42 USC § 17082 - Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative

# § 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** December 19, 2007

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

**(B)** **Agreements** section 7256(g) of this title

In entering into an agreement with a consortium under subparagraph (A), the Commercial Director shall use the authority described in , 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** section 16352 of this title

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

**(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.

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**Source Credit**: (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

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (d)(3).  inserted “(including demand-response technologies, practices, and policies)” after “policies”.

## 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.

### Wage Rate Requirements

For 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 , including authority of Secretary of Labor, see .