meet the balance of energy needs from sources of energy that do not produce greenhouse gases;(C) therefore result in no net emissions of greenhouse gases; and(D) be economically viable.1 See References in Text note below.2 So in original. Does not fit with cl. (ii) introductory provision.

Secretary

the term "Secretary" means- (A) the Secretary of Education for purposes of subtitle A (other than section 3201),(B) the Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of the amendments made by section 3201, and(C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services for purposes of subtitle B,