42 U.S.C. § 17173 — Daylighting systems and direct solar light pipe technology

(a) Establishment: The Secretary must set up a research and development program to help demonstrate and commercialize direct solar renewable energy sources — including light pipe technology — as alternatives to traditional lighting, and to promote conservation and efficiency. Every device supported under this program must be able to measure, in kilowatt-hours, how much energy it saves compared to the traditional light source it replaced. (b) Reporting: The Secretary must send Congress an annual report assessing the measured data from each project and the energy savings it produced. (c) Definitions: (1) "Direct solar renewable energy" means energy from a device that converts sunlight into usable light inside a building, tunnel, or other enclosed structure — replacing artificial light — without turning the sunlight into another form of energy first. (2) "Light pipe" means a device that carries visible sunlight from where it's collected to the inside of a building, while keeping out unwanted interior heat during the non-heating season. (d) Authorization of appropriations: Congress authorized $3,500,000 a year for the Secretary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.