§5504 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

The federal government must quickly start and run a program to develop and test combined solar heating and cooling systems for homes. Soon after September 3, 1974, the Secretary, working with the National Institute of Standards and Technology director and in consultation with the Administrator and the Secretary of Energy, must set and publish temporary performance standards for the systems and for homes that would use them. The Secretary will also pick, by open competition, several house designs that fit those standards. While that happens, the Administrator and the Secretary of Energy must run research, development, and testing to get the technology ready for commercial use. Using federal procurement rules and joint program guidelines, the Administrator must fund and contract for system development and buy systems and spare parts. The Secretary must arrange installation of those systems in a substantial number of homes and keep them working during the demonstration. Owners may acquire homes and systems but must agree to let the government observe and monitor system performance and provide reports for five years. The Secretary of Defense will do the same for federally held housing. All officials must coordinate so installations occur in many places and climates for a realistic test.

Title 42, §5504

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator and the Secretary shall promptly initiate and carry out a program, as provided in this section, for the development and demonstration of combined solar heating and cooling systems (including collectors, controls, and thermal storage) for use in residential dwellings.

(b)(1)As soon as possible after September 3, 1974, the Secretary, utilizing the services of the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and in consultation with the Administrator and the Secretary of Energy, shall determine, prescribe, and publish—

(A)interim performance criteria for combined solar heating and cooling components and systems to be used in residential dwellings, and

(B)interim performance criteria (relating to suitability for solar heating and cooling) for such dwellings themselves,

(2)As soon as possible after the publication of the performance criteria prescribed under paragraph (1) (and if possible before the completion of the research and development provided for in subsection (c)), the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Administrator, will select on the basis of open competition a number of designs for various types of residential dwellings suitable for and adapted to the installation of combined solar heating and cooling systems meeting the performance criteria prescribed under paragraph (1)(A).

(c)During the period immediately following the publication of performance criteria under subsection (b)(1), the Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall undertake and conduct with respect to solar heating and cooling a program of research, development, and testing designed to provide the additional technological resources necessary for the development and commercial application of combined solar heating and cooling systems as contemplated by the program under this section.

(d)The Administrator, in accordance with the applicable provisions of subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 51 and under program guidelines established jointly by the Administrator and the Secretary, and at the earliest possible time during or immediately after the period specified in subsection (c), shall, after consultation with the Secretary—

(1)enter into such contracts and grants as may be necessary or appropriate for the development (for commercial production and residential use) of combined solar heating and cooling systems meeting the performance criteria prescribed under subsection (b)(1)(A) (including any further planning and design which may be required to conform with the specifications set forth in such criteria or to reflect the results of the activities conducted under subsection (c)); and

(2)enter into contracts with a number of persons or firms for the procurement of combined solar heating and cooling systems meeting such performance criteria (including adequate numbers of spare and replacement parts for such systems).

(e)The Secretary shall (1) arrange for the installation of combined solar heating and cooling systems procured by the Administrator under subsection (d)(2) in a substantial number of residential dwellings and (2) provide for the satisfactory operation of such installations during the demonstration period. Title to and ownership of any dwellings constructed hereunder and of combined solar heating and cooling systems installed hereunder may be conveyed to purchasers or owners of such dwellings under terms and conditions prescribed by the Secretary, including an express agreement that any such purchaser or owner shall, in such manner and form and on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe, observe and monitor (or permit the Secretary to observe and monitor) the performance and operation of such system for a period of five years, and that such purchaser or owner (including any subsequent owner and occupant of the property who also makes such an agreement) shall regularly furnish the Secretary with such reports thereon as the agreement may require.

(f)The Secretary of Defense shall arrange for the installation of combined solar heating and cooling systems procured by the Administrator under subsection (d)(2) in a substantial number of residential dwellings which are located on Federal or federally administered property where the performance and operation of such systems can be regularly and effectively observed and monitored by designated Federal personnel.

(g)The Secretary and the Secretary of Defense, and officials responsible for administering Federal or federally administered property, shall coordinate their activities under this section to assure that combined solar heating and cooling systems are installed in a substantial number of residential dwellings and in a sufficient number of geographic areas under varying climatic conditions to constitute a realistic and effective demonstration in support of the objectives of this subchapter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In subsec. (d), “subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 51” substituted for “title II of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958” on authority of Pub. L. 111–314, § 5(e), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3443, which Act enacted Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.

Amendments

1988—Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 100–418 substituted “National Institute of Standards and Technology” for “National Bureau of Standards”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

“Secretary of Energy” substituted for “Director”, meaning Director of National Science Foundation, in subsecs. (b)(1) and (c) pursuant to section 104(f) and 301(h) of Pub. L. 93–438, which are classified to section 5814(f) and 5871(h) of this title and which transferred functions of National Science Foundation relating to or utilized in connection with solar heating and cooling development to Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, and pursuant to section 301(a), 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95–91, which are classified to section 7151(a), 7293, and 7297 of this title and which terminated Energy Research and Development Administration and transferred its functions and functions of Administrator thereof (with certain exceptions) to Secretary of Energy.

§5504 Development and demonstration of combined solar heating and cooling systems for use in residential dwellings