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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§6832 Definitions

Title 42 › CHAPTER 81 — ENERGY CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE RENEWAL › SUBCHAPTER II — ENERGY CONSERVATION STANDARDS FOR NEW BUILDINGS › § 6832

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines the main words used in this part of the law. Building — a structure to be built that has a heating or cooling system or a hot water system. Building code — a State or local law or rule that a building must follow to be legal and safe to use. Commercial building — any building that is not for living, including industrial or public buildings. Federal agency — any executive-branch department, agency, corporation, or similar federal entity, including the United States Postal Service, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Federal building — a building built by or for a Federal agency, including ones leased to an agency and privatized military housing. Federal financial assistance — either (A) any loan, grant, guarantee, insurance, payment, rebate, subsidy, or other direct or indirect federal help (but not general or special revenue sharing or formula grants to States) approved by a federal officer or agency, or (B) any loan made or bought by a bank, savings and loan, or similar institution that is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration. National Institute of Building Sciences — the institute created under section 1701j–2 of title 12. Residential building — a structure built and developed for people to live in. Secretary — the Secretary of Energy. State — each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any U.S. territory or possession. Unit of general purpose local government — a city, county, town, municipality, or similar local government (or combination) that has a building code for an area. Federal building energy standards — energy-use goals to be met without requiring specific methods, materials, or equipment; they can include required criteria and evaluation methods. Voluntary building energy code — a building energy code made and updated by consensus among interested groups, such as CABO or ASHRAE. CABO — the Council of American Building Officials. ASHRAE — the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §6832

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

Except as otherwise provided, in this subchapter:
(1)Omitted
(2)The term “building” means any structure to be constructed which includes provision for a heating or cooling system, or both, or for a hot water system.
(3)The term “building code” means a legal instrument which is in effect in a State or unit of general purpose local government, the provisions of which must be adhered to if a building is to be considered to be in conformance with law and suitable for occupancy and use.
(4)The term “commercial building” means any building other than a residential building, including any building developed for industrial or public purposes.
(5)The term “Federal agency” means any department, agency, corporation, or other entity or instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including the United States Postal Service, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
(6)The term “Federal building” means any building to be constructed by, or for the use of, any Federal agency. Such term shall include buildings built for the purpose of being leased by a Federal agency, and privatized military housing.
(7)The term “Federal financial assistance” means (A) any form of loan, grant, guarantee, insurance, payment, rebate, subsidy, or any other form of direct or indirect Federal assistance (other than general or special revenue sharing or formula grants made to States) approved by any Federal officer or agency; or (B) any loan made or purchased by any bank, savings and loan association, or similar institution subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration.
(8)The term “National Institute of Building Sciences” means the institute established by section 1701j–2 of title 12.
(9)The term “residential building” means any structure which is constructed and developed for residential occupancy.
(10)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.
(11)The term “State” includes each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory and possession of the United States.
(12)The term “unit of general purpose local government” means any city, county, town, municipality, or other political subdivision of a State (or any combination thereof), which has a building code or similar authority over a particular geographic area.
(13)The term “Federal building energy standards” means energy consumption objectives to be met without specification of the methods, materials, or equipment to be employed in achieving those objectives, but including statements of the requirements, criteria, and evaluation methods to be used, and any necessary commentary.
(14)The term “voluntary building energy code” means a building energy code developed and updated through a consensus process among interested persons, such as that used by the Council of American Building Officials; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers; or other appropriate organizations.
(15)The term “CABO” means the Council of American Building Officials.
(16)The term “ASHRAE” means the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Par. (1) of this section which read “The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration; except that after such Administration ceases to exist, such term means any officer of the United States designated by the President for purposes of this subchapter” has been omitted in view of the termination of the Federal Energy Administration and the transfer of its functions and the functions of the Administrator thereof (with certain exceptions) to the Secretary of Energy pursuant to section 301(a), 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95–91, which are classified to section 7151(a), 7293, and 7297 of this title and the fact that the term “Secretary” is defined for the purposes of this subchapter by par. (10) of this section. In this subchapter, “Secretary of Energy” has been substituted for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 117–58 substituted “Except as otherwise provided, in” for “As used in” in introductory provisions. 2007—Par. (6). Pub. L. 110–140 struck out “which is not legally subject to State or local building codes or similar requirements” after “any Federal agency” and inserted at end “Such term shall include buildings built for the purpose of being leased by a Federal agency, and privatized military housing.” 1992—Pars. (9) to (16). Pub. L. 102–486 redesignated pars. (10) to (13) as (9) to (12), respectively, added pars. (13) to (16), and struck out former par. (9) which read as follows: “The term ‘voluntary performance standards’ means an energy consumption goal or goals to be met without specification of the methods, materials, and processes to be employed in achieving that goal or goals, but including statements of the requirements, criteria and evaluation methods to be used, and any necessary commentary.” 1988—Par. (11). Pub. L. 100–242 substituted “Secretary of Energy” for “Secretary of Housing and Urban Development”. 1981—Par. (9). Pub. L. 97–35 inserted “voluntary” before “performance standards”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2007 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–140 effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective Aug. 13, 1981, see section 1038 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 6240 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation and Federal Home Loan Bank Board abolished and functions transferred, see sections 401 to 406 of Pub. L. 101–73, set out as a note under section 1437 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. Wage Rate RequirementsFor provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for

Construction

, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 6832

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102