1.Short title and table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010
or the GREEN Act of 2010
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Implementation of energy efficiency participation incentives for HUD programs.
Sec. 4. Basic HUD energy efficiency standards and standards for additional credit.
Sec. 5. Energy efficiency and conservation demonstration program for multifamily housing projects assisted with project-based rental assistance.
Sec. 6. Consideration of energy efficiency under FHA mortgage insurance programs and Native American and Native Hawaiian loan guarantee programs.
Sec. 7. Energy-efficient mortgages and location-efficient mortgages education and outreach campaign.
Sec. 8. Collection of information on energy-efficient and location-efficient mortgages through Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
Sec. 9. Ensuring availability of homeowners insurance for homes not connected to electricity grid.
Sec. 10. Mortgage incentives for energy-efficient multifamily housing.
Sec. 11. Energy-efficient certifications for manufactured housing with mortgages.
Sec. 12. Assisted housing energy loan pilot program.
Sec. 13. Making it green.
Sec. 14. Residential energy efficiency block grant program.
Sec. 15. Including sustainable development and transportation strategies in comprehensive housing affordability strategies.
Sec. 16. Grant program to increase sustainable low-income community development capacity.
Sec. 17. HOPE VI green developments requirement.
Sec. 18. Consideration of energy efficiency improvements in appraisals.
Sec. 19. Housing Assistance Council.
Sec. 20. Rural housing and economic development assistance.
Sec. 21. Loans to States and Indian tribes to carry out renewable energy sources activities.
Sec. 22. GAO reports on availability of affordable mortgages.
Sec. 23. Public housing energy cost report.
Sec. 24. Insurance coverage for loans for financing of renewable energy systems leased for residential use.
Sec. 25. Green guarantees.
Sec. 26. Green dividend program for federally assisted rental housing.
Sec. 27. Use of residual receipts and reserve for replacements funds for green retrofits of federally assisted rental housing.
Sec. 28. Study on building codes effects on construction and installation of distributive energy generation measures and water efficiency measures.
Sec. 29. Community building code administration grants.
2.For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Energy-efficient mortgageThe term energy-efficient mortgage means—
(A)a mortgage loan under which the income of the borrower, for purposes of qualification for such loan, is considered to be increased by not less than $1 for each $1 of savings projected to be realized by the borrower as a result of cost-effective energy-saving design, construction or improvements (including use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, geothermal, biomass, and wind, super-insulation, energy-saving windows, insulating glass and film, and radiant barrier) for the home for which the loan is made; or
(B)such other mortgage loan that recognizes such savings as the Secretary may provide.
(2)The term green building standards means standards to require use of sustainable design principles to reduce the use of nonrenewable resources, encourage energy-efficient construction and rehabilitation and the use of renewable energy resources, minimize the impact of development on the environment, and improve indoor air quality.
(3)The term HUD means the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(4)The term HUD assistance means financial assistance that is awarded, competitively or noncompetitively, allocated by formula, or provided by HUD rental assistance, direct loan, or capital grant.
(5)Location-efficient mortgageThe term location-efficient mortgage means—
(A)a mortgage loan under which—
(i)the income of the borrower, for purposes of qualification for such loan, is considered to be increased by not less than $1 for each $1 of savings projected to be realized by the borrower because the location of the home for which loan is made will result in decreased transportation costs for the household of the borrower; or
(ii)the sum of the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance due under the mortgage loan is decreased by not less than $1 for each $1 of savings projected to be realized by the borrower because the location of the home for which loan is made will result in decreased transportation costs for the household of the borrower; or
(B)such other mortgage loan that recognizes such savings as the Secretary may provide.
(6)The term nonresidential structures means only nonresidential structures that are appurtenant to single-family or multifamily housing residential structures, or those that are funded by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development through the HUD Community Development Block Grant program.
(7)The term Secretary, unless otherwise specified, means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
3.Implementation of energy efficiency participation incentives for HUD programs
(a)Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to establish annual energy efficiency participation incentives consistent with this Act to encourage participants in programs administered by the Secretary, including recipients under programs for which HUD assistance is provided, to achieve substantial improvements in energy efficiency.
(b)Requirement for appropriation of fundsThe requirement under subsection (a) for the Secretary to provide annual energy efficiency participation incentives pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be subject to the annual appropriation of necessary funds.
4.Basic HUD energy efficiency standards and standards for additional credit
(a)
(1)A residential single-family or multifamily structure shall be considered to comply with the energy efficiency standards under this subsection if—
(A)the structure complies with the applicable provisions of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1–2007, as such standard or successor standard is in effect for purposes of this section pursuant subsection (c);
(B)the structure complies with the applicable provisions of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, or the requirements of a standard that provides equal or greater energy savings, as such standard or successor standard is in effect for purposes of this section pursuant subsection (c);
(C)in the case only of an existing structure, where determined cost effective, the structure has undergone rehabilitation or improvements, completed after the date of the enactment of this Act, and the energy consumption for the structure has been reduced by at least 20 percent from the previous level of consumption, as determined in accordance with energy audits performed both before and after any rehabilitation or improvements undertaken to reduce such consumption; or
(D)the structure complies with the applicable provisions of such other energy efficiency requirements, standards, criteria, or ratings systems as the Secretary may adopt and apply by regulation, as may be necessary, for purposes of this section for specific types of residential single-family or multifamily structures or otherwise, except that the Secretary shall make a determination regarding whether to adopt and apply any such requirements, standards, criteria, or rating system for purposes of this section not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning upon the date of receipt of any written request, made in such form as the Secretary shall provide, for such adoption and application.In addition to compliance with any of subparagraphs (A) through (D), the Secretary shall by regulation require, for any newly constructed residential single-family or multifamily structure to be considered to comply with the energy efficiency standards under this subsection, that the structure have appropriate electrical outlets with the facility and capacity to recharge a standard electric passenger vehicle, including an electric hybrid vehicle, where such vehicle would normally be parked.
(2)Nonresidential structuresFor purposes of this section, the Secretary shall identify and adopt by regulation, as may be necessary, energy efficiency requirements, standards, criteria, or rating systems applicable to nonresidential structures that are constructed or rehabilitated with HUD assistance. A nonresidential structure shall be considered to comply with the energy efficiency standards under this subsection if the structure complies with the applicable provisions of any such energy efficiency requirements, standards, criteria, or rating systems identified and adopted by the Secretary pursuant to this paragraph, as such standards are in effect for purposes of this section pursuant to subsection (c).
(3)Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require any structure to comply with any standard established or adopted pursuant to this subsection, or identified in this subsection, or to provide any benefit or credit under any Federal program for any structure that complies with any such standard, except to the extent that—
(A)any provision of law other than this subsection provides a benefit or credit under a Federal program for compliance with a standard established or adopted pursuant to this subsection, or identified in this subsection; or
(B)the Secretary specifically provides pursuant to subsection (c) for the applicability of such standard.
(b)Enhanced energy efficiency standards for purposes of providing additional credit under certain federally assisted housing programs
(1)
(A)The purpose of this subsection is to identify energy efficiency and conservation standards and green building standards that—
(i)provide for greater energy efficiency and conservation in structures than is required for compliance with the energy efficiency standards under subsection (a) and then in effect;
(ii)provide for green and sustainable building standards not required by such standards; and
(iii)can be used in connection with Federal housing, housing finance, and development programs to provide incentives for greater energy efficiency and conservation and for green and sustainable building methods, elements, practices, and materials.
(B)Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require any structure to comply with any standard established pursuant to this subsection or to provide any benefit or credit under any Federal program for any structure, except to the extent that any provision of law other than this subsection provides a benefit or credit under a Federal program for compliance with a standard established pursuant to this subsection.
(2)A residential or nonresidential structure shall be considered to comply with the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards or the green building standards under this subsection, to the extent that such structure complies with the applicable provisions of the standards under paragraph (3) or (4), respectively (as such standards are in effect for purposes of this section, pursuant to paragraph (7)), in a manner that is not required for compliance with the energy efficiency standards under subsection (a) then in effect and subject to the Secretary’s determination of which standards are applicable to which structures.
(3)Energy efficiency and conservation standardsThe energy efficiency and conservation standards under this paragraph are as follows:
(A)With respect to residential structures:
(i)For new construction, the Energy Star standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency, as such standards are in effect for purposes of this subsection pursuant to paragraph (7);
(ii)For existing structures, a reduction in energy consumption from the previous level of consumption for the structure, as determined in accordance with energy audits performed both before and after any rehabilitation or improvements undertaken to reduce such consumption, that exceeds the reduction necessary for compliance with the energy efficiency standards under subsection (a) then in effect and applicable to existing structures.
(B)Nonresidential structuresWith respect to nonresidential structures, such energy efficiency and conservation requirements, standards, criteria, or rating systems for nonresidential structures as the Secretary shall identify and adopt by regulation, as may be necessary, for purposes of this paragraph.
(4)The green building standards under this paragraph are as follows:
(A)The national Green Communities criteria for residential construction that provides criteria for the design, development, and operation of affordable housing, as such criteria or successor criteria is in effect for purposes of this section pursuant to paragraph (7).
(B)The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system for the LEED for New Construction rating system, the LEED for Homes rating system, the LEED for Core and Shell rating system, as applicable, as such systems or successor systems are in effect for purposes of this section pursuant to paragraph (7).
(C)The Green Globes assessment and rating system of the Green Buildings Initiative.
(D)For manufactured housing, Energy Star rating with respect to fixtures, appliances, and equipment in such housing, as such standard or successor standard is in effect for purposes of this section pursuant to paragraph (7).
(E)The 2008 National Green Building Standard (ICC 700).
(F)Any other requirements, standards, criteria, or rating systems for green building or sustainability as the Secretary may identify and adopt by regulation, as may be necessary for purposes of this paragraph, except that the Secretary shall make a determination regarding whether to adopt and apply any such requirements, standards, criteria, or rating system for purposes of this section not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning upon date of receipt of any written request, made in such form as the Secretary shall provide, for such adoption and application.
(5)For purposes of this subsection, the term green building means a building that meets the green building standards under paragraph (4).
(6)The Secretary shall establish standards and requirements for energy audits for purposes of paragraph (3)(A)(ii) and, in establishing such standards, may consult with any advisory committees established pursuant to section 5(c)(2) of this Act.
(7)Applicability and updating of standards
(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the requirements, standards, criteria, and rating systems referred to in this subsection that are in effect for purposes of this subsection are such requirements, standards, criteria, and systems are as in existence upon the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B)For purposes of this section, the Secretary may adopt and apply by regulation, as may be necessary, future amendments and supplements to, and editions of, the requirements, standards, criteria, and rating systems referred to in this subsection.
(c)Authority of Secretary to apply standards to federally assisted housing and programs
(1)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may, by regulation, provide for the applicability of the energy efficiency standards under subsection (a), the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards and green building standards under subsection (b), or, in the case of deconstruction, any applicable provisions of and points provided under the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation rating system, or any combination thereof, with respect to any covered federally assisted housing described in paragraph (3)(A) or any HUD assistance.
(2)The Secretary of Agriculture may, by regulation, provide for the applicability of the energy efficiency standards under subsection (a), the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards and green building standards under subsection (b), or, in the case of deconstruction, any applicable provisions of and points provided under the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation rating system, or any combination thereof, with respect to any covered federally assisted housing described in paragraph (3)(B) or any assistance provided with respect to rural housing by the Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture.
(3)Covered federally assisted housingFor purposes of this subsection, the term covered federally assisted housing means—
(A)any residential or nonresidential structure for which any HUD assistance is provided; and
(B)any new construction of single-family or multifamily housing (other than manufactured homes) subject to mortgages insured, guaranteed, or made by the Secretary of Agriculture under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.).
(d)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, shall require that any deconstruction activity conducted under or pursuant to any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act complies with such deconstruction standards as such Secretaries shall establish for purposes of this section, taking into consideration the applicable provisions of and points provided under the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation rating system. Such standards may be updated and revised from time to time, by regulation.
5.Energy efficiency and conservation demonstration program for multifamily housing projects assisted with project-based rental assistance
(a)For multifamily housing projects for which project-based rental assistance is provided under a covered multifamily assistance program, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, carry out a program to demonstrate the effectiveness of funding a portion of the costs of meeting the enhanced energy efficiency standards under section 4(b). At the discretion of the Secretary, the demonstration program may include incentives for housing that is assisted with Indian housing block grants provided pursuant to the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, but only to the extent that such inclusion does not violate such Act, its regulations, and the goal of such Act of tribal self-determination.
(b)The demonstration program under this section shall be carried out in a manner that—
(1)protects the financial interests of the Federal Government;
(2)reduces the proportion of funds provided by the Federal Government and by owners and residents of multifamily housing projects that are used for costs of utilities for the projects;
(3)encourages energy efficiency and conservation by owners and residents of multifamily housing projects and installation of renewable energy improvements, such as improvements providing for use of solar, wind, geothermal, or biomass energy sources;
(4)creates incentives for project owners to carry out such energy efficiency renovations and improvements by allowing a portion of the savings in operating costs resulting from such renovations and improvements to be retained by the project owner, notwithstanding otherwise applicable limitations on dividends;
(5)promotes the installation, in existing residential buildings, of energy-efficient and cost-effective improvements and renewable energy improvements, such as improvements providing for use of solar, wind, geothermal, or biomass energy sources;
(6)tests the efficacy of a variety of energy efficiency measures for multifamily housing projects of various sizes and in various geographic locations;
(7)tests methods for addressing the various, and often competing, incentives that impede owners and residents of multifamily housing projects from working together to achieve energy efficiency or conservation; and
(8)creates a database of energy efficiency and conservation, and renewable energy, techniques, energy-savings management practices, and energy efficiency and conservation financing vehicles.
(c)In carrying out the demonstration program under this section, the Secretary may—
(1)enter into agreements with the Building America Program of the Department of Energy and other consensus committees under which such programs, partnerships, or committees assume some or all of the functions, obligations, and benefits of the Secretary with respect to energy savings;
(2)establish advisory committees to advise the Secretary and any such third-party partners on technological and other developments in the area of energy efficiency and the creation of an energy efficiency and conservation credit facility and other financing opportunities, which committees shall include representatives of homebuilders, realtors, multifamily housing development and management areas, architects, nonprofit housing organizations, environmental protection organizations, renewable energy organizations, and advocacy organizations for the elderly and persons with disabilities; any advisory committees established pursuant to this paragraph shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.);
(3)approve, for a period not to exceed 10 years, additional adjustments in the maximum monthly rents or additional project rental assistance, or additional Indian housing block grant funds under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, as applicable, for dwelling units in multifamily housing projects that are provided project-based rental assistance under a covered multifamily assistance program, in such amounts as may be necessary to amortize all or a portion of the cost of energy efficiency and conservation measures for such projects;
(4)develop a competitive process for the award of such additional assistance for multifamily housing projects seeking to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, or conservation measures; such competitive process shall not be limited to assess the first costs, but shall assess the degree to which applicants will meet each of the goals of the demonstration program under subsection (b); and
(5)waive or modify any existing statutory or regulatory provision that the Secretary administers that would otherwise impair the implementation or effectiveness of the demonstration program under this section, including provisions relating to methods for rent adjustments, comparability standards, maximum rent schedules, and utility allowances; notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary may not waive any statutory requirement relating to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, or the environment, except pursuant to existing authority to waive nonstatutory environmental and other applicable requirements.
(d)During the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out demonstration programs under this section with respect to not fewer than 50,000 dwelling units.
(e)
(1)In order to provide a broad and representative profile for use in designing a program which can become operational and effective nationwide, the Secretary shall carry out the demonstration program under this section with respect to dwelling units located in a wide variety of geographic areas and project types assisted by the various covered multifamily assistance programs and using a variety of energy efficiency and conservation and funding techniques to reflect differences in climate, types of dwelling units and technical and scientific methodologies, and financing options. The Secretary shall ensure that the geographic areas included in the demonstration program include dwelling units on Indian lands (as such term is defined in section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3501), to the extent that dwelling units on Indian land have the type of residential structures that are the focus of the demonstration program.
(2)The Secretary shall provide priority for selection for participation in the program under this section based on the extent to which, as a result of assistance provided, the project will comply with the energy efficiency standards under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 4 of this Act.
(f)Use of existing partnershipsTo the extent feasible, the Secretary shall—
(1)utilize the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist in carrying out the requirements of this section and to provide education and outreach regarding the demonstration program authorized under this section; and
(2)consult with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary of the Army regarding utilizing the Building America Program of the Department of Energy, the Energy Star Program, and the Army Corps of Engineers, respectively, to determine the manner in which they might assist in carrying out the goals of this section and providing education and outreach regarding the demonstration program authorized under this section.
(g)No amounts made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5) may be used to carry out the demonstration program under this section.
(h)
(1)Within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and for each year thereafter during the term of the demonstration program, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress annually that describes and assesses the demonstration program under this section.
(2)Not later than 6 months after the expiration of the 4-year period described in subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit a final report to the Congress assessing the demonstration program, which—
(A)shall assess the potential for expanding the demonstration program on a nationwide basis; and
(B)shall include descriptions of—
(i)the size of each multifamily housing project for which assistance was provided under the program;
(ii)the geographic location of each project assisted, by State and region;
(iii)the criteria used to select the projects for which assistance is provided under the program;
(iv)the energy efficiency and conservation measures and financing sources used for each project that is assisted under the program;
(v)the difference, before and during participation in the demonstration program, in the amount of the monthly assistance payments under the covered multifamily assistance program for each project assisted under the program;
(vi)the average length of the term of the such assistance provided under the program for a project;
(vii)the aggregate amount of savings generated by the demonstration program and the amount of savings expected to be generated by the program over time on a per-unit and aggregate program basis;
(viii)the functions performed in connection with the implementation of the demonstration program that were transferred or contracted out to any third parties;
(ix)an evaluation of the overall successes and failures of the demonstration program; and
(x)recommendations for any actions to be taken as a result of the such successes and failures.
(3)Each annual report pursuant to paragraph (1) and the final report pursuant to paragraph (2) shall include—
(A)a description of the status of each multifamily housing project selected for participation in the demonstration program under this section; and
(B)findings from the program and recommendations for any legislative actions.
(i)Covered multifamily assistance programFor purposes of this section, the term covered multifamily assistance program means—
(1)the program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) for project-based rental assistance;
(2)the program under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q) for assistance for supportive housing for the elderly;
(3)the program under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013) for supportive housing for persons with disabilities;
(4)the program under section 236 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–1 for assistance for rental housing projects;
(5)the program for mortgage insurance under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(3)) for rental housing projects;
(6)the program under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) for rural rental housing; and
(7)the program for assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111).
(j)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, including providing rent adjustments, additional project rental assistance, and incentives, $50,000,000 for each fiscal year in which the demonstration program under this section is carried out.
(k)Not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section.
6.Consideration of energy efficiency under FHA mortgage insurance programs and Native American and Native Hawaiian loan guarantee programs
(a)
(1)Title V of the National Housing Act is amended by adding after section 542 (12 U.S.C. 1735f–20) the following new section:
543.Consideration of energy efficiency
(a)The Secretary shall establish a method to consider, in its underwriting standards for mortgages on single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 that are insured under this Act, the impact that savings on utility costs has on the income of the mortgagor.
(b)It is the sense of the Congress that, in carrying out this Act, the Secretary should endeavor to insure mortgages on single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 such that at least 50,000 such mortgages are insured during the period beginning upon the date of the enactment of such Act and ending on December 31, 2012..
