rulemaking in accordance with section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code, and the factors and standards 
set forth in subsections (b)(2)(E), (b)(3), and (b)(4). 
Information provided by the Secretary, attendant to 
submission of any amendment proposals, is ‘influen-
tial information’, and shall satisfy the guidelines es-
tablished by the Office of Management and Budget 
and published at 67 Federal Register 8,452 (Feb. 
22, 2002). When calculating the costs and benefits 
of an amendment, the Secretary shall use climate 
zone weighted averages for equipment efficiency for 
heating, cooling, ventilation systems and water heat-
ing systems, using equipment that is actually in-
stalled. 
‘‘(e) ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY.—The Secretary shall 
make publicly available the entire calculation methodology 
(including input assumptions and data) used by the Sec-
retary to estimate the energy savings of code or standard 
proposals and revisions. 
‘‘(f) METHODOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary 
shall establish a methodology for evaluating cost-effective-
ness of energy code changes in multifamily buildings that 
incorporates economic parameters representative of typical 
multifamily buildings. 
‘‘(g) DETERMINATION.— 
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‘‘(1) REVISION OF MODEL BUILDING ENERGY 
CODES.—If the provisions of the IECC or ASHRAE 
Standard 90.1 regarding building energy use are re-
vised, the Secretary shall make a preliminary deter-
mination not later than 90 days after the date of the 
revision, and a final determination not later than 15 
months after the date of the revision, on whether or 
not the revision— 
‘‘(A) improves energy efficiency in build-
ings compared to the existing model building 
energy code; 
‘‘(B) meets the applicable targets under 
subsection (b)(2); and 
‘‘(C) is technically feasible and cost-effec-
tive. 
‘‘(2) CODES OR STANDARDS NOT MEETING CRI-
TERIA.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Secretary 
makes a preliminary determination under para-
graph (1)(B) that a code or standard does not 
meet the targets established under subsection 
(b)(2), is not technically feasible, or is not cost- 
effective, the Secretary may at the same time 
provide technical assistance, as described in 
subsection (c), to the model building energy 
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code or standard developer, with proposed 
changes that would result in a model building 
energy code that meets the criteria and with 
supporting evidence. Proposed changes sub-
mitted by the Secretary shall follow rulemaking 
in accordance with section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code, and the factors and stand-
ards set forth in subsections (b)(2)(E), (b)(3), 
and (b)(4). Information provided by the Sec-
retary, attendant to submission of any amend-
ment proposals, is ‘influential information’, and 
shall satisfy the guidelines established by the 
Office of Management and Budget and pub-
lished at 67 Federal Register 8,452 (Feb. 22, 
2002). 
‘‘(B) INCORPORATION OF CHANGES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On receipt of the 
technical assistance, as described in sub-
section (c), the model building energy code 
or standard developer shall have an addi-
tional 270 days to accept or reject the pro-
posed changes of the Secretary the model 
building energy code or standard for the 
Secretary to make a final determination. 
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‘‘(ii) 
FINAL
DETERMINATION.—A 
final determination under paragraph (1) 
shall be on the modified model building en-
ergy code or standard. 
‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) publish notice of targets, amendment pro-
posals and supporting analysis and determinations 
under this section in the Federal Register to provide 
an explanation of and the basis for such actions, in-
cluding any supporting modeling, data, assumptions, 
protocols, and cost benefit analysis, including return 
on investment; and 
‘‘(2) provide an opportunity for public comment 
on targets, amendment proposals and supporting 
analysis and determinations under this section, in 
accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
‘‘(i) VOLUNTARY CODES
AND STANDARDS.—Not 
withstanding any other provision of this section, any 
model building code or standard established under this 
section shall not be binding on a State, local government, 
or Indian tribe as a matter of Federal law.’’. 
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Subtitle B—Worker Training and 
Capacity Building 
SEC. 111. BUILDING TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT CENTERS. 
The Secretary shall provide grants to institutions of 
higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) and Tribal Col-
leges or Universities (as defined in section 316(b) of that 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))) to establish building training 
and assessment centers— 
(1) to identify opportunities for optimizing en-
ergy efficiency and environmental performance in 
buildings; 
(2) to promote the application of emerging con-
cepts and technologies in commercial and institu-
tional buildings; and 
(3) to train engineers, architects, building sci-
entists, building energy permitting and enforcement 
officials, and building technicians in energy-efficient 
design and operation. 
TITLE II—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 201. VOLUNTARY NATURE OF BUILDING ASSET RAT-
ING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Any program of the Secretary 
that may enable the owner of a commercial building or 
a residential building to obtain a rating, score, or label 
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