§15812 Advanced Building Efficiency Testbed

Summary

The Secretary, working with the Administrator of General Services, must set up an Advanced Building Efficiency Testbed program to develop, test, and demonstrate new building systems, parts, and materials. The program will check efficiency ideas for government and industry buildings and show that future buildings can help people and organizations work better and stay healthier (for example by improving indoor air), adapt to new technology, and be more environmentally sustainable. It must add to, not duplicate, other national programs. A university will lead the program and must bring together experts from several fields, including intelligent workplace and building systems, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, architecture and urban design, and environmental and mechanical engineering, and partner with other universities and groups. Congress authorized $6,000,000 for each fiscal year 2006, 2007, and 2008, available until spent. For any year funds are used, the lead university gets one-third and the other participants split the remaining two-thirds equally.