(2)Section 540(b) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1735f–18(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)With respect to each collection period that commences after December 31, 2011, the total number of mortgages on single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 that are insured by the Secretary during the applicable collection period, the number of defaults and foreclosures occurring on such mortgages during such period, the percentage of the total of such mortgages insured during such period on which defaults and foreclosure occurred, and the rate for such period of defaults and foreclosures on such mortgages compared to the overall rate for such period of defaults and foreclosures on mortgages for single-family housing insured under this Act by the Secretary..
(b)Indian housing loan guarantees
(1)Section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a) is amended—
(A)by redesignating subsection (l) as subsection (m); and
(B)by inserting after subsection (k) the following new subsection:
(l)Consideration of energy efficiencyThe Secretary shall establish a method to consider, in its underwriting standards for loans for single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 that are guaranteed under this section, the impact that savings on utility costs has on the income of the borrower..
(2)Section 540(b) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1735f–18(b)), as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section, is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(4)With respect to each collection period that commences after December 31, 2011, the total number of loans guaranteed under section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a) on single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 that are guaranteed by the Secretary during the applicable collection period, the number of defaults and foreclosures occurring on such loans during such period, the percentage of the total of such loans guaranteed during such period on which defaults and foreclosure occurred, and the rate for such period of defaults and foreclosures on such loans compared to the overall rate for such period of defaults and foreclosures on loans for single-family housing guaranteed under such section 184 by the Secretary..
(c)Native Hawaiian housing loan guarantees
(1)Section 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13b) is amended by inserting after subsection (l) the following new subsection:
(m)Energy-efficient housing requirementThe Secretary shall establish a method to consider, in its underwriting standards for loans for single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 that are guaranteed under this section, the impact that savings on utility costs has on the income of the borrower..
(2)Section 540(b) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1735f–18(b)), as amended by the preceding provisions of this section, is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5)With respect to each collection period that commences after December 31, 2011, the total number of loans guaranteed under section 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13b) on single-family housing meeting the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 that are guaranteed by the Secretary during the applicable collection period, the number of defaults and foreclosures occurring on such loans during such period, the percentage of the total of such loans guaranteed during such period on which defaults and foreclosure occurred, and the rate for such period of defaults and foreclosures on such loans compared to the overall rate for such period of defaults and foreclosures on loans for single-family housing guaranteed under such section 184A by the Secretary..
7.Energy-efficient mortgages and location-efficient mortgages education and outreach campaignSection 106 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1701z–16) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(g)Education and outreach campaign
(1)Development of energy- and location-efficient mortgages outreach program
(A)The Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish a commission to develop and recommend model mortgage products and underwriting guidelines that provide market-based incentives to prospective home buyers, lenders, and sellers to incorporate energy efficiency upgrades and location efficiencies in new mortgage loan transactions.
(B)Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide a written report to the Congress on the results of work of the commission established pursuant to subparagraph (A) and that identifies model mortgage products and underwriting guidelines that may encourage energy and location efficiency.
(2)After submission of the report under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Education, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall carry out a public awareness, education, and outreach campaign based on the findings of the commission established pursuant to paragraph (1) to inform and educate residential lenders and prospective borrowers regarding the availability, benefits, advantages, and terms of energy-efficient mortgages and location-efficient mortgages made available pursuant to this section, energy-efficient and location-efficient mortgages (as such terms are defined in section 2 of the GREEN Act of 2010), and other mortgages, including mortgages for multifamily housing, that have energy improvement features or location efficiency features and to publicize such availability, benefits, advantages, and terms. Such actions may include entering into a contract with an appropriate entity to publicize and market such mortgages through appropriate media.
(3)Renewable energy home product exposThe Congress hereby encourages the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to work with appropriate entities to organize and hold renewable energy expositions that provide an opportunity for the public to view and learn about renewable energy products for the home that are currently on the market.
(4)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014..
8.Collection of information on energy-efficient and location-efficient mortgages through Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
(a)Section 304(b) of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (12 U.S.C. 2803(b)) is amended—
(1)in paragraph (3), by striking and
at the end;
(2)in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(5)the number and dollar amount of mortgage loans for single-family housing and for multifamily housing that are energy-efficient mortgages (as such term is defined in section 2 of the GREEN Act of 2010); and
(6)the number and dollar amount of mortgage loans for single-family housing and for multifamily housing that are location-efficient mortgages (as such term is defined in section 2 of the GREEN Act of 2010)..
(b)The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to the first calendar year that begins after the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
9.Ensuring availability of homeowners insurance for homes not connected to electricity grid
(a)The Congress intends that—
(1)consumers shall not be denied homeowners insurance for a dwelling (as such term is defined in subsection (c)) based solely on the fact that the dwelling is not connected to or able to receive electricity service from any wholesale or retail electric power provider;
(2)States should ensure that consumers are able to obtain homeowners insurance for such dwellings;
(3)States should support insurers that develop voluntary incentives to provide such insurance; and
(4)States may not prohibit insurers from offering a homeowners insurance product specifically designed for such dwellings.
(b)Insuring homes and related property in Indian areasNotwithstanding any other provision of law, dwellings located in Indian areas (as such term is defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)) and constructed or maintained using assistance, loan guarantees, or other authority under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 may be insured by any tribally owned self-insurance risk pool approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(c)For purposes of this section, the term dwelling means a residential structure that—
(1)consists of one to four dwelling units;
(2)is provided electricity from renewable energy sources; and
(3)is not connected to any wholesale or retail electrical power grid.
10.Mortgage incentives for energy-efficient multifamily housing
(a)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall establish incentives for increasing the energy efficiency of multifamily housing that is subject to a mortgage to be insured under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.) so that the housing meets the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of this Act and incentives to encourage compliance of such housing with the energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of this Act, to the extent that such incentives are based on the impact that savings on utility costs has on the operating costs of the housing, as determined by the Secretary.
(b)Such incentives may include, for any such multifamily housing that complies with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a)—
(1)providing a discount on the chargeable premiums for the mortgage insurance for such housing from the amount otherwise chargeable for such mortgage insurance;
(2)allowing mortgages to exceed the dollar amount limits otherwise applicable under law to the extent such additional amounts are used to finance improvements or measures designed to meet the standards referred to in subsection (a); and
(3)reducing the amount that the owner of such multifamily housing meeting the standards referred to in subsection (a) is required to contribute.
11.Energy-efficient certifications for manufactured housing with mortgagesSection 526 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1735f–4(a)) is amended—
(1)in subsection (a)—
(A)by striking , other than manufactured homes,
each place such term appears;
(B)by inserting after the period at the end the following: The energy performance requirements developed and established by the Secretary under this section for manufactured homes shall require Energy Star rating for wall fixtures, appliances, and equipment in such housing.
;
(C)by inserting (1)
after (a)
; and
(D)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(2)The Secretary shall require, with respect to any mortgage for manufactured housing insured under this Act, that any approval or certification of the housing for meeting any energy efficiency or conservation criteria, standards, or requirements pursuant to this title and any approval or certification required pursuant to this title with respect to energy-conserving improvements or any renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar energy geothermal, or biomass, shall be conducted only by an individual certified by a home energy rating system provider who has been accredited to conduct such ratings by the Home Energy Ratings System Council, the Residential Energy Services Network, or such other appropriate national organization, as the Secretary may provide, or by licensed professional architect or engineer. If any organization makes a request to the Secretary for approval to accredit individuals to conduct energy efficiency or conservation ratings, the Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove such request not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning upon receipt of such request.
(3)The Secretary shall periodically examine the method used to conduct inspections for compliance with the requirements under this section, analyze various other approaches for conducting such inspections, and review the costs and benefits of the current method compared with other methods.; and
(2)in subsection (b), by striking , other than a manufactured home,
.
12.Assisted housing energy loan pilot program
(a)Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and implement a pilot program under this section to facilitate the financing of cost-effective capital improvements for covered assisted housing projects to improve the energy efficiency and conservation of such projects.
(b)The pilot program under this section shall involve not less than three and not more than five lenders, and shall provide for a privately financed loan to be made for a covered assisted housing project, which shall—
(1)finance capital improvements for the project that meet such requirements as the Secretary shall establish, and may involve contracts with third parties to perform such capital improvements, including the design of such improvements by licensed professional architects or engineers;
(2)have a term to maturity of not more than 20 years, which shall be based upon the duration necessary to realize cost savings sufficient to repay the loan;
(3)be secured by a mortgage subordinate to the mortgage for the project that is insured under the National Housing Act; and
(4)provide for a reduction in the remaining principal obligation under the loan based on the actual resulting cost savings realized from the capital improvements financed with the loan.
(c)The Secretary shall review underwriting requirements for loans made under the pilot program under this section, which shall—
(1)require the cost savings projected to be realized from the capital improvements financed with the loan, during the term of the loan, to exceed the costs of repaying the loan;
(2)allow the designer or contractor involved in designing capital improvements to be financed with a loan under the program to carry out such capital improvements; and
(3)include such energy, audit, property, financial, ownership, and approval requirements as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d)The pilot program under this section shall provide that the project owner shall receive the full financial benefit from any reduction in the cost of utilities resulting from capital improvements financed with a loan made under the program.
(e)Covered assisted housing projectsFor purposes of this section, the term covered assisted housing project means a housing project that—
(1)is financed by a loan or mortgage that is—
(A)insured by the Secretary under—
(i)subsection (d)(3) of section 221 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715l), and bears interest at a rate determined under the proviso of section 221(d)(5) of such Act; or
(ii)subsection (d)(4) of such section 221;
(B)insured or assisted under section 236 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–1); or
(C)is assisted with a capital advance under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q) or a loan under such section (as in effect before October 1, 1991);
(2)at the time a loan under this section is made, is provided project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) , or project rental assistance under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as applicable, for 50 percent or more of the dwelling units in the project; and
(3)is not a housing project owned or held by the Secretary, or subject to a mortgage held by the Secretary.
13.
(a)Partnerships with tree-planting organizationsThe Secretary shall establish and provide incentives for developers of housing for which any HUD financial assistance, as determined by the Secretary, is provided for development, maintenance, operation, or other costs, to enter into agreements and partnerships with tree-planting organizations, nurseries, and landscapers to certify that trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants are planted in the proper manner, are provided adequate maintenance, and survive for at least 3 years after planting or are replaced. The financial assistance determined by the Secretary as eligible under this section shall take into consideration such factors as cost effectiveness and affordability.
(b)In the case of any new or substantially rehabilitated housing for which HUD financial assistance, as determined in accordance with subsection (a), is provided by the Secretary for the development, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, improvement, operation, or costs of the housing, including financial assistance provided through the Community Development Block Grant program under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), the Secretary shall require the development of a plan that provides for—
(1)in the case of new construction and improvements, siting of such housing and improvements in a manner that provides for energy efficiency and conservation to the extent feasible, taking into consideration location and project type;
(2)minimization of the effects of construction, rehabilitation, or other development on the condition of existing trees;
(3)selection and installation of indigenous trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants based upon applicable design guidelines and standards of the International Society for Arboriculture;
(4)post-planting care and maintenance of the landscaping relating to or affected by the housing in accordance with best management practices; and
(5)establishment of a goal for minimum greenspace or tree canopy cover for the housing site for which such financial assistance is provided, including guidelines and timetables within which to achieve compliance with such minimum requirements.
(c)In carrying out this section, the Secretary is encouraged to consult, as appropriate, with national organizations dedicated to providing housing assistance and related services to low-income families, such as the Alliance for Community Trees and its affiliates, the American Nursery and Landscape Association, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the National Arbor Day Foundation.
14.Residential energy efficiency block grant programTitle I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
123.Residential energy efficiency block grant program
(a)To the extent amounts are made available for grants under this section, the Secretary shall make grants under this section to States, metropolitan cities and urban counties, Indian tribes, and insular areas to carry out energy efficiency improvements in new and existing single-family and multifamily housing.
(b)
(1)Of the total amount made available for each fiscal year for grants under this section that remains after reserving amounts pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allocate for insular areas, for metropolitan cities and urban counties, and for States, an amount that bears the same ratio to such total amount as the amount allocated for such fiscal year under section 106 for Indian tribes, for insular areas, for metropolitan cities and urban counties, and for States, respectively, bears to the total amount made available for such fiscal year for grants under section 106.
(2)Set aside for Indian tribesOf the total amount made available for each fiscal year for grants under this section, the Secretary shall allocate not less than 1 percent to Indian tribes.
(c)
(1)From the amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (b) for metropolitan cities and urban counties for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make a grant for such fiscal year to each metropolitan city and urban county that complies with the requirement under subsection (d), in the amount that bears the same ratio such total amount so allocated as the amount of the grant for such fiscal year under section 106 for such metropolitan city or urban county bears to the aggregate amount of all grants for such fiscal year under section 106 for all metropolitan cities and urban counties.
(2)From the amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (b) for States for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make a grant for such fiscal year to each State that complies with the requirement under subsection (d), in the amount that bears the same ratio such total amount so allocated as the amount of the grant for such fiscal year under section 106 for such State bears to the aggregate amount of all grants for such fiscal year under section 106 for all States. Grant amounts received by a State shall be used only for eligible activities under subsection (e) carried out in nonentitlement areas of the State.
(3)From the amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (b) for Indian tribes, the Secretary shall make grants to Indian tribes that comply with the requirement under subsection (d) on the basis of a competition conducted pursuant to specific criteria, as the Secretary shall establish by regulation, for the selection of Indian tribes to receive such amount.
(4)From the amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (b) for insular areas, the Secretary shall make a grant to each insular area that complies with the requirement under subsection (d) on the basis of the ratio of the population of the insular area to the aggregate population of all insular areas. In determining the distribution of amounts to insular areas, the Secretary may also include other statistical criteria as data become available from the Bureau of Census of the Department of Labor, but only if such criteria are set forth by regulation issued after notice and an opportunity for comment.
(d)
(1)Before receipt the receipt in any fiscal year of a grant under subsection (c) by any grantee, the grantee shall have prepared a final statement of housing energy efficiency objectives and projected use of funds as the Secretary shall require and shall have provided the Secretary with such certifications regarding such objectives and use as the Secretary may require. In the case of metropolitan cities, urban counties, units of general local government, and insular areas receiving grants, the statement of projected use of funds shall consist of proposed housing energy efficiency activities. In the case of States receiving grants, the statement of projected use of funds shall consist of the method by which the States will distribute funds to units of general local government.
(2)The Secretary may establish requirements to ensure the public availability of information regarding projected use of grant amounts and public participation in determining such projected use.
(e)
(1)Amounts from a grant under this section may be used only to carry out activities for single-family or multifamily housing that are designed to improve the energy efficiency of the housing so that the housing complies with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010, including such activities to provide energy for such housing from renewable sources, such as wind, waves, solar, biomass, and geothermal sources.
(2)Preference for compliance beyond basic requirementsIn selecting activities to be funded with amounts from a grant under this section, a grantee shall give more preference to activities based on the extent to which the activities will result in compliance by the housing with the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of such Act.
(f)Each grantee of a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall submit to the Secretary, at a time determined by the Secretary, a performance and evaluation report concerning the use of grant amounts, which shall contain an assessment by the grantee of the relationship of such use to the objectives identified in the grantees statement under subsection (d).
(g)Applicability of CDBG provisionsSections 109, 110, and 111 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5309, 5310, 5311) shall apply to assistance received under this section to the same extent and in the same manner that such sections apply to assistance received under title I of such Act.
(h)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section $2,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter..
15.Including sustainable development and transportation strategies in comprehensive housing affordability strategiesSection 105(b) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705(b)) is amended—
(1)by striking and
at the end of paragraph (19);
(2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (20) and inserting ; and
;
(3)and by inserting after paragraph (20) the following new paragraphs:
(21)describe the jurisdiction’s strategies to encourage sustainable development for affordable housing, including single-family and multifamily housing, as measured by—
(A)greater energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources, including any strategies regarding compliance with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010 and with the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of such Act;
(B)increased conservation, recycling, and reuse of resources;
(C)more effective use of existing infrastructure;
(D)use of building materials and methods that are healthier for residents of the housing, including use of building materials that are free of added known carcinogens that are classified as Group 1 Known Carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; and
(E)such other criteria as the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, are in accordance with the purposes of this paragraph; and
(22)describe the jurisdiction’s efforts to coordinate its housing strategy with its transportation planning strategies to ensure to the extent practicable that residents of affordable housing have access to public transportation..
16.Grant program to increase sustainable low-income community development capacity
(a)The Secretary may make grants to nonprofit organizations to use for any of the following purposes:
(1)Training, educating, supporting, or advising an eligible community development organization or qualified youth service and conservation corps in improving energy efficiency, resource conservation and reuse, design strategies to maximize energy efficiency, installing or constructing renewable energy improvements (such as wind, wave, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy sources), and effective use of existing infrastructure in affordable housing and economic development activities in low-income communities, taking into consideration energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of this Act and with the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of this Act.
(2)Providing loans, grants, or predevelopment assistance to eligible community development organizations or qualified youth service and conservation corps to carry out energy efficiency improvements that comply with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of this Act, resource conservation and reuse, and effective use of existing infrastructure in affordable housing and economic development activities in low-income communities. In providing assistance under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give more preference to activities based on the extent to which the activities will result in compliance with the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of this Act.
(3)Such other purposes as the Secretary determines are in accordance with the purposes of this subsection.
(b)To be eligible for a grant under this section, a nonprofit organization shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(c)Contracts for architectural or engineering services funded with amounts from grants made under this section shall be awarded in accordance with chapter 11 of title 40, United States Code (relating to selection of architects and engineers).
(d)A grant made under this section may not exceed the amount that the nonprofit organization receiving the grant certifies, to the Secretary, will be provided (in cash or in-kind) from nongovernmental sources to carry out the purposes for which the grant is made.
(e)For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)The term nonprofit organization has the meaning given such term in section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704).
(2)The term eligible community development organization means—
(A)a unit of general local government (as defined in section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704));
(B)a community housing development organization (as defined in section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704));
(C)an Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)); or
(D)a public housing agency, as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437(b)).
(3)The term low-income community means a census tract in which 50 percent or more of the households have an income which is less than 80 percent of the greater of—
(A)the median gross income for such year for the area in which such census tract is located; or
(B)the median gross income for such year for the State in which such census tract is located.
(f)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
17.HOPE VI green developments requirement
(a)Section 24(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(4)Green developments requirement
(A)The Secretary may not make a grant under this section to an applicant unless the proposed revitalization plan of the applicant to be carried out with such grant amounts meets the following requirements:
(i)Green communities criteriaAll residential construction under the proposed plan complies with the national Green Communities criteria for residential construction and rehabilitation that provides criteria for the design, development, and operation of affordable housing, as such criteria are in effect for purposes of this paragraph pursuant to subparagraph (D) at the date of the application for the grant, or any substantially equivalent standard or standards as determined by the Secretary, as follows:
(I)The proposed plan shall comply with all items of the national Green Communities criteria for residential construction and rehabilitation that are identified as mandatory.
(II)The proposed plan shall comply with such other nonmandatory items of such national Green Communities criteria so as to result in a cumulative number of points attributable to such nonmandatory items under such criteria of not less than—
- (aa)25 points, in the case of any proposed plan (or portion thereof) consisting of new construction; and
- (bb)20 points, in the case of any proposed plan (or portion thereof) consisting of rehabilitation.
(ii)Green buildings certification systemAll nonresidential construction under the proposed plan complies with all minimum required levels of the green building rating systems and levels identified by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (C), as such systems and levels are in effect for purposes of this paragraph pursuant to subparagraph (D) at the time of the application for the grant.
