§15822 Energy Efficient Public Buildings

Summary

The Secretary can give grants to the State agency that makes the State energy conservation plan under section 6322, or to an agency the Governor names if no such agency exists. The grants help local governments make public buildings and facilities more energy efficient by either building new public buildings that use at least 30 percent less energy than a comparable building built to the most recent International Energy Conservation Code (or a similar State code), or by renovating existing public buildings to cut energy use by at least 30 percent compared to the building’s pre-renovation baseline, using a 3-year weather‑normalized average to set that baseline. State energy offices that get these grants must keep records and proof that they met any requirements the Secretary sets. They must also provide information, technical help, and programs to help local governments plan, finance, and design energy-efficient public buildings. Congress authorized $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 for this purpose, and no more than 10 percent of the money may be used for administration.