283 
to encourage a comprehensive and environ-
mentally-sound approach to certification of 
green buildings. The identification of the certifi-
cation system and level shall be based on the 
criteria specified in clause (ii) and shall achieve 
results at least comparable to the United States 
Green Building Council Leadership in Energy 
and Environmental Design silver level. Within 
60 days of the completion of each study re-
quired by clause (iii), the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Administrator of General 
Services, and in consultation with the Secretary 
of Defense for considerations relating to those 
facilities under the custody and control of the 
Department of Defense, shall review and update 
the certification system and level, taking into 
account the conclusions of such study. 
‘‘(ii) In identifying the green building certifi-
cation system and level, the Secretary shall take into 
consideration— 
‘‘(I) the ability and availability of assessors 
and auditors to independently verify the criteria 
and measurement of metrics at the scale nec-
essary to implement this subparagraph; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:34 Aug 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00283
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3220.IH
H3220
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
284 
‘‘(II) the ability of the applicable certifi-
cation organization to collect and reflect public 
comment; 
‘‘(III) the ability of the standard to be de-
veloped and revised through a consensus-based 
process; 
‘‘(IV) an evaluation of the robustness of 
the criteria for a high-performance green build-
ing, which shall give credit for promoting— 
‘‘(aa) efficient and sustainable use of 
water, energy, and other natural resources; 
‘‘(bb) use of renewable energy sources; 
‘‘(cc) improved indoor environmental 
quality through enhanced indoor air qual-
ity, thermal comfort, acoustics, day light-
ing, pollutant source control, and use of 
low-emission materials and building system 
controls; and 
‘‘(dd) such other criteria as the Sec-
retary determines to be appropriate; and 
‘‘(V) national recognition within the build-
ing industry. 
‘‘(iii) At least once every five years, the Admin-
istrator of General Services shall conduct a study to 
evaluate and compare available third-party green 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:34 Aug 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00284
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3220.IH
H3220
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
285 
building certification systems and levels, taking into 
account the criteria listed in clause (ii). 
‘‘(iv) The Secretary may by rule allow Federal 
agencies to develop internal certification processes, 
using certified professionals, in lieu of certification 
by the certification entity identified under clause 
(i)(II). The Secretary shall include in any such rule 
guidelines to ensure that the certification process re-
sults in buildings meeting the applicable certification 
system and level identified under clause (i)(II). An 
agency employing an internal certification process 
must continue to obtain external certification by the 
certification entity identified under clause (i)(II) for 
at least 5 percent of the total number of buildings 
certified annually by the agency. 
‘‘(v) With respect to privatized military hous-
ing, the Secretary of Defense, after consultation 
with the Secretary may, through rulemaking, develop 
alternative criteria to those established by subclauses 
(I) and (II) of clause (i) that achieve an equivalent 
result in terms of energy savings, sustainable design, 
and green building performance. 
‘‘(vi) In addition to any use of water conserva-
tion technologies otherwise required by this section, 
water conservation technologies shall be applied to 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:34 Aug 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00285
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3220.IH
H3220
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
286 
the extent that the technologies are life-cycle cost-ef-
fective.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 303(6) of the Energy 
Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6832(6)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘which is not legally subject to State 
or local building codes or similar requirements.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘. Such term shall include buildings built for the 
purpose of being leased by a Federal agency, and 
privatized military housing.’’. 
SEC. 6205. MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL BUILDING EFFI-
CIENCY. 
(a) LARGE CAPITAL ENERGY INVESTMENTS.—Sec-
tion 543 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act 
(42 U.S.C. 8253) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) LARGE CAPITAL ENERGY INVESTMENTS.—Each 
Federal agency shall ensure that any large capital energy 
investment in an existing building that is not a major ren-
ovation but involves replacement of installed equipment, 
such as heating and cooling systems, or involves renova-
tion, rehabilitation, expansion, or remodeling of existing 
space, employs the most energy efficient designs, systems, 
equipment, and controls that are life-cycle cost effective. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
the Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007, each Fed-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:34 Aug 01, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00286
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3220.IH
H3220
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS