Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§12709 Energy efficiency standards
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 130— - NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS AND POLICIES › § 12709
Summary
HUD and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must, by September 30, 2006, together create energy-efficiency rules for new and rehab work on public and assisted housing, single-family and multifamily homes (not manufactured homes) covered by certain mortgage programs, and projects funded by HOPE VI. The rules must meet or beat the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (2006 IECC), or for tall multifamily buildings, ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004, and must be cost-effective when looking at construction and operating costs over the building’s life. In making the rules, HUD and USDA must talk with an advisory group that includes builders, housing and energy agencies, code groups, utilities, and low-income housing organizations. If HUD and USDA do not finish the rules by September 30, 2006, the 2006 IECC or ASHRAE 90.1–2004 applies. If those codes are later revised, HUD and USDA must update their rules within 1 year to match the new codes unless they find the revision would not meaningfully increase efficiency or is not technically or economically feasible. If they fail to act within 1 year, the revised code applies only if HUD or USDA say it won’t hurt housing availability or affordability and the Secretary of Energy finds the revision would improve energy efficiency (see section 6833).
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §12709
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, not later than September 30, 2006, jointly establish, by rule, energy efficiency standards for—
(A)new construction of public and assisted housing and single family and multifamily residential housing (other than manufactured homes) subject to mortgages insured under the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.];
(B)new construction of single family housing (other than manufactured homes) subject to mortgages 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.]; and
(C)rehabilitation and new construction of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title.
(2)Such standards shall meet or exceed the requirements of the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (hereafter in this section referred to as “the 2006 IECC”), or, in the case of multifamily high rises, the requirements of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1–2004 (hereafter in this section referred to as “ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004”), and shall be cost-effective with respect to construction and operating costs on a life-cycle cost basis. In developing such standards, the Secretaries shall consult with an advisory task force composed of homebuilders, national, State, and local housing agencies (including public housing agencies), energy agencies, building code organizations and agencies, energy efficiency organizations, utility organizations, low-income housing organizations, and other parties designated by the Secretaries.
(b)If the Secretaries have not, by September 30, 2006, established energy efficiency standards under subsection (a), all new construction and rehabilitation of housing specified in such subsection shall meet the requirements of the 2006 IECC, or, in the case of multifamily high rises, the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004.
(c)If the requirements of the 2006 IECC, or, in the case of multifamily high rises, ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2004, are revised at any time, the Secretaries shall, not later than 1 year after such revision, amend the standards established under subsection (a) to meet or exceed the requirements of such revised code or standard unless the Secretaries determine that compliance with such revised code or standard would not result in a significant increase in energy efficiency or would not be technologically feasible or economically justified.
(d)If the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture 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 subsection (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 affordability of new construction of assisted housing and single family and multifamily residential housing (other than manufactured 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 6833 of this title that the revised code or standard would improve energy efficiency.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The National Housing Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(A) and (d)(1), is act
June 27, 1934, ch. 847, 48 Stat. 1246, which is classified principally to chapter 13 (§ 1701 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1701 of Title 12 and Tables. The Housing Act of 1949, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(B) and (d)(1), is act
July 15, 1949, ch. 338, 63 Stat. 413. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1471 et seq.) of chapter 8A of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1441 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2007—Pub. L. 110–140, § 481(6), substituted “2004” for “1989” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a) to (c). Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 110–140, § 481(1)(A), struck out “, where such standards are determined to be cost effective by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development” before period at end. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–140, § 481(1)(B), (5), in first sentence, substituted “2006 International Energy Conservation Code” for “Council of American Building Officials Model Energy Code, 1992” and “the 2006 IECC” for “CABO Model Energy Code, 1992” and struck out “, and, with respect to rehabilitation and new
Construction
of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code” before “, and shall be”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–140, § 481(2), (5), in heading, substituted “International Energy Conservation” for “Model Energy” and, in text, inserted “and rehabilitation” after “all new
Construction
”, substituted “the 2006 IECC” for “CABO Model Energy Code, 1992”, and struck out “, and, with respect to rehabilitation and new
Construction
of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code” before period at end. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–140, § 481(3), (5), in heading, struck out “Model Energy Code and” after “Revisions of” and, in text, substituted “the 2006 IECC” for “CABO Model Energy Code, 1992”, and struck out “, or, with respect to rehabilitation and new
Construction
of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code” before “, are revised”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–140, § 481(4), added subsec. (d). 2005—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–58, § 153(1)(A)(i), substituted “
September 30, 2006” for “1 year after
October 24, 1992” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 109–58, § 153(1)(A)(ii)–(iv), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 109–58, § 153(1)(B), inserted “, and, with respect to rehabilitation and new
Construction
of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code” after “90.1–1989’)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–58, § 153(2), substituted “by
September 30, 2006” for “within 1 year after
October 24, 1992” and inserted “, and, with respect to rehabilitation and new
Construction
of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code” before period at end. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–58, § 153(3), inserted “and the International Energy Conservation Code” after “Model Energy Code” in heading and “, or, with respect to rehabilitation and new
Construction
of public and assisted housing funded by HOPE VI revitalization grants under section 1437v of this title, the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code” after “90.1–1989” in text. 1992—Pub. L. 102–486 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than one year after November 28, 1990, promulgate energy efficiency standards for new
Construction
of public and assisted housing and single-family and multifamily residential housing (other than manufactured homes) subject to mortgages under the National Housing Act. Such standards shall meet or exceed the provisions of the most recent edition of the Model Energy Code of the Council of American Building Officials and shall be cost-effective with respect to
Construction
and operating costs. In developing such standards the Secretary shall consult with an advisory task force composed of homebuilders, national, State, and local housing agencies (including public housing agencies), energy agencies and building code organizations and agencies, energy efficiency organizations, utility organizations, low-income housing organizations, and other parties designated by the Secretary.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2007 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–140 effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 12709
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73