I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 695 
To provide for a green building certification program as part of the Energy 
Star program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 26, 2009 
Mr. WEINER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for a green building certification program as 
part of the Energy Star program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) GREEN BUILDING.—The term ‘‘green build-
ing’’ means a building constructed taking into ac-
count sustainable site development, water savings, 
energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environ-
mental quality, life-cycle concerns of building mate-
rials, and transit and density-oriented development. 
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(2) LIFE-CYCLE CONCERNS OF BUILDING MATE-
RIALS.—The term ‘‘life-cycle concerns of building 
materials’’ includes emissions and environmental im-
pact 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 cer-
tification, 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 sec-
tion, the Secretary of Energy shall study and provide rec-
ommendations 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 with-
out 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 sec-
tion shall be designed— 
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(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 certifi-
cation or energy efficiency assessment submissions 
procedures and databases, to maximum extent fea-
sible; 
(5) to have certifications integrated into exist-
ing Energy Star building program energy efficiency 
assessment documents and databases to maximum 
extent feasible; 
(6) to be primarily an online certification pro-
gram that minimizes the need for paper forms and 
permits automated calculations and approval and 
gives real-time feedback on meeting certification pa-
rameters; 
(7) to allow those without green building exper-
tise to certify their building without being required 
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to have greater knowledge than the building’s pa-
rameters; 
(8) to include separate certification programs 
for offices, schools, residential buildings (including 
single-family homes), commercial and retail build-
ings, high-rise buildings, manufacturing buildings, 
and any other building types as the Secretary of En-
ergy 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 En-
ergy Policy and Conservation Act; 
(11) to integrate the results of the high-per-
formance 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 cer-
tification 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 Con-
gress a report setting forth the design of the expanded 
program under this section. Such report shall include an 
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explanation of how each of the program design require-
ments under subsection (d) have been incorporated into 
the program. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of En-
ergy 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. 
Æ 
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