42 U.S.C. § 5503 — Development and demonstration of solar heating systems for use in residential dwellings

(a) Program. The NASA Administrator and HUD Secretary must promptly start and carry out a program to develop and demonstrate solar-heating systems, including collectors, controls, and thermal storage, for residential dwellings. (b) Standards and designs. (1) Within 120 days after September 3, 1974, the Secretary, using the National Institute of Standards and Technology Director's services and consulting the Administrator and Energy Secretary, must determine, prescribe, and publish interim performance criteria for solar-heating components and systems used in homes and for homes' suitability for solar heating, taking geographic climate differences into account. (2) As soon as possible after publishing the criteria, the Secretary, consulting the Institute Director and Administrator, must use open competition to select designs for various home types suitable for solar-heating systems meeting the component and system criteria. (c) Contracts and grants. Under the applicable provisions of title 51, subchapter II of chapter 201, and joint program guidelines, the Administrator, after consulting the Secretary, must enter contracts and grants needed or appropriate to develop systems for commercial production and residential use that meet the criteria, including further planning and design needed to match the criteria. The Administrator must also contract with several people or firms to buy qualifying components and systems, including enough spare and replacement parts. (d) Installation and monitoring. The Secretary must arrange for these systems to be installed in a substantial number of homes and ensure they operate satisfactorily during the demonstration. The Secretary may convey ownership of homes built and systems installed under this section under stated conditions, including an agreement that the buyer or owner will observe and monitor, or allow the Secretary to observe and monitor, system performance for five years and regularly provide required reports. A later owner and occupant who makes the same agreement is also covered. (e) Federal property. The Defense Secretary must arrange installation in a substantial number of homes on Federal or federally administered property where designated Federal personnel can regularly and effectively observe and monitor the systems. (f) Coordination. The Secretary, Defense Secretary, and officials responsible for Federal or federally administered property must coordinate installations in substantial numbers of homes and enough geographic areas with different climates to make a realistic and effective demonstration supporting this subchapter.