H. R. 6—153 
‘‘(C) utility interconnection and negotiation of power 
and fuel contracts; 
‘‘(D) understanding financing alternatives; 
‘‘(E) permitting and siting issues; 
‘‘(F) obtaining case studies of similar and successful 
sustainable energy infrastructure systems; and 
‘‘(G) reviewing and obtaining computer software for 
assessment, design, and operation and maintenance of 
sustainable energy infrastructure systems. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE COSTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.— 
On receipt of an application of an institutional entity, the 
Secretary may make grants to the institutional entity to fund 
a portion of the cost of— 
‘‘(A) feasibility studies to assess the potential for 
implementation or improvement of sustainable energy 
infrastructure; 
‘‘(B) analysis and implementation of strategies to over-
come barriers to project implementation, including finan-
cial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; and 
‘‘(C) detailed engineering of sustainable energy infra-
structure. 
‘‘(c) GRANTS
FOR
ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENT
AND 
ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants 
to institutional entities to carry out projects to improve 
energy efficiency on the grounds and facilities of the institu-
tional entity. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—To the extent that applications 
have been submitted, grants under subparagraph (A) shall 
include not less than 1 grant each year to an institution 
of higher education in each State. 
‘‘(C) MINIMUM FUNDING.—Not less than 50 percent of 
the total funding for all grants under this subsection shall 
be awarded in grants to institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—Evaluation of projects for grant funding 
shall be based on criteria established by the Secretary, 
including criteria relating to— 
‘‘(A) improvement in energy efficiency; 
‘‘(B) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other 
air emissions, including criteria air pollutants and ozone- 
depleting refrigerants; 
‘‘(C) increased use of renewable energy sources or 
thermal energy sources; 
‘‘(D) reduction in consumption of fossil fuels; 
‘‘(E) active student participation; and 
‘‘(F) need for funding assistance. 
‘‘(3) CONDITION.—As a condition of receiving a grant under 
this subsection, an institutional entity shall agree— 
‘‘(A) to implement a public awareness campaign con-
cerning the project in the community in which the institu-
tional entity is located; and 
‘‘(B) to submit to the Secretary, and make available 
to the public, reports on any efficiency improvements, 
energy cost savings, and environmental benefits achieved 
as part of a project carried out under paragraph (1),
H. R. 6—154 
including quantification of the results relative to the cri-
teria described under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(d) GRANTS
FOR INNOVATION
IN ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants 
to institutional entities to engage in innovative energy 
sustainability projects. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—To the extent that applications 
have been submitted, grants under subparagraph (A) shall 
include not less than 2 grants each year to institutions 
of higher education in each State. 
‘‘(C) MINIMUM FUNDING.—Not less than 50 percent of 
the total funding for all grants under this subsection shall 
be awarded in grants to institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(2) INNOVATION PROJECTS.—An innovation project carried 
out with a grant under this subsection shall— 
‘‘(A) involve— 
‘‘(i) an innovative technology that is not yet 
commercially available; or 
‘‘(ii) available technology in an innovative applica-
tion that maximizes energy efficiency and sustain-
ability; 
‘‘(B) have the greatest potential for testing or dem-
onstrating new technologies or processes; and 
‘‘(C) to the extent undertaken by an institution of 
higher education, ensure active student participation in 
the project, including the planning, implementation, 
evaluation, and other phases of projects. 
‘‘(3) CONDITION.—As a condition of receiving a grant under 
this subsection, an institutional entity shall agree to submit 
to the Secretary, and make available to the public, reports 
that describe the results of the projects carried out using grant 
funds. 
‘‘(e) ALLOCATION TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITH 
SMALL ENDOWMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the total amount of grants provided 
to institutions of higher education for a fiscal year under this 
section, the Secretary shall provide not less than 50 percent 
of the amount to institutions of higher education that have 
an endowment of not more than $100,000,000. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—To the extent that applications have 
been submitted, at least 50 percent of the amount described 
in paragraph (1) shall be provided to institutions of higher 
education that have an endowment of not more than 
$50,000,000. 
‘‘(f) GRANT AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary determines that cost 
sharing is appropriate, the amounts of grants provided under 
this section shall be limited as provided in this subsection. 
‘‘(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.—In the case of grants 
for technical assistance under subsection (b), grant funds shall 
be available for not more than— 
‘‘(A) an amount equal to the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) $50,000; or 
‘‘(ii) 75 percent of the cost of feasibility studies 
to assess the potential for implementation or improve-
ment of sustainable energy infrastructure;
H. R. 6—155 
‘‘(B) an amount equal to the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) $90,000; or 
‘‘(ii) 60 percent of the cost of guidance on over-
coming barriers to project implementation, including 
financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; 
and 
‘‘(C) an amount equal to the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) $250,000; or 
‘‘(ii) 40 percent of the cost of detailed engineering 
and design of sustainable energy infrastructure. 
