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Title 12 — Banks and BankingRelease 119-73

§1701z–13 Solar energy for single-family and multifamily housing units

Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 13— - NATIONAL HOUSING › § 1701z–13

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Promotes use of cost-effective solar and wind energy systems for single-family and multifamily homes. The Secretary must allow these systems under certain federal housing programs. A "solar energy system" is any change or addition to a new or existing building that uses solar or wind power (active or passive) to reduce other energy needs and that meets rules the Secretary makes with the Secretary of Energy. The Secretary must encourage installations, especially for low-income homeowners and renters, and run a plan to publicize availability and feasibility. Within eighteen months after October 31, 1978, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy must report to Congress how many solar units were contracted, installed, or on order during the first twelve full calendar months after October 31, 1978, and analyze problems and benefits.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §1701z–13

Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is the purpose of this section to promote and extend the application of viable solar energy systems as a desirable source of energy for residential single-family and multifamily housing units.
(b)(1)The Secretary, in carrying out programs and activities under section 1452b 11 See References in Text note below. of title 42, section 1701q of this title, and section 1437f of title 42, shall permit the installation of solar energy systems which are cost-effective and economically feasible.
(2)For the purpose of this Act, the term “solar energy system” means any addition, alteration, or improvement to an existing or new structure which is designed to utilize wind energy or solar energy either of the active type based on mechanically forced energy transfer or of the passive type based on convective, conductive, or radiant energy transfer or some combination of these types to reduce the energy requirements of that structure from other energy sources, and which is in conformity with such criteria and standards as shall be prescribed by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Energy.
(c)In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary to encourage the installation of cost-effective and economically feasible solar energy systems in housing assisted under the programs and activities referred to in such subsection taking into account the interests of low-income homeowners and renters, including the implementation of a plan of action to publicize the availability and feasibility of solar energy systems to current or potential recipients of assistance under such programs and activities.
(d)The Secretary shall, in conjunction with the Secretary of Energy, transmit to the Congress, within eighteen months after October 31, 1978, a report setting forth—
(1)the number of solar units which were contracted for or installed or which are on order under the provisions of subsection (b)(1) of this section during the first twelve full calendar months after October 31, 1978; and
(2)an analysis of any problems and benefits related to encouraging the use of solar energy systems in the programs and activities referred to in subsection (b).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1452b of title 42, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), was repealed by Pub. L. 101–625, title II, § 289(b)(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4128. This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is Pub. L. 95–557, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2080, known as the Housing and Community Development

Amendments

of 1978. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1978

Amendments

note set out under section 5301 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Housing and Community Development

Amendments

of 1978, and not as part of the National Housing Act which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

1984—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–479 substituted “conjunction” for “conjuction” in provisions preceding par. (1).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 1701z–13

Title 12 — Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73