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United States Code Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

§ 17084. Separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures

§ 17084.

Separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)
High-performance energy efficiency measure

The term “high-performance energy efficiency measure” means a technology, product, or practice that will result in substantial operational cost savings by reducing energy consumption and utility costs.

(2)
Separate spaces

The term “separate spaces” means areas within a commercial building that are leased or otherwise occupied by a tenant or other occupant for a period of time pursuant to the terms of a written agreement.

(b)

Study

(1)
In general

Not later than 1 year after April 30, 2015, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, shall complete a study on the feasibility of—

(A)

significantly improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction, by owners and tenants, of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures; and

(B)

encouraging owners and tenants to implement high-performance energy efficiency measures in separate spaces.

(2)
Scope

The study shall, at a minimum, include—

(A)

descriptions of—

(i)

high-performance energy efficiency measures that should be considered as part of the initial design and construction of separate spaces;

(ii)

processes that owners, tenants, architects, and engineers may replicate when designing and constructing separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures;

(iii)

policies and best practices to achieve reductions in energy intensities for lighting, plug loads, heating, cooling, cooking, laundry, and other systems to satisfy the needs of the commercial building tenant;

(iv)

return on investment and payback analyses of the incremental cost and projected energy savings of the proposed set of high-performance energy efficiency measures, including consideration of available incentives;

(v)

models and simulation methods that predict the quantity of energy used by separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures and that compare that predicted quantity to the quantity of energy used by separate spaces without high-performance energy efficiency measures but that otherwise comply with applicable building code requirements;

(vi)

measurement and verification platforms demonstrating actual energy use of high-performance energy efficiency measures installed in separate spaces, and whether such measures generate the savings intended in the initial design and construction of the separate spaces;

(vii)

best practices that encourage an integrated approach to designing and constructing separate spaces to perform at optimum energy efficiency in conjunction with the central systems of a commercial building; and

(viii)

any impact on employment resulting from the design and construction of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures; and

(B)

case studies reporting economic and energy savings returns in the design and construction of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures.

(3)
Public participation

Not later than 90 days after April 30, 2015, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting public comments regarding effective methods, measures, and practices for the design and construction of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures.

(4)
Publication

The Secretary shall publish the study on the website of the Department of Energy.