§17122 Research and Development

Summary

The Federal Director and the Commercial Director must work together with the Advisory Committee to study and guide research on high-performance green buildings. They must review existing studies and coordinate related work. They must make a research plan that says what information is needed about how buildings affect health, comfort, productivity, safety, security, and accessibility. That plan must look at things like emissions from building materials, natural daylight, ventilation and HVAC choices and controls, moisture and mold, cleaning and pest control, acoustics, access to public transit, and other occupant issues. They must promote tools to measure a building’s life-cycle performance and do life-cycle assessments, test new building technologies, help with budget and life-cycle costing work under section 17092(d) of this title, study benefits for security and emergency needs, and support other research the Directors’ Offices choose. The Federal Director, working with the EPA Administrator and the Advisory Committee, must create and run a full indoor air quality program for all Federal buildings to keep workers and occupants safe during new construction and renovation and in existing facilities.