Green building certification program

(a)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Green building

The term green building means a building constructed taking into account sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, life-cycle concerns of building materials, and transit and density-oriented development. (2)

Life-cycle concerns of building materials

The term life-cycle concerns of building materials includes emissions and environmental impact related to the production and use of building materials from source to end of use. (b)

Establishment

The Secretary of Energy shall expand the Energy Star program to include the certification, beginning not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, of buildings as green buildings. Such expanded program shall build on the existing Energy Star building efficiency program, and a building certified under such program shall receive an Energy Star label. (c)

Study

In creating the program under this section, the Secretary of Energy shall study and provide recommendations to— (1)streamline the certification process with other required municipal certification submissions to maximum extent feasible; (2)develop an online certification program; and (3)design a program that will allow those without green building expertise to certify their building without being required to have greater knowledge than the building’s parameters. (d)

Program design

The program under this section shall be designed— (1)based on the recommendations made under subsection (c); (2)to set minimum energy efficiency standards, and other standards comparable to standards of the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating Program; (3)to establish separate regional certification standards; (4)to use procedures that are streamlined and compatible with any other required municipal certification or energy efficiency assessment submissions procedures and databases, to maximum extent feasible; (5)to have certifications integrated into existing Energy Star building program energy efficiency assessment documents and databases to maximum extent feasible; (6)to be primarily an online certification program that minimizes the need for paper forms and permits automated calculations and approval and gives real-time feedback on meeting certification parameters; (7)to allow those without green building expertise to certify their building without being required to have greater knowledge than the building’s parameters; (8)to include separate certification programs for offices, schools, residential buildings (including single-family homes), commercial and retail buildings, high-rise buildings, manufacturing buildings, and any other building types as the Secretary of Energy considers appropriate; (9)to include renovation certification programs for all building types described in paragraph (8); (10)to include a public awareness campaign component pursuant to section 324A(c) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act; (11)to integrate the results of the high-performance building assessment under section 914 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as applicable, when available; and (12)to require review and updating of the certification program to meet market needs at least once every 5 years. (e)

Report to Congress on program design

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to the Congress a report setting forth the design of the expanded program under this section. Such report shall include an explanation of how each of the program design requirements under subsection (d) have been incorporated into the program. (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for carrying out this section— (1)$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; (2)$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and (3)$2,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter.