
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC8236]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
             CHAPTER 91--NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY
 
             SUBCHAPTER II--RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION
 
         Part D--Residential Energy Efficiency Rating Guidelines
 
Sec. 8236. Voluntary rating guidelines


(a) In general

    Not later than 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, representatives of existing home energy 
rating programs, and other appropriate persons, shall, by rule, issue 
voluntary guidelines that may be used by State and local governments, 
utilities, builders, real estate agents, lenders, agencies in mortgage 
markets, and others, to enable and encourage the assignment of energy 
efficiency ratings to residential buildings.

(b) Contents of guidelines

    The voluntary guidelines issued under subsection (a) of this section 
shall--
        (1) encourage uniformity with regard to systems for rating the 
    annual energy efficiency of residential buildings;
        (2) establish protocols and procedures for--
            (A) certification of the technical accuracy of building 
        energy analysis tools used to determine energy efficiency 
        ratings;
            (B) training of personnel conducting energy efficiency 
        ratings;
            (C) data collection and reporting;
            (D) quality control; and
            (E) monitoring and evaluation;

        (3) encourage consistency with, and support for, the uniform 
    plan for Federal energy efficient mortgages, including that 
    developed under section 946 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
    Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12712 note) and pursuant to 
    sections 105 and 106 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992;
        (4) provide that rating systems take into account local climate 
    conditions and construction practices, solar energy collected on-
    site, and the benefits of peak load shifting construction practices, 
    and not discriminate among fuel types; and
        (5) establish procedures to ensure that residential buildings 
    can receive an energy efficiency rating at the time of sale and that 
    such rating is communicated to potential buyers.

(Pub. L. 95-619, title II, Sec. 271, as added Pub. L. 102-486, title I, 
Sec. 102(a), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2787.)

                       References in Text

    Section 946 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing 
Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is section 946 of Pub. L. 101-625, 
which is set out as a note under section 12712 of this title.
    Sections 105 and 106 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, referred to 
in subsec. (b)(3), are sections 105 and 106 of Pub. L. 102-486. Section 
105 amended section 12704 of this title and provisions set out as a note 
under section 12712 of this title. Section 106 is set out as a note 
under section 12712 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 8236a, 8236b of this title.
