§6321 Findings; purpose; definitions

Summary

Gives the federal government a job to help states save energy. It says state laws and programs that save energy cut how fast energy use grows and help avoid bad social, economic, and environmental effects. States can make the rules that fit their local needs best. The federal government, through the Secretary, can make guidelines, set procedures, and give money and technical help to support specific state energy conservation programs. Defines key words used in the rules: “appliance” — an item the Secretary calls an appliance (like a room air-conditioner, refrigerator-freezer, or dishwasher); “building” — any structure with heating or cooling or hot water; “energy audit” — a review that shows likely energy and cost savings and follows the Secretary’s rules, is free for occupants in States with a supplemental plan, and otherwise may charge only reasonable costs set by the Secretary; “energy conservation measure” — a change to a building or industrial plant finished before May 1, 1989, that an audit or the Secretary says will save enough to pay back its cost within its useful life or 15 years, calculated without counting tax benefits or federal aid; “industrial plant” — fixed equipment used in industrial production; “public building” — open to the public in normal business hours; “renewable-resource energy measure” — a change to a building or plant finished before August 14, 1976, that switches from a depletable to a nondepletable energy source and pays back its cost within its useful life or 25 years, calculated without counting tax benefits or federal aid; “transportation controls” — plans or rules to cut energy used in transportation but not rationing gasoline or diesel.