Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§8253 Energy and Water Management Requirements

Title 42 › CHAPTER 91 — NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY › SUBCHAPTER III — FEDERAL ENERGY INITIATIVE › Part B — Federal Energy Management › § 8253

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal agencies must cut how much energy they use per square foot in their buildings compared with fiscal year 2003. The required cuts are: FY2006 2%, FY2007 4%, FY2008 9%, FY2009 12%, FY2010 15%, FY2011 18%, FY2012 21%, FY2013 24%, FY2014 27%, and FY2015 30%. Agencies can exclude buildings that do energy‑intensive work, but they must list those buildings in their reports. The Secretary of Energy must review progress and give Congress recommendations by December 31, 2014 about goals for fiscal years 2016–2025. Agencies must, to the maximum extent practicable, start installing all energy and water measures that are life‑cycle cost‑effective by October 1, 2022, and finish as soon as possible. If an agency doesn’t comply it must explain why to the Secretary, and the Secretary will report noncompliance to Congress by January 1, 2022 and every 2 years after that. All Federal buildings must be metered by October 1, 2022, using advanced meters that give at least daily data and hourly measurements when practical; natural gas and steam must have equivalent metering by October 1, 2016. Agencies must name energy managers, do regular energy and water evaluations so each covered facility is reviewed about every 4 years (starting within 180 days after December 27, 2020), implement cost‑effective measures within 2 years, use performance contracts for at least half of those measures, track results in a web system and publish benchmarking data, and follow public scorecards from OMB. Funding can come from appropriations or private financing, and the Secretary runs a Federal Energy Management Program and must appoint a Federal Director; $36,000,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. Defined terms (short descriptions): Commissioning — checking that building systems work as designed from design through at least one year after construction; Energy manager — the person responsible for meeting these rules and cutting energy use at a facility; Facility — any Federal building or related property (but not land where the government doesn’t pay utilities); Life cycle cost‑effective — a measure that saves more money over its life than it costs; Ongoing commissioning — continuous checks using monitored data to keep performance high; Payback period — initial cost divided by annual savings; Recommissioning — recommissioning after the warranty or initial phase to restore performance; Retrocommissioning — commissioning done when a building was never commissioned at construction.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §8253

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

(a)Energy performance requirement for Federal buildings
(1)Subject to paragraph (2), each agency shall apply energy conservation measures to, and shall improve the design for the construction of, the Federal buildings of the agency (including each industrial or laboratory facility) so that the energy consumption per gross square foot of the Federal buildings of the agency in fiscal years 2006 through 2015 is reduced, as compared with the energy consumption per gross square foot of the Federal buildings of the agency in fiscal year 2003, by the percentage specified in the following table:
Fiscal Year | Percentage Reduction
2006 | 2
2007 | 4
2008 | 9
2009 | 12
2010 | 15
2011 | 18
2012 | 21
2013 | 24
2014 | 27
2015 | 30.
(2)An agency may exclude from the requirements of paragraph (1) any building, and the associated energy consumption and gross square footage, in which energy intensive activities are carried out. Each agency shall identify and list in each report made under section 8258(a) of this title the buildings designated by it for such exclusion.
(3)Not later than December 31, 2014, the Secretary shall review the results of the implementation of the energy performance requirement established under paragraph (1) and submit to Congress recommendations concerning energy performance requirements for fiscal years 2016 through 2025.
(b)Energy and water management requirement for Federal agencies
(1)In general.—
Each agency shall—
(A)not later than October 1, 2022, to the maximum extent practicable, begin installing in Federal buildings owned by the United States all energy and water conservation measures determined by the Secretary to be life cycle cost-effective (as defined in subsection (f)(1)); and
(B)complete the installation described in subparagraph (A) as soon as practicable after the date referred to in that subparagraph.
(2)Explanation of noncompliance.—
(A)In general.—
If an agency fails to comply with paragraph (1), the agency shall submit to the Secretary, using guidelines developed by the Secretary, an explanation of the reasons for the failure.