‘‘(3) GRANTS FOR EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT AND ENERGY 
SUSTAINABILITY.—In the case of grants for efficiency improve-
ment and energy sustainability under subsection (c), grant 
funds shall be available for not more than an amount equal 
to the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) $1,000,000; or 
‘‘(B) 60 percent of the total cost. 
‘‘(4) GRANTS FOR INNOVATION IN ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY.— 
In the case of grants for innovation in energy sustainability 
under subsection (d), grant funds shall be available for not 
more than an amount equal to the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) $500,000; or 
‘‘(B) 75 percent of the total cost. 
‘‘(g) LOANS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT AND ENERGY 
SUSTAINABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priated funds, the Secretary shall provide loans to institutional 
entities for the purpose of implementing energy efficiency 
improvements and sustainable energy infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this paragraph, loans made under this subsection shall 
be on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
prescribe. 
‘‘(B) MATURITY.—The final maturity of loans made 
within a period shall be the lesser of, as determined by 
the Secretary— 
‘‘(i) 20 years; or 
‘‘(ii) 90 percent of the useful life of the principal 
physical asset to be financed by the loan. 
‘‘(C) DEFAULT.—No loan made under this subsection 
may be subordinated to another debt contracted by the 
institutional entity or to any other claims against the 
institutional entity in the case of default. 
‘‘(D) BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Loans under this subsection 
shall be at an interest rate that is set by reference 
to a benchmark interest rate (yield) on marketable 
Treasury securities with a similar maturity to the 
direct loans being made. 
‘‘(ii) MINIMUM.—The minimum interest rate of 
loans under this subsection shall be at the interest 
rate of the benchmark financial instrument. 
‘‘(iii) NEW LOANS.—The minimum interest rate of 
new loans shall be adjusted each quarter to take 
account of changes in the interest rate of the bench-
mark financial instrument.
H. R. 6—156 
‘‘(E) CREDIT RISK.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) prescribe explicit standards for use in periodi-
cally assessing the credit risk of making direct loans 
under this subsection; and 
‘‘(ii) find that there is a reasonable assurance of 
repayment before making a loan. 
‘‘(F) ADVANCE
BUDGET
AUTHORITY
REQUIRED.—New 
direct loans may not be obligated under this subsection 
except to the extent that appropriations of budget authority 
to cover the costs of the new direct loans are made in 
advance, as required by section 504 of the Federal Credit 
Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661c). 
‘‘(3) CRITERIA.—Evaluation of projects for potential loan 
funding shall be based on criteria established by the Secretary, 
including criteria relating to— 
‘‘(A) improvement in energy efficiency; 
‘‘(B) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other 
air emissions, including criteria air pollutants and ozone- 
depleting refrigerants; 
‘‘(C) increased use of renewable electric energy sources 
or renewable thermal energy sources; 
‘‘(D) reduction in consumption of fossil fuels; and 
‘‘(E) need for funding assistance, including consider-
ation of the size of endowment or other financial resources 
available to the institutional entity. 
‘‘(4) LABOR STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—All 
laborers 
and 
mechanics 
employed by contractors or subcontractors in the perform-
ance of construction, repair, or alteration work funded in 
whole or in part under this section shall be paid wages 
at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a 
character similar in the locality as determined by the Sec-
retary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141 through 
3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States Code. The 
Secretary shall not approve any such funding without first 
obtaining adequate assurance that required labor stand-
ards will be maintained upon the construction work. 
‘‘(B) AUTHORITY
AND
FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary of 
Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards speci-
fied in paragraph (1), the authority and functions set forth 
in Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 1950 (15 Fed. Reg. 
3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and section 3145 of title 40, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(h) PROGRAM PROCEDURES.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish 
procedures for the solicitation and evaluation of potential projects 
for grant and loan funding and administration of the grant and 
loan programs. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—There is authorized to be appropriated for 
the cost of grants authorized in subsections (b), (c), and (d) 
$250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, of 
which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative 
expenses. 
‘‘(2) LOANS.—There is authorized to be appropriated for 
the initial cost of direct loans authorized in subsection (g) 
$500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, of
H. R. 6—157 
which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative 
expenses.’’. 
Subtitle G—Public and Assisted Housing 
SEC. 481. APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION 
CODE TO PUBLIC AND ASSISTED HOUSING. 
