42 U.S.C. § 16194 — Building standards

(a) Definition of high performance building In this section, the term “high performance building” means a building that integrates and optimizes all major high-performance building^* attributes, including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance, and occupant productivity. (b) Assessment By 120 days after August 8, 2005 , the Secretary^* must enter into an agreement with the National Institute of Building Sciences to— (1) conduct an assessment (in cooperation with industry, standards development organizations, and other entities, as appropriate) of whether the current voluntary consensus standards and rating systems for high performance buildings are consistent with the current technological state^* of the art, including relevant results from the research, development and demonstration activities of the Department; (2) determine if additional research is required, based on the findings of the assessment; and (3) recommend steps for the Secretary to accelerate the development of voluntary consensus-based standards for high performance buildings that are based on the findings of the assessment. (c) Grant and technical assistance program Consistent with subsection (b) and section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 ( 15 U.S.C. 272 note), the Secretary must establish a grant and technical assistance program to support the development of voluntary consensus-based standards for high performance buildings.