§8258a Demonstration of New Technology

Summary

Create a demonstration program by January 1, 1994 to put energy-saving technologies into federally owned buildings and federally assisted housing. The Secretary, working with the General Services Administrator, must pick technologies that will help them become commercially viable and, if two technologies are equally good, give priority to the one getting or that got federal funding. Projects are chosen for reasons like cost, technical reliability, low use so far in federal buildings, expected federal need and market over 5 to 10 years, energy savings, and environmental gains such as lower greenhouse gases and less indoor air pollution. Federal agencies can send yearly project proposals that describe the innovation, the data to be collected, the agency’s needs, a promise to buy at least 10% of those needs if the project proves reliable and cost-effective, installation schedules, and a plan to share results. If a project is in a GSA building, GSA must run it. Any such GSA project costing more than $1,600,000 needs approval by the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works before money is provided. The Secretary must also study how federal buying can help bring energy-efficient products to market, work with utilities, makers, and nonprofits, and report to Congress by two years after October 24, 1992. Up to $5,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary for each of fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995.