Section 109 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12709) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking, ‘‘, where such 
standards are determined to be cost effective by the Sec-
retary of Housing and Urban Development’’; and 
(B) in the first sentence of paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Council of American Building Offi-
cials Model Energy Code, 1992’’ and inserting ‘‘2006 
International Energy Conservation Code’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, and, with respect to rehabilitation 
and new construction of public and assisted housing 
funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 
24 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437v), the 2003 International Energy Conservation 
Code’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘MODEL
ENERGY 
CODE.—’’ and inserting ‘‘INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CON-
SERVATION CODE.—’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and rehabilitation’’ after ‘‘all new 
construction’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘, and, with respect to rehabilitation 
and new construction of public and assisted housing funded 
by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 24 of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v), the 
2003 International Energy Conservation Code’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘MODEL ENERGY CODE 
AND’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘, or, with respect to rehabilitation 
and new construction of public and assisted housing funded 
by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 24 of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v), the 
2003 International Energy Conservation Code’’; 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) FAILURE TO AMEND
THE STANDARDS.—If the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agri-
culture have not, within 1 year after the requirements of the 2006 
IECC or the ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004 are revised, amended 
the standards or made a determination under subsection (c), all 
new construction and rehabilitation of housing specified in sub-
section (a) shall meet the requirements of the revised code or 
standard if— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or 
the Secretary of Agriculture make a determination that the 
revised codes do not negatively affect the availability or afford-
ability of new construction of assisted housing and single family 
and multifamily residential housing (other than manufactured
H. R. 6—158 
homes) subject to mortgages insured under the National 
Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or 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.), respectively; 
and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary of Energy has made a determination 
under section 304 of the Energy Conservation and Production 
Act (42 U.S.C. 6833) that the revised code or standard would 
improve energy efficiency.’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘CABO Model Energy Code, 1992’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 2006 IECC’’; and 
(6) by striking ‘‘1989’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘2004’’. 
Subtitle H—General Provisions 
SEC. 491. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Director and the Commercial 
Director shall establish guidelines to implement a demonstration 
project to contribute to the research goals of the Office of Commer-
cial High-Performance Green Buildings and the Office of Federal 
High-Performance Green Buildings. 
(b) PROJECTS.—In accordance with guidelines established by 
the Federal Director and the Commercial Director under subsection 
(a) and the duties of the Federal Director and the Commercial 
Director described in this title, the Federal Director or the Commer-
cial Director shall carry out— 
(1) for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2014, 1 demonstra-
tion project per year of green features in a Federal building 
selected by the Federal Director in accordance with relevant 
agencies and described in subsection (c)(1), that— 
(A) provides for instrumentation, monitoring, and data 
collection related to the green features, for study of the 
impact of the features on overall energy use and operational 
costs, and for the evaluation of the information obtained 
through the conduct of projects and activities under this 
title; and 
(B) achieves the highest rating offered by the high 
performance green building system identified pursuant to 
section 436(h); 
(2) no fewer than 4 demonstration projects at 4 universities, 
that, as competitively selected by the Commercial Director in 
accordance with subsection (c)(2), have— 
(A) appropriate research resources and relevant 
projects to meet the goals of the demonstration project 
established by the Office of Commercial High-Performance 
Green Buildings; and 
(B) the ability— 
(i) to serve as a model for high-performance green 
building initiatives, including research and education 
by achieving the highest rating offered by the high 
performance green building system identified pursuant 
to section 436(h); 
(ii) to identify the most effective ways to use high- 
performance green building and landscape technologies
H. R. 6—159 
to engage and educate undergraduate and graduate 
students; 
(iii) to effectively implement a high-performance 
green building education program for students and 
occupants; 
(iv) to demonstrate the effectiveness of various 
high-performance technologies, including their impacts 
on energy use and operational costs, in each of the 
4 climatic regions of the United States described in 
subsection (c)(2)(B); and 
(v) to explore quantifiable and nonquantifiable 
beneficial impacts on public health and employee and 
student performance; 
(3) 
demonstration 
projects 
to 
evaluate 
replicable 
approaches of achieving high performance in actual building 
operation in various types of commercial buildings in various 
climates; and 
(4) deployment activities to disseminate information on 
and encourage widespread adoption of technologies, practices, 
and policies to achieve zero-net-energy commercial buildings 
or low energy use and effective monitoring of energy use in 
commercial buildings. 
(c) CRITERIA.— 
(1) FEDERAL FACILITIES.—With respect to the existing or 
proposed Federal facility at which a demonstration project 
under this section is conducted, the Federal facility shall— 
(A) be an appropriate model for a project relating to— 
(i) the effectiveness of high-performance tech-
nologies; 
(ii) analysis of materials, components, systems, and 
emergency operations in the building, and the impact 
of those materials, components, and systems, including 
the impact on the health of building occupants; 
(iii) life-cycle costing and life-cycle assessment of 
building materials and systems; and 
(iv) location and design that promote access to 
the Federal facility through walking, biking, and mass 
transit; and 
(B) possess sufficient technological and organizational 
adaptability. 
(2) UNIVERSITIES.—With respect to the 4 universities at 
which a demonstration project under this section is conducted— 
(A) the universities should be selected, after careful 
review of all applications received containing the required 
information, as determined by the Commercial Director, 
based on— 
(i) 
successful 
and 
established 
public-private 
research and development partnerships; 
(ii) demonstrated capabilities to construct or ren-
ovate buildings that meet high indoor environmental 
quality standards; 
(iii) organizational flexibility; 
(iv) technological adaptability; 
(v) the demonstrated capacity of at least 1 univer-
sity to replicate lessons learned among nearby or sister 
universities, preferably by participation in groups or 
consortia that promote sustainability;
H. R. 6—160 
(vi) the demonstrated capacity of at least 1 univer-
sity to have officially-adopted, institution-wide ‘‘high- 
performance green building’’ guidelines for all campus 
building projects; and 
(vii) the demonstrated capacity of at least 1 univer-
sity to have been recognized by similar institutions 
as a national leader in sustainability education and 
curriculum for students of the university; and 
(B) each university shall be located in a different cli-
matic region of the United States, each of which regions 
shall have, as determined by the Office of Commercial 
High-Performance Green Buildings— 
(i) a hot, dry climate; 
(ii) a hot, humid climate; 
(iii) a cold climate; or 
(iv) a temperate climate (including a climate with 
cold winters and humid summers). 
(d) APPLICATIONS.—To receive a grant under subsection (b), 
an eligible applicant shall submit to the Federal Director or the 
Commercial Director an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Director may require, 
including a written assurance that all laborers and mechanics 
employed by contractors or subcontractors during construction, 
alteration, or repair that is financed, in whole or in part, by a 
grant under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less 
than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as 
determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 
3141 through 3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States Code. 
The Secretary of Labor shall, with respect to the labor standards 
described in this subsection, have the authority and functions set 
forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. App.) 
and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter through September 30, 2014— 
(1) the Federal Director and the Commercial Director shall 
submit to the Secretary a report that describes the status 
of the demonstration projects; and 
(2) each University at which a demonstration project under 
this section is conducted shall submit to the Secretary a report 
that describes the status of the demonstration projects under 
this section. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out the demonstration project described 
in section (b)(1), $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012, and to carry out the demonstration project described 
in section (b)(2), $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012, to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 492. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Federal Director and the Commercial 
Director, jointly and in coordination with the Advisory Committee, 
shall— 
(1)(A) survey existing research and studies relating to high- 
performance green buildings; and 
(B) coordinate activities of common interest; 
(2) develop and recommend a high-performance green 
building research plan that—
H. R. 6—161 
(A) identifies information and research needs, including 
the relationships between human health, occupant produc-
tivity, safety, security, and accessibility and each of— 
(i) emissions from materials and products in the 
building; 
(ii) natural day lighting; 
(iii) ventilation choices and technologies; 
(iv) heating, cooling, and system control choices 
and technologies; 
(v) moisture control and mold; 
(vi) maintenance, cleaning, and pest control activi-
ties; 
(vii) acoustics; 
(viii) access to public transportation; and 
(ix) other issues relating to the health, comfort, 
productivity, and performance of occupants of the 
building; 
(B) promotes the development and dissemination of 
high-performance green building measurement tools that, 
at a minimum, may be used— 
(i) to monitor and assess the life-cycle performance 
of facilities (including demonstration projects) built as 
high-performance green buildings; and 
(ii) to perform life-cycle assessments; and 
(C) identifies and tests new and emerging technologies 
for high-performance green buildings; 
(3) assist the budget and life-cycle costing functions of 
the Directors’ Offices under section 436(d); 
(4) study and identify potential benefits of green buildings 
relating to security, natural disaster, and emergency needs 
of the Federal Government; and 
(5) support other research initiatives determined by the 
Directors’ Offices. 
(b) INDOOR AIR QUALITY.—The Federal Director, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
and the Advisory Committee, shall develop and carry out a com-
prehensive indoor air quality program for all Federal facilities to 
ensure the safety of Federal workers and facility occupants— 
(1) during new construction and renovation of facilities; 
and 
(2) in existing facilities. 
SEC. 493. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY DEMONSTRATION 
GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 
Title III of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 329. DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL GOVERN-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish a dem-
onstration program under which the Administrator shall pro-
vide competitive grants to assist local governments (such as 
municipalities and counties), with respect to local government 
buildings— 
‘‘(A) to deploy cost-effective technologies and practices; 
and