§6307 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must run a consumer education program with the Federal Trade Commission, industry groups, retailers, and consumer and environmental groups. The program must teach people why estimated annual operating costs matter, how comparing those costs can save energy and money, and any other topics the Secretary thinks will help people use less energy. The Secretary must also, not later than one year after October 24, 1992, give states recommendations for incentive programs to encourage people to voluntarily replace existing showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals with products that meet the standards in subsections (j) and (k) of section 6295 of this title. In making those recommendations, the Secretary must consult federal and state officials, manufacturers, suppliers, installers, and other interested parties. The Secretary must also, not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, run a cost-shared program to teach homeowners and small businesses how proper maintenance of air conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems saves energy. The Small Business Administration, with the Secretary and EPA, must lead a government-wide Energy Star-based program to help small businesses become more energy efficient, see cost savings, access federal Energy Star procurement, and find financing. Program information must be shared through SBA offices, resource partners, other federal agencies, and coordinated with Commerce for manufacturing help. The agencies may set up a Small Business Energy Clearinghouse for phone and online technical help. Funds necessary to run these efforts are authorized and remain available until spent.

Title 42, §6307

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

(a)The Secretary shall, in close cooperation and coordination with the Commission and appropriate industry trade associations and industry members, including retailers, and interested consumer and environmental organizations, carry out a program to educate consumers and other persons with respect to—

(1)the significance of estimated annual operating costs;

(2)the way in which comparative shopping, including comparisons of estimated annual operating costs, can save energy for the Nation and money for consumers; and

(3)such other matters as the Secretary determines may encourage the conservation of energy in the use of consumer products.

(b)(1)The Secretary shall, not later than one year after October 24, 1992, issue recommendations to the States for establishing State and local incentive programs designed to encourage the acceleration of voluntary replacement, by consumers, of existing showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals with those products that meet the standards established for such products pursuant to subsections (j) and (k) of section 6295 of this title.

(2)In developing such recommendations, the Secretary shall consult with the heads of other federal 11 So in original. Probably should be capitalized. agencies, including the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; State officials; manufacturers, suppliers, and installers of plumbing products; and other interested parties.

(c)(1)To ensure that installed air conditioning and heating systems operate at maximum rated efficiency levels, the Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, carry out a program to educate homeowners and small business owners concerning the energy savings from properly conducted maintenance of air conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems.

(2)The Secretary shall carry out the program under paragraph (1), on a cost-shared basis, in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and any other entities that the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including industry trade associations, industry members, and energy efficiency organizations.

(d)(1)The Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall develop and coordinate a Government-wide program, building on the Energy Star for Small Business Program, to assist small businesses in—

(A)becoming more energy efficient;

(B)understanding the cost savings from improved energy efficiency;

(C)understanding and accessing Federal procurement opportunities with regard to Energy Star technologies and products; and

(D)identifying financing options for energy efficiency upgrades.

(2)The Secretary, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall—

(A)make program information available to small business concerns directly through the district offices and resource partners of the Small Business Administration, including small business development centers, women’s business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), and through other Federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Agriculture; and

(B)coordinate assistance with the Secretary of Commerce for manufacturing-related efforts, including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.

(3)The Secretary, on a cost shared basis in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall provide to the Small Business Administration all advertising, marketing, and other written materials necessary for the dissemination of information under paragraph (2).

(4)The Secretary, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, as part of the outreach to small business concerns under the Energy Star Program for Small Business Program, may enter into cooperative agreements with qualified resources partners (including the National Center for Appropriate Technology) to establish, maintain, and promote a Small Business Energy Clearinghouse (in this subsection referred to as the “Clearinghouse”).

(5)The Secretary, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall ensure that the Clearinghouse provides a centralized resource where small business concerns may access, telephonically and electronically, technical information and advice to help increase energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.

(6)There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection, to remain available until expended.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2005—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 109–58 added subsecs. (c) and (d). 1992—Pub. L. 102–486 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b). 1978—Pub. L. 95–619 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”, meaning Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

§6307 Consumer education