[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3322 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3322

     To establish a Residence Star program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 2015

 Mr. Butterfield introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish a Residence Star program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. RESIDENCE STAR PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title IV of the Energy Independence 
and Security Act of 2007 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 414. RESIDENCE STAR PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) High-performance energy efficiency measure.--The term 
        `high-performance energy efficiency measure' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 424.
            ``(2) Residence star program.--The term `Residence Star 
        program' means the voluntary program established under 
        subsection (b).
            ``(3) Separate residential spaces.--The term `separate 
        residential spaces' means areas within a residential building 
        that are leased or otherwise occupied by a tenant or other 
        occupant for a period of time pursuant to the terms of a 
        written agreement.
    ``(b) Residence Star.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary, shall establish 
a voluntary program within the Energy Star program established by 
section 324A of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 
6294a), which may be known as Residence Star, to promote energy 
efficiency in separate residential spaces.
    ``(c) Recognition of Separate Residential Spaces.--
            ``(1) Occupancy-based recognition.--In establishing the 
        Residence Star program, the Administrator shall, following 
        public notice and an opportunity for comment--
                    ``(A) in a manner similar to the Energy Star rating 
                system for commercial buildings, develop policies and 
                procedures to recognize separate residential spaces 
                with respect to which the owner of the separate 
                residential space voluntarily achieves high levels of 
                energy efficiency;
                    ``(B) establish building occupancy categories 
                eligible for Residence Star recognition; and
                    ``(C) consider other forms of recognition for 
                separate residential spaces with respect to which the 
                owner of the separate residential space lowers energy 
                consumption.
            ``(2) Design- and construction-based recognition.--In 
        establishing the Residence Star program, the Administrator, 
        following public notice and an opportunity for comment, shall 
        develop policies and procedures to recognize separate 
        residential spaces with respect to which the owner of the 
        separate residential space uses high-performance energy 
        efficiency measures in design and construction.
            ``(3) Audits required.--
                    ``(A) Initial audit.--In establishing the Residence 
                Star program, the Administrator shall require that in 
                order for a separate residential space to be eligible 
                to receive recognition under this subsection, the owner 
                of the separate residential space shall submit the 
                separate residential space to an audit by a third party 
                to certify that the requirements of the program are met 
                with respect to the separate residential space.
                    ``(B) Maintenance audits.--In establishing the 
                Residence Star program, the Administrator shall require 
                that in order for a separate residential space to be 
                eligible to maintain recognition under this subsection, 
                the owner of the separate residential space shall, not 
                later than 7 years after the date on which the initial 
                audit is conducted under subparagraph (A), and every 7 
                years thereafter, submit the separate residential space 
                to an audit by a third party to certify that the 
                requirements of the program continue to be met with 
                respect to the separate residential space.
                    ``(C) Contents.--The Administrator shall require 
                that an audit conducted under this paragraph shall 
                include--
                            ``(i) an assessment of the energy 
                        efficiency of the separate residential space;
                            ``(ii) an estimate of the monetary and 
                        energy savings the tenant or other occupant of 
                        the separate residential space can expect 
                        annually as a result of such energy efficiency, 
                        as determined based on standards of measurement 
                        established by the Administrator, in 
                        consultation with the Secretary; and
                            ``(iii) any other requirements determined 
                        appropriate by the Administrator, in 
                        consultation with the Secretary, following 
                        public notice and an opportunity for comment.
                    ``(D) Use of estimates.--
                            ``(i) Use by owners.--The owner of a 
                        separate residential space that is recognized 
                        under the Residence Star program may, with 
                        respect to such separate residential space, 
                        display, publish, or otherwise use for purposes 
                        of advertising the estimate of the monetary and 
                        energy savings included in the most recent 
                        audit of the separate residential space 
                        conducted under this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Use by third parties.--Third 
                        parties, including realtors and property 
                        managers, may display, publish, or otherwise 
                        use for purposes of advertising the estimate of 
                        the monetary and energy savings included in the 
                        most recent audit of a separate residential 
                        space conducted under this paragraph on behalf 
                        of an owner permitted to do so under clause 
                        (i).
                    ``(E) Criteria for third party auditors.--In 
                establishing the Residence Star program, the 
                Administrator, following public notice and an 
                opportunity for comment, shall develop criteria for 
                third parties to be eligible to conduct audits under 
                this paragraph.
    ``(d) Branding.--
            ``(1) Creation.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
        the Secretary, shall create a logo and branding for the 
        Residence Star program.
            ``(2) Permitted use.--
                    ``(A) Use by owners.--The owner of a separate 
                residential space that is recognized under the 
                Residence Star program may, with respect to such 
                separate residential space, display, publish, or 
                otherwise use for purposes of advertising the logo and 
                branding created under paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Use by third parties.--Third parties, 
                including realtors and property managers, may display, 
                publish, or otherwise use for purposes of advertising 
                the logo and branding created under paragraph (1) on 
                behalf of an owner permitted to do so under 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Prohibited use.--An owner of a separate residential 
        space that is not recognized under the Residence Star program 
        may not, with respect to such separate residential space, 
        display, publish, or otherwise use for purposes of advertising 
        the logo and branding created under paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Publication of List.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
the Secretary, shall publish and maintain, on an Internet website, a 
list of separate residential spaces that are recognized under the 
Residence Star program.
    ``(f) Preservation of Integrity.--The Administrator and the 
Secretary shall preserve the integrity of the Residence Star brand.
    ``(g) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the 
Residence Star program is established, the Administrator, in 
consultation with the Secretary, shall submit to Congress a report on 
the results of the program.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 413 the following new 
item:

``Sec. 414. Residence Star program.''.
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