(B)
(i)The Secretary shall verify, or provide for verification, sufficient to ensure that each proposed revitalization plan carried out with amounts from a grant under this section complies with the requirements under subparagraph (A) and that the revitalization plan is carried out in accordance with such requirements and plan.
(ii)In providing for such verification, the Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure such compliance with respect to each grantee, and shall report to the Congress with respect to the compliance of each grantee, at each of the following times:
(I)Not later than 6 months after execution of the grant agreement under this section for the grantee.
(II)Upon completion of the revitalization plan of the grantee.
(C)Identification of green buildings rating systems and levels
(i)For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall identify rating systems and levels for green buildings that the Secretary determines to be the most likely to encourage a comprehensive and environmentally sound approach to ratings and standards for green buildings. The identification of the ratings systems and levels shall be based on the criteria specified in clause (ii), shall identify the highest levels the Secretary determines are appropriate above the minimum levels required under the systems selected. Within 90 days of the completion of each study required by clause (iii), the Secretary shall review and update the rating systems and levels, or identify alternative systems and levels for purposes of this paragraph, taking into account the conclusions of such study.
(ii)In identifying the green rating systems and levels, the Secretary shall take into consideration—
(I)the ability and availability of assessors and auditors to independently verify the criteria and measurement of metrics at the scale necessary to implement this paragraph;
(II)the ability of the applicable ratings system organizations to collect and reflect public comment;
(III)the ability of the standards to be developed and revised through a consensus-based process;
(IV)An evaluation of the robustness of the criteria for a high-performance green building, which shall give credit for promoting—
- (aa)efficient and sustainable use of water, energy, and other natural resources;
- (bb)use of renewable energy sources;
- (cc)improved indoor and outdoor environmental quality through enhanced indoor and outdoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, outdoor noise pollution, day lighting, pollutant source control, sustainable landscaping, and use of building system controls and low- or no-emission materials, including preference for materials with no added carcinogens that are classified as Group 1 Known Carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; and
- (dd)such other criteria as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
(V)national recognition within the building industry.
(iii)At least once every 5 years, the Secretary shall conduct a study to evaluate and compare available third-party green building rating systems and levels, taking into account the criteria listed in clause (ii).
(D)Applicability and updating of standards
(i)Except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, the national Green Communities criteria and green building rating systems and levels referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) that are in effect for purposes of this paragraph are such criteria and systems, and levels as in existence upon the date of the enactment of the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2010.
(ii)The Secretary may, by regulation, adopt and apply, for purposes of this paragraph, future amendments and supplements to, and editions of, the national Green Communities criteria, any standard or standards that the Secretary has determined to be substantially equivalent to such criteria, and the green building ratings systems and levels identified by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (C)..
(b)Selection criteria; graded componentSection 24(e)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v(e)(2)) is amended—
(1)in subparagraph (K), by striking and
at the end;
(2)by redesignating subparagraph (L) as subparagraph (M); and
(3)by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following new subparagraph:
(L)the extent to which the proposed revitalization plan—
(i)in the case of residential construction, complies with the nonmandatory items of the national Green Communities criteria identified in paragraph (4)(A)(i), or any substantially equivalent standard or standards as determined by the Secretary, but only to the extent such compliance exceeds the compliance necessary to accumulate the number of points required under such paragraph; and
(ii)in the case of nonresidential construction, complies with the components of the green building rating systems and levels identified by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (4)(C), but only to the extent such compliance exceeds the minimum level required under such systems and levels; and.
18.Consideration of energy efficiency improvements in appraisals
(a)Appraisals in connection with federally related transactions
(1)Section 1110 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3339) is amended—
(A)in paragraph (1), by striking and
at the end;
(B)by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(C)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
(2)that such appraisals be performed in accordance with appraisal standards that require, in determining the value of a property, consideration of any renewable energy sources for, or energy efficiency or energy-conserving improvements or features of, the property;.
(2)Revision of appraisal standardsEach Federal financial institutions regulatory agency shall, in accordance with sections 1107 and 1111 (12 U.S.C. 3336, 3340) and in coordination with Federal officials, including the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Administrator of the General Services Administration, revise its standards for the performance of real estate appraisals in connection with federally related transactions under the jurisdiction of the agency to comply with the requirement under the amendments made by paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(b)Ensuring consideration of energy-efficient features when reaching conclusions of market valueSection 1110 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3339), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended—
(1)in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
(2)by inserting after such paragraph (3) the following:
(4)that State-certified and licensed appraisers have timely access, whenever practicable, to information from the lender relevant to an appraisal of the energy and water efficiency or conserving improvements or features of a property, such as labels or ratings of buildings and installed appliances, blueprints, construction costs, incentives regarding energy- and water-efficient components and systems installed in a property, and third-party verifications or representations of energy and water efficiency performance of a property, observing all financial privacy requirements adhered to by certified and licensed appraisers, including section 501 of the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6801); unless the property owner consents to the lender, an appraiser shall not have access to the commercial of financial information of the owner that is privileged or confidential..
(c)Transactions requiring State certified appraisersSection 1113 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3342) is amended—
(1)in paragraph (1), by inserting before the semicolon the following: or any real property with energy-efficiency or energy-conserving improvements or features
; and
(2)in paragraph (2) by inserting after complexity
the following: (such as identifying and supporting the contribution to market value of energy-efficiency or energy-conserving improvements or features)
.
19.Housing Assistance CouncilThe Secretary shall require the Housing Assistance Council—
(1)to encourage each organization that receives loan assistance from the Council with any amounts made available from the Secretary to provide that any structures and buildings developed or assisted under projects, programs, and activities funded with such amounts complies with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of this Act; and
(2)to establish incentives to encourage each such organization to provide that any such structures and buildings comply with the energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of such Act.
20.Rural housing and economic development assistanceThe Secretary shall—
(1)require each tribe, agency, organization, corporation, and other entity that receives any assistance from the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide that any structures and buildings developed or assisted under activities funded with such amounts complies with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of this Act; and
(2)establish incentives to encourage each such tribe, agency, organization, corporation, and other entity to provide that any such structures and buildings comply with the enhanced energy efficiency and conservation standards, and the green building standards, under section 4(b) of such Act.
21.Loans to States and Indian tribes to carry out renewable energy sources activities
(a)There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the Alternative Energy Sources State Loan Fund
.
(b)
(1)Subject to paragraph (2), on request by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Secretary such amounts as the Secretary determines are necessary to provide loans under subsection (c)(1).
(2)Of the amounts in the Fund, not more than 5 percent shall be available for each fiscal year to pay the administrative expenses of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to carry out this section.
(c)Loans to States and Indian tribes
(1)The Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to provide loans to States and Indian tribes to provide incentives to owners of single-family and multifamily housing, commercial properties, and public buildings to provide—
(A)renewable energy sources for such structures, such as wind, wave, solar, biomass, or geothermal energy sources, including incentives to companies and businesses to change their source of energy to such renewable energy sources and for changing the sources of energy for public buildings to such renewable energy sources;
(B)energy-efficiency and energy-conserving improvements and features for such structures; or
(C)infrastructure related to the delivery of electricity and hot water for structures lacking such amenities.
(2)To be eligible to receive a loan under this subsection, a State or Indian tribe, directly or through an appropriate State or tribal agency, shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(3)The Secretary may approve an application of a State or Indian tribe under paragraph (2) only if the Secretary determines that the State or tribe will use the funds from the loan under this subsection to carry out a program to provide incentives described in paragraph (1) that—
(A)requires that any such renewable energy sources, and energy-efficiency and energy-conserving improvements and features, developed pursuant to assistance under the program result in compliance of the structure so improved with the energy efficiency standards under section 4(a) of this Act; and
(B)includes such compliance and audit requirements as the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure that the program is operated in a sound and effective manner.
(4)In making loans during each fiscal year, the Secretary shall give preference to States and Indian tribes that have not previously received a loan under this subsection.
(5)The aggregate outstanding principal amount from loans under this subsection to any single State or Indian tribe may not exceed $500,000,000.
(6)Each loan under this subsection shall have a term to maturity of not more than 10 years and shall bear interest at annual rate, determined by the Secretary, that shall not exceed interest rate charged by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to commercial banks and other depository institutions for very short-term loans under the primary credit program, as most recently published in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release on selected interest rates (daily or weekly), and commonly referred to as the H.15 release, preceding the date of a determination for purposes of applying this paragraph.
(7)The Secretary shall require full repayment of each loan made under this section.
(d)
(1)The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such amounts in the Fund that are not, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet needs for current withdrawals.
(2)Obligations of United StatesInvestments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.
(e)
(1)For each year during the term of a loan made under subsection (c), the State or Indian tribe that received the loan shall submit to the Secretary a report describing the State or tribal alternative energy sources program for which the loan was made and the activities conducted under the program using the loan funds during that year.
(2)Not later than September 30 of each year that loans made under subsection (c) are outstanding, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing the total amount of such loans provided under subsection (c) to each eligible State and Indian tribe during the fiscal year ending on such date, and an evaluation on effectiveness of the Fund.
(f)Authorization of AppropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $5,000,000,000.
(g)For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)The term Indian tribe has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).
(2)The term State means each of the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territories of the Pacific, or any other possession of the United States.
22.GAO reports on availability of affordable mortgages
(a)The Comptroller General of the United States shall periodically, as necessary to comply with subsection (b), examine the impact of this Act and the amendments made by this Act on the availability of affordable mortgages in various areas throughout the United States, including cities having older infrastructure and limited space for the development of new housing.
