42 USC § 17081 - Commercial high-performance green buildings

# § 17081. Commercial high-performance green buildings

**(a)** **Director of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, shall appoint a Director of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings to a position in the career-reserved Senior Executive service, with the principal responsibility to—

**(1)** establish and manage the Office of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings; and

**(2)** carry out other duties as required under this part.

**(b)** **Qualifications** The Commercial Director shall be an individual, who by reason of professional background and experience, is specifically qualified to carry out the duties required under this part.

**(c)** **Duties** The Commercial Director shall, with respect to development of high-performance green buildings and zero-energy commercial buildings nationwide—

**(1)** coordinate the activities of the Office of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings with the activities of the Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings;

**(2)** develop the legal predicates and agreements for, negotiate, and establish one or more public-private partnerships with the Consortium, members of the Consortium, and other capable parties meeting the qualifications of the Consortium, to further such development;

**(3)** represent the public and the Department in negotiating and performing in accord with such public-private partnerships;

**(4)** use appropriated funds in an effective manner to encourage the maximum investment of private funds to achieve such development;

**(5)** promote research and development of high-performance green buildings, consistent with section 17083 of this title; and

**(6)** jointly establish with the Federal Director a national high-performance green building clearinghouse in accordance with section 17083(1) of this title, which shall provide high-performance green building information and disseminate research results through—

**(A)** outreach;

**(B)** education; and

**(C)** the provision of technical assistance.

**(d)** **Reporting** The Commercial Director shall report directly to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, or to other senior officials in a way that facilitates the integrated program of this part for both energy efficiency and renewable energy and both technology development and technology deployment.

**(e)** **Coordination** The Commercial Director shall ensure full coordination of high-performance green building information and activities, including activities under this part, within the Federal Government by working with the General Services Administration and all relevant agencies, including, at a minimum—

**(1)** the Environmental Protection Agency;

**(2)** the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive;

**(3)** the Office of Federal Procurement Policy;

**(4)** the Department of Energy, particularly the Federal Energy Management Program;

**(5)** the Department of Health and Human Services;

**(6)** the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

**(7)** the Department of Defense;

**(8)** the National Institute of Standards and Technology;

**(9)** the Department of Transportation;

**(10)** the Office of Science Technology and Policy; and

**(11)** such nonprofit high-performance green building rating and analysis entities as the Commercial Director determines can offer support, expertise, and review services.

**(f)** **High-Performance Green Building Partnership Consortium**

**(1)** **Recognition** December 19, 2007

Not later than 90 days after , the Commercial Director shall formally recognize one or more groups that qualify as a high-performance green building partnership consortium.

**(2)** **Representation to qualify** To qualify under this section, any consortium shall include representation from—

**(A)** the design professions, including national associations of architects and of professional engineers;

**(B)** the development, construction, financial, and real estate industries;

**(C)** building owners and operators from the public and private sectors;

**(D)** academic and research organizations, including at least one national laboratory with extensive commercial building energy expertise;

**(E)** building code agencies and organizations, including a model energy code-setting organization;

**(F)** independent high-performance green building associations or councils;

**(G)** experts in indoor air quality and environmental factors;

**(H)** experts in intelligent buildings and integrated building information systems;

**(I)** utility energy efficiency programs;

**(J)** manufacturers and providers of equipment and techniques used in high-performance green buildings;

**(K)** public transportation industry experts; and

**(L)** nongovernmental energy efficiency organizations.

**(3)** **Funding** The Secretary may make payments to the Consortium pursuant to the terms of a public-private partnership for such activities of the Consortium undertaken under such a partnership as described in this part directly to the Consortium or through one or more of its members.

**(g)** **Report** Not later than 2 years after December 19, 2007, and biennially thereafter, the Commercial Director, in consultation with the Consortium, shall submit to Congress a report that—

**(1)** describes the status of the high-performance green building initiatives under this part and other Federal programs affecting commercial high-performance green buildings in effect as of the date of the report, including—

**(A)** the extent to which the programs are being carried out in accordance with this part; and

**(B)** the status of funding requests and appropriations for those programs; and

**(2)** summarizes and highlights development, at the State and local level, of high-performance green building initiatives, including executive orders, policies, or laws adopted promoting high-performance green building (including the status of implementation of those initiatives).

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–140, title IV, § 421, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1602.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.

## Executive Documents

### Change of Name

Office of the Federal Environmental Executive reestablished as the Office of the Chief Sustainability Officer by Ex. Ord. No. 13693, § 6, , 80 F.R. 15877, formerly set out in a note under .