(B)Report to Congress.—
Not later than January 1, 2022, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes any noncompliance by an agency with the requirements of paragraph (1).
(3)This subsection shall not apply to an agency’s facilities that generate or transmit electric energy or to the uranium enrichment facilities operated by the Department of Energy.
(4)An agency may participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Green Lights” program for purposes of receiving technical assistance in complying with the requirements of this section.
(c)Exclusions
(1)(A)The head of each agency may exclude, from the energy or water performance requirement for a fiscal year established under subsection (a) and the energy or water management requirement established under subsection (b), any Federal building or collection of Federal buildings, if the head of the agency finds that—
(i)compliance with those requirements would be impracticable;
(ii)the agency has completed and submitted all federally required energy or water management reports;
(iii)the agency has achieved compliance with the energy or water efficiency requirements of this chapter, the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Executive orders, and other Federal law; and
(iv)the agency has implemented all practicable, life cycle cost-effective projects with respect to the Federal building or collection of Federal buildings to be excluded.
(B)A finding of impracticability under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be based on—
(i)the energy or water intensiveness of activities carried out in the Federal building or collection of Federal buildings; or
(ii)the fact that the Federal building or collection of Federal buildings is used in the performance of a national security function.
(2)Each agency shall identify and list, in each report made under section 8258(a) of this title, the Federal buildings designated by it for such exclusion. The Secretary shall review such findings for consistency with the standards for exclusion set forth in paragraph (1), and may within 90 days after receipt of the findings, reverse the exclusion. In the case of any such reversal, the agency shall comply with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b)(1) for the building concerned.
(3)Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall issue guidelines that establish criteria for exclusions under paragraph (1).
(d)Implementation steps
The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of General Services in developing guidelines for the implementation of this part. To meet the requirements of this section, each agency shall—
(1)prepare and submit to the Secretary, not later than December 31, 1993, a plan describing how the agency intends to meet such requirements, including how it will—
(A)designate personnel primarily responsible for achieving such requirements;
(B)identify high priority projects through calculation of payback periods;
(C)take maximum advantage of contracts authorized under subchapter VII of this chapter, of financial incentives and other services provided by utilities for efficiency investment, and of other forms of financing to reduce the direct costs to the Government; and
(D)otherwise implement this part;
(2)perform energy and water surveys of its Federal buildings to the extent necessary and update such surveys as needed, incorporating any relevant information obtained from the survey conducted pursuant to section 8258b of this title;
(3)using such surveys, determine the cost and payback period of energy and water conservation measures likely to achieve the requirements of this section;
(4)install energy and water conservation measures that will achieve the requirements of this section through the methods and procedures established pursuant to section 8254 of this title; and
(5)ensure that the operation and maintenance procedures applied under this section are continued.
(e)Metering of energy and water use
(1)Deadline
By October 1, 2022, in accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary under paragraph (2), all Federal buildings shall, for the purposes of efficient use of energy and water and reduction in the cost of electricity and water used in such buildings, be metered. Each agency shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, advanced meters or advanced metering devices that provide data at least daily and that measure at least hourly consumption of electricity and water in the Federal buildings of the agency. Not later than October 1, 2016, each agency shall provide for equivalent metering of natural gas and steam, in accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary under paragraph (2). Such data shall be incorporated into existing Federal energy and water tracking systems and made available to Federal facility managers.
(2)Guidelines
(A)In general
Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary, in consultation with the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, representatives from the metering industry, utility industry, energy services industry, energy efficiency industry, energy efficiency advocacy organizations, national laboratories, universities, Federal facility managers, and any other person the Secretary deems necessary, shall establish guidelines for agencies to carry out paragraph (1).
(B)Requirements for guidelines
The guidelines shall—
(i)take into consideration—
(I)the cost of metering and the reduced cost of operation and maintenance expected to result from metering;
(II)the extent to which metering is expected to result in increased potential for energy and water management, increased potential for energy and water savings and energy and water efficiency improvement, and cost and energy and water savings due to utility contract aggregation; and
(III)the measurement and verification protocols of the Department of Energy;
(ii)include recommendations concerning the amount of funds and the number of trained personnel necessary to gather and use the metering information to track and reduce energy and water use;
(iii)establish priorities for types and locations of buildings to be metered based on cost-effectiveness and a schedule of one or more dates, not later than 1 year after the date of issuance of the guidelines, on which the requirements specified in paragraph (1) shall take effect; and
(iv)establish exclusions from the requirements specified in paragraph (1) based on the de minimis quantity of energy and water use of a Federal building, industrial process, or structure.
(C)Update
Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall update the guidelines established under subparagraph (A) to take into account water efficiency requirements under this section.
(3)Plan
Not later than 180 days after the date on which guidelines are updated under paragraph (2)(C), in a report submitted by the agency under section 8258(a) of this title, each agency shall submit to the Secretary a plan describing the manner in which the agency will implement the requirements of paragraph (1), including—
(A)how the agency will designate personnel primarily responsible for achieving the requirements; and
(B)a demonstration by the agency, complete with documentation, of any finding that advanced meters or advanced metering devices (as those terms are used in paragraph (1)), are not practicable.
(4)Best practices report
(A)In general
Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of General Services, shall develop, and issue a report on, best practices for the use of advanced metering of energy and water use in Federal facilities, buildings, and equipment by Federal agencies.
(B)Components
The report shall include, at a minimum—
(i)summaries and analysis of the reports by agencies under paragraph (3);
(ii)recommendations on standard requirements or guidelines for automated energy and water management systems, including—
(I)potential common communications standards to allow data sharing and reporting;
(II)means of facilitating continuous commissioning of buildings and evidence-based maintenance of buildings and building systems; and
(III)standards for sufficient levels of security and protection against cyber threats to ensure systems cannot be controlled by unauthorized persons; and
(iii)an analysis of—
(I)the types of advanced metering and monitoring systems being piloted, tested, or installed in Federal buildings; and
(II)existing techniques used within the private sector or other non-Federal government buildings.
(f)Use of energy and water efficiency measures in Federal buildings
(1)Definitions
In this subsection: (A) Commissioning
(B)Energy manager
(i)In general
The term “energy manager”, with respect to a facility, means the individual who is responsible for— (I)
(II)reducing energy use at the facility.
(ii)Inclusions
The term “energy manager” may include—
(I)a contractor of a facility;
(II)a part-time employee of a facility; and
(III)an individual who is responsible for multiple facilities.
(C)Facility
(i)In general
The term “facility” means any building, installation, structure, or other property (including any applicable fixtures) owned or operated by, or constructed or manufactured and leased to, the Federal Government.
(ii)Inclusions
The term “facility” includes—
(I)a group of facilities at a single location or multiple locations managed as an integrated operation; and
(II)contractor-operated facilities owned by the Federal Government.
(iii)Exclusions
The term “facility” does not include any land or site for which the cost of utilities is not paid by the Federal Government.
(D)Life cycle cost-effective
The term “life cycle cost-effective”, with respect to a measure, means a measure, the estimated savings of which exceed the estimated costs over the lifespan of the measure, as determined in accordance with section 8254 of this title.
(E)Ongoing commissioning
The term “ongoing commissioning” means an ongoing process of commissioning using monitored data, the primary goal of which is to ensure continuous optimum performance of a facility, in accordance with design or operating needs, over the useful life of the facility, while meeting facility occupancy requirements.
(F)Payback period
(i)In general
Subject to clause (ii), the term “payback period”, with respect to a measure, means a value equal to the quotient obtained by dividing—
(I)the estimated initial implementation cost of the measure (other than financing costs); by
(II)the annual cost savings resulting from the measure, including—
(aa)net savings in estimated energy and water costs; and
(bb)operations, maintenance, repair, replacement, and other direct costs.
(ii)Modifications and exceptions
The Secretary, in guidelines issued pursuant to paragraph (6), may make such modifications and provide such exceptions to the calculation of the payback period of a measure as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to achieve the purposes of this chapter.
(G)Recommissioning
The term “recommissioning” means a process—
(i)of commissioning a facility or system beyond the project development and warranty phases of the facility or system; and
(ii)the primary goal of which is to ensure optimum performance of a facility, in accordance with design or current operating needs, over the useful life of the facility, while meeting building occupancy requirements.
(H)Retrocommissioning
The term “retrocommissioning” means a process of commissioning a facility or system that was not commissioned at the time of construction of the facility or system.
(2)Facility energy managers
(A)In general
Each Federal agency shall designate an energy manager responsible for implementing this subsection and reducing energy and water use at each facility that meets criteria under subparagraph (B).
(B)Covered facilities
The Secretary shall develop criteria, after consultation with affected agencies, efficiency advocates, and energy and utility service providers, that cover, at a minimum, Federal facilities, including central utility plants and distribution systems and other energy intensive operations, that constitute at least 75 percent of facility energy or water use at each agency.
(C)Energy management system
An energy manager designated for a facility under subparagraph (A) shall take into consideration—
(i)the use of a system to manage energy and water use at the facility; and
(ii)the applicability of the certification of the facility in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization standard numbered 50001 and entitled “Energy Management Systems”.
(3)Energy and water evaluations and commissioning
(A)Evaluations
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not later than the date that is 180 days after December 27, 2020, and annually thereafter, each energy manager shall complete, for the preceding calendar year, a comprehensive energy and water evaluation and recommissioning or retrocommissioning for approximately 25 percent of the facilities of the applicable agency that meet the criteria under paragraph (2)(B) in a manner that ensures that an evaluation of each facility is completed not less frequently than once every 4 years.
(B)Exceptions
An evaluation and recommissioning or retrocommissioning shall not be required under subparagraph (A) with respect to a facility that, as of the date on which the evaluation and recommissioning or retrocommissioning would occur—
(i)has had a comprehensive energy and water evaluation during the preceding 8-year period;
(ii)(I)has been commissioned, recommissioned, or retrocommissioned during the preceding 10-year period; or
(II)is under ongoing commissioning, recommissioning, or retrocomissioning;
(iii)has not had a major change in function or use since the previous evaluation and recommissioning or retrocommissioning;
(iv)has been benchmarked with public disclosure under paragraph (8) during the preceding calendar year; and
(v)(I)based on the benchmarking described in clause (iv), has achieved at a facility level the most recent cumulative energy savings target under subsection (a) compared to the earlier of—
(aa)the date of the most recent evaluation; or
(bb)the date—
(AA)of the most recent commissioning, recommissioning, or retrocommissioning; or
(BB)on which ongoing commissioning began; or
(II)has a long-term contract in place guaranteeing energy savings at least as great as the energy savings target under subclause (I).
(4)Implementation of identified energy and water efficiency measures
(A)In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of completion of each evaluation under paragraph (3), each energy manager shall implement any energy- or water-saving measure that—
(i)the Federal agency identified in the evaluation; and
(ii)is life cycle cost-effective, as determined by evaluating an individual measure or a bundle of measures with varying paybacks.
(B)Performance contracting
Each Federal agency shall use performance contracting to address at least 50 percent of the measures identified under subparagraph (A)(i).
(5)Follow-up on implemented measures
For each measure implemented under paragraph (4), each energy manager shall ensure that—
(A)equipment, including building and equipment controls, is fully commissioned at acceptance to be operating at design specifications;
(B)a plan for appropriate operations, maintenance, and repair of the equipment is in place at acceptance and is followed;
(C)equipment and system performance is measured during its entire life to ensure proper operations, maintenance, and repair; and
(D)energy and water savings are measured and verified.
(6)Guidelines
(A)In general
The Secretary shall issue guidelines and necessary criteria that each Federal agency shall follow for implementation of— (i)
(ii)paragraphs (4) and (5) not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007.
(B)Relationship to funding source
The guidelines issued by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall be appropriate and uniform for measures funded with each type of funding made available under paragraph (10), but may distinguish between different types of measures project size, and other criteria the Secretary determines are relevant.
(7)Web-based certification
(A)In general
For each facility that meets the criteria established by the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B), the energy manager shall use the web-based tracking system under subparagraph (B)—
(i)to certify compliance with the requirements for—
(I)energy and water evaluations under paragraph (3);
(II)implementation of identified energy and water measures under paragraph (4); and
(III)follow-up on implemented measures under paragraph (5); and
(ii)to publish energy and water consumption data on an individual facility basis.
(B)Deployment
(i)In general
Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall develop and deploy a web-based tracking system required under this paragraph in a manner that tracks, at a minimum—
(I)the covered facilities;
(II)the status of meeting the requirements specified in subparagraph (A);
(III)the estimated cost and savings for measures required to be implemented in a facility;
(IV)the measured savings and persistence of savings for implemented measures; and
(V)the benchmarking information disclosed under paragraph (8)(C).
(ii)Ease of compliance
The Secretary shall ensure that energy manager compliance with the requirements in this paragraph, to the maximum extent practicable—
(I)can be accomplished with the use of streamlined procedures and templates that minimize the time demands on Federal employees; and
(II)is coordinated with other applicable energy and water reporting requirements.
(C)Availability
(i)In general
Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall make the web-based tracking system required under this paragraph available to Congress, other Federal agencies, and the public through the Internet.
(ii)Exemptions
At the request of a Federal agency, the Secretary may exempt specific data for specific facilities from disclosure under clause (i) for national security purposes.
(8)Benchmarking of Federal facilities
(A)In general
The energy manager shall enter energy use data for each metered building that is (or is a part of) a facility that meets the criteria established by the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B) into a building energy use benchmarking system, such as the Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
(B)System and guidance
Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall—
(i)select or develop the building energy use benchmarking system required under this paragraph for each type of building; and
(ii)issue guidance for use of the system.
(C)Public disclosure
Each energy manager shall post the information entered into, or generated by, a benchmarking system under this subsection, on the web-based tracking system under paragraph (7)(B). The energy manager shall update such information each year, and shall include in such reporting previous years’ information to allow changes in building performance to be tracked over time.
(9)Federal agency scorecards
(A)In general
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall issue semiannual scorecards for energy and water management activities carried out by each Federal agency that includes—
(i)summaries of the status of implementing the various requirements of the agency and its energy managers under this subsection; and
(ii)any other means of measuring performance that the Director considers appropriate.
(B)Availability
The Director shall make the scorecards required under this paragraph available to Congress, other Federal agencies, and the public through the Internet.
(10)Funding and implementation
(A)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
(B)Funding options
(i)In general
To carry out this subsection, a Federal agency may use any combination of— (I)
(II)private financing otherwise authorized under Federal law, including financing available through energy savings performance contracts or utility energy service contracts.
(ii)Combined funding for same measure
A Federal agency may use any combination of appropriated funds and private financing described in clause (i) to carry out the same measure under this subsection.
(C)Implementation
Each Federal agency may implement the requirements under this subsection itself or may contract out performance of some or all of the requirements.
(11)Rule of construction
This subsection shall not be construed to require or to obviate any contractor savings guarantees.
(g)Large capital energy investments
(1)In general
Each Federal agency shall ensure that any large capital energy investment in an existing building that is not a major renovation but involves replacement of installed equipment (such as heating and cooling systems), or involves renovation, rehabilitation, expansion, or remodeling of existing space, employs the most energy efficient designs, systems, equipment, and controls that are life-cycle cost effective.
(2)Process for review of investment decisions
Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, each Federal agency shall—
(A)develop a process for reviewing each decision made on a large capital energy investment described in paragraph (1) to ensure that the requirements of this subsection are met; and
(B)report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget on the process established.
(3)Compliance report
Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall evaluate and report to Congress on the compliance of each agency with this subsection.
(h)Federal implementation strategy for energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies
(1)Definitions
In this subsection: (A) Director (B) Information technology
(2)Development of implementation strategy
Not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, each Federal agency shall coordinate with the Director, the Secretary, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop an implementation strategy (including best-practices and measurement and verification techniques) for the maintenance, purchase, and use by the Federal agency of energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies at or for facilities owned and operated by the Federal agency, taking into consideration the performance goals established under paragraph (4).
(3)Administration
In developing an implementation strategy under paragraph (2), each Federal agency shall consider—
(A)advanced metering infrastructure;
(B)energy efficient data center strategies and methods of increasing asset and infrastructure utilization;
(C)advanced power management tools;
(D)building information modeling, including building energy management;
(E)secure telework and travel substitution tools; and
(F)mechanisms to ensure that the agency realizes the energy cost savings of increased efficiency and utilization.
(4)Performance goals
(A)In general
Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Director, in consultation with the Secretary, shall establish performance goals for evaluating the efforts of Federal agencies in improving the maintenance, purchase, and use of energy-efficient and energy-saving information technology at or for facilities owned and operated by the Federal agencies.
(B)Best practices
The Chief Information Officers Council established under section 3603 of title 44, shall recommend best practices for the attainment of the performance goals established under subparagraph (A), which shall include, to the extent applicable by law, consideration by a Federal agency of the use of— (i)
(ii)utility energy services contracting.
(5)Reports
(A)Agency reports
Each Federal agency shall include in the report of the agency under section 17143 of this title a description of the efforts and results of the agency under this subsection.
(B)OMB government efficiency reports and scorecards
Effective beginning not later than October 1, 2022, the Director shall include in the annual report and scorecard of the Director required under section 17144 of this title a description of the efforts and results of Federal agencies under this subsection.
(C)Use of existing reporting structures
The Director may require Federal agencies to submit any information required to be submitted under this subsection though reporting structures in use as of December 27, 2020.
(i)Federal Energy Management Program
(1)In general
The Secretary shall carry out a program, to be known as the “Federal Energy Management Program” (referred to in this subsection as the “Program”), to facilitate the implementation by the Federal Government of cost-effective energy and water management and energy-related investment practices—
(A)to coordinate and strengthen Federal energy and water resilience;
(B)to promote environmental stewardship; and
(C)to reduce energy consumption during periods of unusually high electricity or natural gas demand.
(2)Federal Director (3) Program activities
The Secretary shall appoint an individual to serve as the director of the Program (referred to in this subsection as the “Federal Director”), which shall be a career position in the Senior Executive service, to administer the Program.
(4)Management council
The Federal Director shall establish a management council to advise the Federal Director that shall—
(A)convene not less frequently than once every quarter; and
(B)consist of representatives from—
(i)the Council on Environmental Quality;
(ii)the Office of Management and Budget; and
(iii)the Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings in the General Services Administration.
(5)Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $36,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1)(A)(iii), (f)(1)(F)(ii), and (i)(3)(A)(i), (B)(iii)(II), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 95–619, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3206, known as the National Energy Conservation Policy Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 8201 of this title and Tables. The Energy Policy Act of 1992, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(A)(iii), is Pub. L. 102–486, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2776. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 13201 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (i)(1)(C). Pub. L. 117–58, § 40104(c)(1), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (i)(3)(A)(vii). Pub. L. 117–58, § 40104(c)(2), added cl. (vii). 2020—Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(1), inserted “and water” after “Energy” in section catchline. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(2)(A), inserted “and water” after “Energy” in heading. Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(2)(B), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows: “(1) Not later than
January 1, 2005, each agency shall, to the maximum extent practicable, install in Federal buildings owned by the United States all energy and water conservation measures with payback periods of less than 10 years, as determined by using the methods and procedures developed pursuant to section 8254 of this title. “(2) The Secretary may waive the requirements of this subsection for any agency for such periods as the Secretary may determine if the Secretary finds that the agency is taking all practicable steps to meet the requirements and that the requirements of this subsection will pose an unacceptable burden upon the agency. If the Secretary waives the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary shall, as part of the report required under section 8258(b) of this title, notify the Congress in writing with an explanation and a justification of the reasons for such waiver.” Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(3)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted “The head of each agency” for “An agency” and inserted “or water” after “energy” in two places. Subsec. (c)(1)(A)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(3)(A)(ii), inserted “or water” after “energy”. Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(3)(B), inserted “or water” after “energy”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(4), inserted “and water” after “energy”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(A), inserted “and water” after “energy” in heading. Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(B), substituted “
October 1, 2022” for “
October 1, 2012” and inserted “and water” after “energy” in two places and after “electricity” in two places. Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(C)(i), struck out “and” before “Federal” and inserted “and any other person the Secretary deems necessary,” before “shall”. Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(C)(ii), inserted “and water” after “energy” wherever appearing. Subsec. (e)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(C)(iii), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 116–260, §1002(g)(5)(D), substituted “updated under paragraph (2)(C)” for “established under paragraph (2)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e)(4)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(E)(i), substituted “
December 27, 2020” for “
December 18, 2012” and inserted “and water” before “use in”. Subsec. (e)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(5)(E)(ii), inserted “and water” after “energy” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(1)(E) to (H). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(A), added subpar. (E) and redesignated former subpars. (E) to (G) as (F) to (H), respectively. Subsec. (f)(2)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(B)(i), inserted “and water” before “use”. Subsec. (f)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(B)(ii), struck out “energy” before “efficiency” and inserted “or water” before “use”. Subsec. (f)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(B)(iii), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (f)(3), (4). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(C), added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former pars. (3) and (4) which related to energy and water evaluations and implementation of identified energy and water efficiency measures. Subsec. (f)(7)(B)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(D), inserted “and water” after “energy”. Subsec. (f)(9)(A). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1002(g)(6)(E), inserted “and water” after “energy” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1004, added subsec. (h). Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–260, § 1012, added subsec. (i). 2012—Subsec. (e)(3), (4). Pub. L. 112–210, § 8, added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Not later than 6 months after the date guidelines are established under paragraph (2), in a report submitted by the agency under section 8258(a) of this title, each agency shall submit to the Secretary a plan describing how the agency will implement the requirements of paragraph (1), including (A) how the agency will designate personnel primarily responsible for achieving the requirements and (B) demonstration by the agency, complete with documentation, of any finding that advanced meters or advanced metering devices, as defined in paragraph (1), are not practicable.” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 112–210, § 9(1), redesignated subsec. (f) relating to large capital energy investments as (g). Subsec. (f)(7)(A). Pub. L. 112–210, § 9(2), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For each facility that meets the criteria established by the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B), the energy manager shall use the web-based tracking system under subparagraph (B) to certify compliance with the requirements for— “(i) energy and water evaluations under paragraph (3); “(ii) implementation of identified energy and water measures under paragraph (4); and “(iii) follow-up on implemented measures under paragraph (5).” Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 112–210, § 9(1), redesignated subsec. (f) relating to large capital energy investments as (g). 2007—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–140, § 431, added table and struck out former table which listed percentage reductions for fiscal years as follows: 2 percent for fiscal year 2006, 4 percent for fiscal year 2007, 6 percent for fiscal year 2008, 8 percent for fiscal year 2009, 10 percent for fiscal year 2010, 12 percent for fiscal year 2011, 14 percent for fiscal year 2012, 16 percent for fiscal year 2013, 18 percent for fiscal year 2014, and 20 percent for fiscal year 2015. Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 110–140, § 434(b), inserted after second sentence “Not later than
October 1, 2016, each agency shall provide for equivalent metering of natural gas and steam, in accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary under paragraph (2).” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–140, § 434(a), added subsec. (f) relating to large capital energy investments. Pub. L. 110–140, § 432, added subsec. (f) relating to use of energy and water efficiency measures in Federal buildings. 2005—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–58, § 102(a)(1), substituted provisions relating to reduction of energy consumption in fiscal years 2006 to 2015 as compared to consumption in fiscal year 2003 and table of percentages specifying amount of reduction in each fiscal year for provisions relating to energy consumption during fiscal year 1995 at least 10 percent less than consumption during fiscal year 1985 and energy consumption during fiscal year 2000 at least 20 percent less than consumption during fiscal year 1985. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 109–58, § 102(b), added par. (3). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–58, § 102(c), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “An agency may exclude, from the energy consumption requirements for the year 2000 established under subsection (a) and the requirements of subsection (b)(1), any Federal building or collection of Federal buildings, and the associated energy consumption and gross square footage, if the head of such agency finds that compliance with such requirements would be impractical. A finding of impracticability shall be based on the energy intensiveness of activities carried out in such Federal buildings or collection of Federal buildings, the type and amount of energy consumed, the technical feasibility of making the desired changes, and, in the cases of the Departments of Defense and Energy, the unique character of certain facilities operated by such Departments.” Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 109–58, § 102(d), substituted “standards for exclusion” for “impracticability standards”, “the exclusion” for “a finding of impracticability”, and “requirements of subsections (a) and (b)(1)” for “energy consumption requirements”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 109–58, § 102(e), added par. (3). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–58, § 103, added subsec. (e). 1995—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 104–66 in last sentence inserted “, as part of the report required under section 8258(b) of this title,” after “the Secretary shall” and struck out “promptly” after “Congress”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(b)(1), substituted “requirements” for “goals” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(b)(2), (3), in heading substituted “requirement” for “goal” and in par. (1) inserted before period at end “and so that the energy consumption per gross square foot of its Federal buildings in use during the fiscal year 2000 is at least 20 percent less than the energy consumption per gross square foot of its Federal buildings in use during fiscal year 1985”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(b)(4), added subsecs. (b) and (c). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(b)(4), (c)(1), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d) and in introductory provisions substituted “The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of General Services in developing guidelines for the implementation of this part. To meet the requirements of this section,” for “To achieve the goal established in subsection (a),”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(c)(2), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “prepare or update, within 6 months after
November 5, 1988, a plan describing how the agency intends to meet such goal, including how it will implement this part, designate personnel primarily responsible for achieving such goal, and identify high priority projects;”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(c)(3), inserted before semicolon at end “and update such surveys as needed, incorporating any relevant information obtained from the survey conducted pursuant to section 8258b of this title”. Subsec. (d)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 102–486, § 152(c)(4), (5), added pars. (3) and (4), redesignated former par. (4) as (5), and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “using such surveys, apply energy conservation measures in a manner which will attain the goal established in subsection (a) in the most cost-effective manner practicable; and”. 1988—Pub. L. 100–615 amended section generally, substituting energy management goals statement for statement of purpose to promote (1) use of commonly accepted methods to establish and compare life cycle costs of operating Federal buildings, and life cycle fuel and energy requirements of such buildings, with and without special features for energy conservation and (2) use of solar heating and cooling and other renewable energy sources in Federal buildings.

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. 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. Reporting Baseline Pub. L. 109–58, title I, § 102(a)(2), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 606, provided that: “The energy reduction goals and baseline established in paragraph (1) of section 543(a) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8253(a)(1)), as amended by this subsection, supersede all previous goals and baselines under such paragraph, and related reporting requirements.” Survey of Energy Saving Potential Pub. L. 100–615, § 3, Nov. 5, 1988, 102 Stat. 3189, which authorized Secretary of Energy to carry out an energy survey to determine maximum potential cost effective energy savings in federally used buildings and recommend cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in those buildings, devise a plan for implementing such survey, and report its findings and conclusions to Congress, was repealed by Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 152(i)(3), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2851.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 8253

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110