(b)The Comptroller General shall submit reports under this subsection to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate that shall include—
(1)a detailed statement of the most recent findings pursuant to subsection (a); and
(2)if the Comptroller General finds that this Act or the amendments made by this Act have directly or indirectly resulted in consequences that limit the availability or affordability of mortgages in any area or areas within the United States, including any city having older infrastructure and limited space for the development of new housing, any recommendations for any additional actions at the Federal, State, or local levels that the Comptroller General considers necessary or appropriate to mitigate such effects.The first report under this subsection shall be submitted not later than the expiration of the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit a report pursuant to a joint request for such a report made by the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
23.Public housing energy cost report
(a)Collection of information by HUDThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall obtain from each public housing agency, by such time as may be necessary to comply with the reporting requirement under subsection (b), information regarding the energy costs for public housing administered or operated by the agency. For each public housing agency, such information shall include the monthly energy costs associated with each separate building and development of the agency, for the most recently completed 12-month period for which such information is available, and such other information as the Secretary determines is appropriate in determining which public housing buildings and developments are most in need of repairs and improvements to reduce energy needs and costs and become more energy efficient.
(b)Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit a report to the Congress setting forth the information collected pursuant to subsection (a).
24.Insurance coverage for loans for financing of renewable energy systems leased for residential use
(a)The purposes of this section are—
(1)to encourage residential use of renewable energy systems by minimizing up-front costs and providing immediate utility cost savings to consumers through leasing of such systems to homeowners;
(2)to reduce carbon emissions and the use of nonrenewable resources;
(3)to encourage energy-efficient residential construction and rehabilitation;
(4)to encourage the use of renewable resources by homeowners;
(5)to minimize the impact of development on the environment;
(6)to reduce consumer utility costs; and
(7)to encourage private investment in the green economy.
(b)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may, upon application by an authorized renewable energy lender and in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, consistent with the purposes of this section, make commitments to insure, and insure, loans made by such lenders to homebuilders, renewable energy installers or manufacturers, public or private corporations or partnerships, associations, trusts, or other qualified persons or entities, to finance the acquisition of renewable energy systems for lease to homeowners for use at their residences.
(c)Effective date of insuranceInsurance provided pursuant to this section for a loan shall become effective only upon the expiration of the 5-year period beginning upon the original execution of a renewable energy system lease (as such term is defined in subsection (o)) for the renewable energy system.
(d)Limitation on principal amount
(1)The principal amount of the loan insured under this section shall not exceed the residual value of the renewable energy system.
(2)For purposes of this subsection—
(A)the residual value of a renewable energy system shall be the amount that is equal to the fair market value of the future revenue stream from the sale of the expected remaining electricity production from the system, pursuant to the easement granted in accordance with subsection (e); and
(B)the fair market value of the future revenue stream for each year of the remaining life of the renewable energy system shall be determined based on the net present value of the renewable energy system manufacturer’s power output production warranty for the system and the forecast of regional residential electricity prices made by the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy.
(e)Easement for sale of remaining electricityThe Secretary may not insure a loan for financing of renewable energy systems under this section unless the borrower under the loan ensures, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall establish, consistent with the purposes of this section, that the systems financed will be leased only to homeowners that grant easements sufficient to provide for the sale of remaining electricity production from the system to a wholesale or retail electrical power grid.
(f)To encourage utilization of renewable energy systems, the Secretary shall ensure that a homebuilder’s or other investor’s discount or prepayment of a homeowner’s renewable energy system lease shall not adversely affect that homeowner’s mortgage requirements.
(g)The Secretary may not insure a loan under this section unless the lender making the loan—
(1)
(A)is an institution that qualifies as a green banking center pursuant to section 8(x) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(x)) or section 206(x) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1786(x)); or
(B)meets such other requirements as the Secretary shall establish for participation of renewable energy lenders in the program under this section; and
(2)meets such qualifications as the Secretary shall establish for all lenders for participation in the program under this section and is approved by the Secretary as meeting such qualifications.
(h)Insurance of a loan under this section shall be evidenced by a certificate of insurance coverage issued by the Secretary to the lender under the loan. Such certificate shall set forth the fair market value of the future revenue stream for each year of the remaining life of the renewable energy system as determined in accordance with subsection (d).
(i)
(1)The Secretary shall provide for the filing of claims for insurance under this section and the payment of such claims. A claim may be paid only upon a default under the loan insured under this section and the assignment, transfer, and delivery to the Secretary of all rights and interests arising under the loan and all claims of the lender or the assigns of the lender against the borrower or others arising under the loan transaction.
(2)Upon payment of a claim for insurance of a loan under this section, the Secretary shall be granted a lien on the underlying renewable energy system assets and any associated revenue stream from use of that system, which shall be superior to all other liens on such assets, and the residual value of that system and the revenue stream shall be at least equal to the unpaid balance of the loan amount covered by the certificate of insurance. The Secretary shall be entitled to any revenue generated by the renewable energy system from selling electricity to the grid when an insurance claim has been paid out.
(j)Assignment and transferability of insuranceThe holder of insurance provided under this section may assign or transfer the insurance in whole or in part, to another lender, subject to such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe.
(k)
(1)The Secretary shall fix and collect premiums for insurance of loans under this section, that shall be paid by the qualified applicant at the time of issuance of the certificate of insurance to the lender and shall be adequate, in the determination of the Secretary, to cover expenses and probable losses, including any costs (as such term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a) of loan insurance under this section. In no event may such premium exceed 3 percent of the principal obligation of the loan being insured.
(2)Prohibition on other chargesExcept as provided in paragraph (1), the Secretary may not assess any fees, including user fees, insurance premiums, or charges in connection with loan insurance provided under this section.
(l)The certificate of insurance issued by the Secretary under this section shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America.
(m)The Secretary shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. The Secretary shall issue final or interim final regulations not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(n)Ineligibility for Purchase by Federal Financing BankNotwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Financing Bank Act of 1973 (12 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) or any other provision of law, no debt obligation that is insured or committed to be insured by the Secretary under this section shall be subject to the provisions of such Act.
(o)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)Renewable energy system leaseThe term renewable system energy lease means an agreement between a qualified investor in a renewable energy system and a homeowner pursuant to which the homeowner grants an easement to the investor to install, maintain, use, and otherwise access the renewable energy system and leases the use of that system from the qualified investor for a specified term.
(2)The term renewable energy system means a system that generates energy from naturally replenished energy sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides or geothermal heat.
(3)Renewable energy manufacturerThe term renewable energy manufacturer means a manufacturer of renewable energy systems.
25.
(a)Authority To guarantee green portion
of eligible mortgages
(1)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make commitments to guarantee under this section and may guarantee, the repayment of the portions of the principal obligations of eligible mortgages that are used to finance eligible sustainable building elements for the housing that is subject to the mortgage.
(2)A guarantee under this section by the Secretary in connection with an eligible mortgage shall not exceed a percentage of the green portion (as such term is defined in subsection (g)) of the mortgage, as shall be established by the Secretary and may be established on a regional basis as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(b)To be considered an eligible mortgage for purposes of this section, a mortgage shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(1)Acquisition or construction of housingThe mortgage shall be made for the acquisition or construction of single- or multifamily housing and repayment of the mortgage shall be secured by an interest in such housing.
(2)Financing of eligible sustainable building elements through green portion of mortgageA portion of the principal obligation of the mortgage, which meets the requirements under subsection (c), shall be used only for financing the provision of eligible sustainable building elements for the housing for which the mortgage was made.
(3)The principal obligation of the mortgage (including the eligible portion of such mortgage, and such initial service charges, appraisal, inspection, and other fees as the Secretary shall approve) may not exceed the following amounts:
(A)Such dollar amounts for single-family housing as the Secretary shall establish, which may be established on the basis of the number of dwelling units in the housing, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(B)Such dollar amounts for multifamily housing as the Secretary shall establish, which may be established on the basis of the number of dwelling units in the housing and the number of bedrooms in such dwelling units, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(4)The mortgage meets such requirements as the Secretary shall establish to ensure that there is a reasonable prospect of repayment of the principal and interest on the obligation by the mortgagor.
(5)The mortgage shall meet such requirements with respect to loan-to-value ratio, mortgagor credit scores, debt-to-income ratio, and other underwriting standards, term to maturity, interest rates and amortization, including amortization of the green portion of the mortgage, and other mortgage terms as the Secretary shall establish.
(c)Limitations on green portion of mortgageThe requirements under this subsection with respect to the green portion of an eligible mortgage are as follows:
(1)Such portion shall not exceed, in the case of single-family or multifamily housing, 10 percent of the total principal obligation of the mortgage.
(2)Such portion shall not exceed—
(A)in the case of single-family housing, such maximum dollar amount limitation as the Secretary shall establish, which may be established on the basis of the number of dwelling units in the housing, as the Secretary considers appropriate; and
(B)in the case of multifamily housing, such maximum dollar amount limitation as the Secretary shall establish, which limitation may be established on the basis of the number of dwelling units in the housing and the number of bedrooms in such dwelling units, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3)Cost-effectiveness limitationSuch portion shall not exceed the total present value of the savings (as determined in accordance with subsection (d)) attributable to the incorporation of the eligible sustainable building elements to be financed with the green portion of the mortgage that are to be realized over the useful life of such elements.
(d)Eligible sustainable building elementsThe Secretary may not guarantee any eligible mortgage under this section unless the mortgagor has demonstrated, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall establish, the amount of savings attributable to incorporation of the sustainable building elements to be financed with the green portion of the mortgage, as measured by the National Green Building Standard for all residential construction developed by the National Association of Home Builders and the U.S. Green Building Council, and approved by the American National Standards Institute, as updated and in effect at the time of such demonstration.
(e)
(1)Assessment and collectionThe Secretary shall assess and collect fees for guarantees under this section in amounts that the Secretary determines are sufficient to cover the costs (as such term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) of such guarantees.
(2)Fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited by the Secretary in the Treasury of the United States and shall remain available until expended, subject to such other conditions as are contained in annual appropriations Acts.
(f)
(1)
(A)If a mortgagor under a mortgage guaranteed under this section defaults (as defined in regulations issued by the Secretary and specified in the guarantee contract) on the obligation under the mortgage—
(i)the holder of the guarantee shall have the right to demand payment of the unpaid amount of the guaranteed portion of the mortgage, to the extent provided under subsection (a)(2), from the Secretary; and
(ii)within such period as may be specified in the guarantee or related agreements, the Secretary shall pay to the holder of the guarantee, to the extent provided under subsection (a)(2), the unpaid interest on, and unpaid principal of the portion of guaranteed portion of the mortgage with respect to which the borrower has defaulted, unless the Secretary finds that there was no default by the borrower in the payment of interest or principal or that the default has been remedied.
(B)Nothing in this paragraph precludes any forbearance by the holder of an eligible mortgage for the benefit of the mortgagor which may be agreed upon by the parties to the mortgage and approved by the Secretary.
(2)
(A)If the Secretary makes a payment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to the rights of the recipient of the payment as specified in the guarantee or related agreements including, if appropriate, the authority (notwithstanding any other provision of law)—
(i)to complete, maintain, operate, lease, or otherwise dispose of any property acquired pursuant to such guarantee or related agreements; or
(ii)to permit the mortgagor, pursuant to an agreement with the Secretary, to continue to occupy the property subject to the mortgage, if the Secretary determines such occupancy to be appropriate.
(B) Allocation of rights and responsibilitiesIn the event of a payment under paragraph (1), the rights of the Secretary, with respect to any property acquired pursuant to a guarantee or related agreements, shall be superior to the rights of any other person with respect to the property, except that as long as amounts remain due to the recipient of the payment under the terms of the eligible mortgage and as long as the recipient diligently pursues collection of all amounts due under the eligible mortgage, all decisions with respect to the eligible mortgage, including efforts to collect the unpaid amounts, shall be made by the recipient, Provided, That any amounts collected by the recipient less reasonable out-of-pocket costs of collection shall be shared with the Secretary in the same ratio as the guaranteed portion bears to the original principal amount of the eligible mortgage.
(C)A guarantee agreement shall include such detailed terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate to protect the interests of the United States in the case of default.
(3)The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees issued under this section with respect to principal and interest.
(g)For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)The term eligible mortgage means a mortgage that meets the requirements under subsection (b).
(2)The term green portion means, with respect to an eligible mortgage, the portion of the mortgage principal referred to in subsection (b)(2) that is attributable, as determined in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, to the increased costs incurred in financing provision of sustainable building elements for the housing for which the mortgage was made, as compared to the costs that would have been incurred in financing the provision of other building elements for the housing for the same purposes that are commonly or conventionally used but are not sustainable building elements.
(3)The term guaranteed portion means, with respect to an eligible mortgage guaranteed under this section, the green portion of the mortgage that is so guaranteed.
(4)The term mortgage has the meaning given such term in section 201 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707).
(5)The term multifamily housing means a residential property consisting of five or more dwelling units.
(6)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(7)The term single-family housing means a residential property consisting of one to four dwelling units.
(8)Sustainable building elementThe term sustainable building element means such building elements, as the Secretary shall define, that have energy efficiency or environmental sustainability qualities that are superior to such qualities for other building elements for the same purposes that are commonly or conventionally used.
(h)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated for costs (as such term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a) of guarantees under this section $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
(i)The Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section.
26.Green dividend program for federally assisted rental housing
(a)The Secretary shall establish a program under this section to provide green dividends to owners of covered federally assisted housing projects who undertake utility cost-saving measures that result in utility cost savings for such housing.
(b)
(1)A green dividend under this section with respect to a covered federally assisted housing project shall be an annual distribution, to the owner of the project, of an amount of the surplus project funds that is equal to the sum of—
(A)50 percent of the annual utility cost savings resulting from the utility cost-saving measures conducted for the project; and
(B)any reasonable costs, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (d)(4), incurred by the owner in carrying out the utility cost-saving measures, including required reporting and monitoring costs and financing costs incurred by the owner or a third party, in compliance with guidelines established pursuant to subsection (d)(3).
(2)Additional to standard distributionNotwithstanding any other law or regulation relating to a limitation on distributions for a covered federally assisted housing project, a green dividend under this section shall be in addition to the standard distribution that the owner of the project is authorized to receive from the project pursuant to the regulations of the Secretary.
(c)Standards for measurement and monitoringIn carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall establish and utilize the following standardized methods:
(1)Methods that an owner of a covered federally assisted housing project may use to accurately measure the baseline utility use of the project before undertaking the utility cost-saving measures for the project.
(2)Methods that an owner of a covered federally assisted housing project may use to effectively monitor reductions in the utility use of the project resulting from the completed utility cost-saving measures for the project.
(3)Methods that an owner of a covered federally assisted housing project may use to track, and that the Secretary may use to verify, utility cost savings resulting from the utility cost-saving measures for the project that account for the effect of changes in utility costs and such other factors that the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate.
(d)
(1)Application and selectionThe Secretary shall establish requirements for owners of covered federally assisted housing projects to apply for participation in the program under this section and shall select among such applications based upon selection criteria, which the Secretary shall establish.
(2)The Secretary shall establish guidelines to ensure that any utility cost-saving measures undertaken pursuant to the program under this section are cost-effective in relation to the utility cost savings resulting from the measures and the green dividend provided under this section to the owner.
(3)Energy performance contractsThe Secretary shall establish guidelines for the use of energy performance contracting in carrying out utility cost-saving measures pursuant to the program under this section.
(4)The Secretary shall establish guidelines for the financing of the reasonable costs incurred by an owner of a covered federally assisted housing project in carrying out utility cost-saving measures under the program under this section, and whether such costs, whether financed by the limited dividend owner or a third party, shall be repayable from project funds.
(5)
(A)The Secretary shall require each owner of a covered federally assisted housing project for which a green dividend is provided pursuant to the program under this section to submit to the Secretary such reports regarding the project, the utility cost-saving measures undertaken for the project, and the utility cost savings of the project in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall establish.
(B)The Secretary shall submit reports to the Congress describing the implementation and operation of the program under this section, as follows:
(i)The Secretary shall submit reports describing the initial implementation and operation of the program not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning upon the date of the enactment of this Act.
(ii)Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period that begins upon the expiration of the period specified clause (i), and upon the expiration of each successive 12-month period thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report describing the ongoing operation of the program.
(e)Preemption of conflicting State laws limiting distributions
(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), no State or political subdivision of a State may establish, continue in effect, or enforce any law, regulation, or administrative requirement that limits or restricts, to an amount that is less than the sum of the amounts provided for under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), the amount of surplus project funds accruing after the date of the enactment of this section that may be distributed from any covered federally assisted housing project.
(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any law or regulation to the extent such law or regulation applies to—
(A)a State-financed covered federally assisted housing project; or
(B)a covered federally assisted housing project for which the owner has elected to waive the applicability of paragraph (1).
(f)For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Covered federally assisted housing projectThe term covered federally assisted housing project
means any multifamily rental housing project that—
(A)is provided any rental assistance, subsidy, or other financial assistance by the Secretary; and
(B)that is subject to a limitation on distributions to the owner, whether for-profit or non-for-profit, of project funds under section 200.106(a), 236.1(c), 880.205(a) or (b), 881.205(a) or (b), or 883.306(a) or (b) of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any other statute or regulation applicable to the project.
(2)The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(3)The term surplus project funds
means, with respect to a covered federally assisted housing project, the net revenue of the project after all project expenses have been paid, or funds have been set aside for the payment thereof, and any reserve requirements applicable to the project have been met.
(4)The term utility cost savings
means, with respect to utility cost-saving measures undertaken for a covered federally assisted housing project, the difference between—
(A)the energy or water costs that would have been incurred for the project if such utility cost-saving measures were not completed; and
(B)the actual energy or water costs for the project after completion of the utility cost-saving measures.
(5)Utility cost-saving measuresThe term utility cost-saving measures
means, with respect to a covered federally assisted housing project, any rehabilitation, renovation, retrofit, improvement, or alteration for the project that incorporates any technology, equipment, fixture, or material, or promotes any practice, designed to reduce the energy or water consumption of the project. Such measures shall utilize Energy Star or WaterSense rated products or devices at a minimum. In cases in which there is no Energy Star or WaterSense designated product or device, the Secretary shall designate the minimum standards.
(g)Not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section.
27.Use of residual receipts and reserve for replacements funds for green retrofits of federally assisted rental housingThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall—
(1)review the regulations and agreements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development concerning residual receipts accounts in federally assisted rental housing that is subject to a limitation on distributions, to the owner, of project funds under section 200.106(a), 236.1(c), 880.205, 881.205, or 883.306 of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any other statute or regulation applicable to the project, to clarify whether the use of such funds for other project purposes includes activities related to the energy efficiency at properties with such residual receipts accounts; and
(2)revise its policies with regard to the use of reserve for replacement funds to encourage the use of such reserves, where practical, for energy efficiency items.
28.Study on building codes effects on construction and installation of distributive energy generation measures and water efficiency measures
(a)The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to analyze to what extent provisions of State and local building codes create obstacles or otherwise conflict with efforts to enable and encourage the construction and installation in such projects of distributive energy generation measures and water efficiency measures.
(b)Provision of information to Energy Information AdministrationThe Comptroller General shall provide any information collected in conducting the study under this section to the Secretary of Energy to supplement information collected and maintained by the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy regarding residential energy consumption.
(c)Not later than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Congress and to the Secretary of Energy setting forth the results and conclusions of the study under this section.
29.Community building code administration grants
(a)This section may be cited as the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2009
.
(b)
(1)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, to the extent amounts are made available for grants under this section, provide grants to local building code enforcement departments.
(2)The Secretary shall award grants under paragraph (1) on a competitive basis pursuant to the criteria set forth in subsection (f), but also taking into consideration the following:
(A)The financial need of each building code enforcement department.
(B)The benefit to the jurisdiction of having an adequately funded building code enforcement department.
(C)The demonstrated ability of each building code enforcement department to work cooperatively with other local code enforcement offices, health departments, and local prosecutorial agencies.
(3)The maximum amount of any grant awarded under this subsection shall not exceed $1,000,000.
(c)Required elements in grant proposalsIn order to be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a building code enforcement department of a jurisdiction shall submit to the Secretary the following:
(1)A demonstration of the jurisdiction’s needs in executing building code enforcement administration.
(2)A plan for the use of any funds received from a grant under this section that addresses the needs discussed in paragraph (1) and that is consistent with the authorized uses established in subsection (d).
(3)A plan for local governmental actions to be taken to establish and sustain local building code enforcement administration functions, without continuing Federal support, at a level at least equivalent to that proposed in the grant application.
(4)A plan to create and maintain a program of public outreach that includes a regularly updated and readily accessible means of public communication, interaction, and reporting regarding the services and work of the building code enforcement department to be supported by the grant.
(5)A plan for ensuring the timely and effective administrative enforcement of building safety and fire prevention violations.
(d)Use of funds; matching funds
(1)Amounts from grants awarded under subsection (b) may be used by the grant recipient to supplement existing State or local funding for administration of building code enforcement. Such amounts may be used to increase staffing, provide staff training, increase staff competence and professional qualifications, or support individual certification or departmental accreditation, or for capital expenditures specifically dedicated to the administration of the building code enforcement department.
(2)Each building code enforcement department receiving a grant under subsection (b) shall empanel a code administration and enforcement team consisting of at least 1 full-time building code enforcement officer, a city planner, and a health planner or similar officer.
(3)
(A)To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a building code enforcement department shall provide matching, non-Federal funds in the following amount:
(i)In the case of a building code enforcement department serving an area with a population of more than 50,000, an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the total amount of any grant to be awarded under this section.
(ii)In the case of a building code enforcement department serving an area with a population of between 20,001 and 50,000, an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the total amount of any grant to be awarded under this section
(iii)In the case of a building code enforcement department serving an area with a population of less than 20,000, an amount equal to not less than 12.5 percent of the total amount of any grant to be awarded under this section.
(B)
(i)The Secretary may waive the matching fund requirements under subparagraph (A), and institute, by regulation, new matching fund requirements based upon the level of economic distress of the jurisdiction in which the local building code enforcement department seeking such grant is located.
(ii)Any regulations instituted under clause (i) shall include—
(I)a method that allows for a comparison of the degree of economic distress among the local jurisdictions of grant applicants, as measured by the differences in the extent of growth lag, the extent of poverty, and the adjusted age of housing in such jurisdiction; and
(II)any other factor determined to be relevant by the Secretary in assessing the comparative degree of economic distress among such jurisdictions.
(4)In determining the non-Federal share required to be provided under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall consider in-kind contributions, not to exceed 50 percent of the amount that the department contributes in non-Federal funds.
(5)Waiver of matching requirementThe Secretary shall waive the matching fund requirements under paragraph (3) for any recipient jurisdiction that has dedicated all building code permitting fees to the conduct of local building code enforcement.
(e)Rating and ranking of applicationsEligible applications will be rated and ranked according to the criteria under subsection (f). All complete applications shall be compared to one another and points shall be assigned on a continuum within each criteria with the maximum points awarded to the application that best meets the criteria.
(f)The criteria under this subsection are as follows:
(1)Need and community benefit from code enforcement grant fundsThe degree to which the application demonstrates the intent and means to ensure cooperative and effective working relationships between local building code enforcement officials and other local agencies, as well as a community-oriented approach to building code enforcement, with points awarded as follows:
DescriptionMaximum Points
A detailed description of the capital expenditures to be acquired with grant funds and a demonstration that the items’ costs are reasonable.0–10
The jurisdiction’s need for the capital expenditure and how the grant funds will fulfill this need.0–10
The joint benefits provided by the proposed expenditure for the following groups or activities. Provide a brief explanation of the benefit. (1 point will be awarded for each response, 5 points maximum). 1. Code enforcement program. 2. Community or jurisdiction. 3. Interdisciplinary code enforcement team. 4. Housing preservation, rehabilitation programs, or neighborhood improvement programs. 5. Special needs groups (disabled, elderly or low or very-low income, etc.).0–5
Does the proposed capital expenditure provide a cost savings benefit to the jurisdiction? Provide a brief explanation of the cost savings.0–5.
(2)Current code enforcement and housing conservation planWhether the local legislative body in which the applicant resides has adopted a plan that addresses residential structure conservation and building code enforcement. Points shall be awarded, based on which of the descriptions from the following list best reflects such jurisdiction’s plan for building code enforcement activities, as follows:
DescriptionMaximum Points
The plan provides for proactive code enforcement (not just responding to complaints), an interdisciplinary approach, and includes funding options for repairs and rehabilitation.10
The plan only provides for proactive code enforcement (not just responding to complaints) and calls for an interdisciplinary approach and does not address funding options for repairs and rehabilitation.8
The plan provides for some type of proactive code enforcement (other than just responding to complaints) but doesn’t address coordinated interdisciplinary activities with other local public agencies or funding options.6
The plan provides for only reactive code enforcement.4
The plan only refers to a need to preserve and/or improve existing housing stock, without any code enforcement program.2
No existing plan.0.
(3)Community-oriented or interdisciplinary code enforcementThe degree to which the application demonstrates the intent and means to ensure cooperative and effective working relationships between building code enforcement officials and other local agencies, as well as a community-oriented approach to code enforcement, with points awarded as follows:
DescriptionMaximum Points
Identify current or proposed interdisciplinary code enforcement programs or activities and the team members (example: code enforcement, police, local prosecutors, health department, building and planning, fire, etc.). Provide a description of the team’s code enforcement and coordination procedures, activities and services provided. If the current programs or resources are limited in scope, explain how receipt of the grant will be used to improve the program.0–10
Identify current or proposed community-oriented code enforcement programs, activities, or services. (Examples: community clean-ups, Neighborhood Watch programs, community meetings, door-to-door code enforcement knock and talks, etc.). If the current programs or resources are limited in scope, explain how receipt of the grant will be used to improve the program.0–10.
(4)Proactive code enforcement activitiesThe effectiveness of the proposed or existing proactive activities and programs operated by any existing building code enforcement program, which shall include points awarded as follows for any such activities or programs:
DescriptionMaximum Points
Encourages repairs and preservation, rather than demolition or abandonment, of substandard residences.0–5
Abatement of (a) lead hazards and lead-based paints, (b) toxic molds and dampness, and (c) displacement or relocation of residents.0–5
Community clean-up campaigns. This may include recycling dates, free or reduced disposal rates at dumpsite, public clean-up days that encourage removal of unwanted or excess debris by making available extra trash pick-ups, dumpsites or trash/recycling containers on specific dates to dispose of household debris, inoperable vehicles, tires, toxic materials, etc.0–5
Resource or referral programs for Federal, State, local, and private funds and other resources available in your jurisdiction that can assist with housing rehabilitation and repairs to rectify code violations.0–5
Public education programs on housing issues. These could include community housing meetings dealing with homeownership, tenant/landlord issues, housing code enforcement, school age children's programs with coloring books or handouts, housing safety pamphlets, etc.0–5
Programs that encourage community involvement with groups; such as schools, church nonprofits, community service groups, utility companies, local stores, housing agency banks, etc.0–5.
(5)Capacity to financially and technically support proposed capital expendituresThe degree to which the application demonstrates the jurisdiction’s financial and technical capacity to properly use and successfully support the proposed capital expenditure during the term of the grant, with points awarded as follows:
DescriptionMaximum Points
The anticipated ongoing program funding for the duration of the grant program is adequate to financially support the use of the grant-financed equipment. Include details of funding and technical support sources for the capital expenditure (examples: insurance, paper, maintenance, training, supplies, personnel, monthly billing costs, etc.). 0–5
The jurisdiction has the technical capabilities to use and support equipment (examples: adequately trained staff or resources to provide training to operate technical equipment, local service provider for cell phones or 2-way radios, trained personnel to operate equipment, etc.).0–5.
(g)
(1)Grant recipients shall—
(A)be obligated to fully account and report for the use of all grants funds; and
(B)provide a report to the Secretary on the effectiveness of the program undertaken by the grantee and any other criteria requested by the Secretary for the purpose of indicating the effectiveness of, and ideas for, refinement of the grant program.
(2)The report required under paragraph (1)(B) shall include a discussion of—
(A)the specific capabilities and functions in local building code enforcement administration that were addressed using funds received under this section;
(B)the lessons learned in carrying out the plans supported by the grant; and
(C)the manner in which the programs supported by the grant are to be maintained by the grantee.
(3)The Secretary shall—
(A)require each recipient of a grant under this section to file interim and final reports under paragraph (2) to ensure that grant funds are being used as intended and to measure the effectiveness and benefits of the grant program; and
(B)develop and maintain a means whereby the public can access such reports, at no cost, via the Internet.
(h)For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)Building code enforcementThe term building code enforcement means the enforcement of any code, adopted by a State or local government, that regulates the construction of buildings and facilities to mitigate hazards to life or property. Such term includes building codes, electrical codes, energy codes, fire codes, fuel gas codes, mechanical codes, and plumbing codes.
(2)Building code enforcement departmentThe term building code enforcement department means an inspection or enforcement agency of a jurisdiction that is responsible for conducting building code enforcement.
(3)The term jurisdiction means a city, county, parish, city and county authority, or city and parish authority having local authority to enforce building codes and regulations and to collect fees for building permits.
(4)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(i)Authorization of appropriations
(1)There are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out the provisions of this section.
(2)From the amount made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent for administrative costs.
(3)Any funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.
September 22, 2010
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed