HR4690-119

What This Bill Does

This bill changes federal building energy efficiency standards under the Energy Conservation and Production Act and related Energy Independence and Security Act provisions. Earlier text repealed section 305(a)(3)(D) entirely and made revised federal building energy efficiency performance standards have no force or effect. The reported text narrows those standards by striking fossil-fuel-related subclauses and providing that a certification system may not prevent a building from receiving green building or high-performance green building certification solely because it directly or indirectly consumes fossil fuels.

The bill also nullifies existing Department of Energy regulations in subpart B of 10 C.F.R. parts 433 and 435 as they existed before enactment, until the Secretary of Energy issues new or revised regulations to implement the amended standard. It removes cross-references to the repealed or narrowed standard from federal building provisions.

Who Benefits and How

Federal building managers benefit because they can pursue green-building certification without a categorical fossil-fuel-consumption exclusion. Federal construction and renovation contractors benefit from less restrictive energy-performance requirements for federal projects. Natural gas equipment suppliers and fossil-fuel energy providers serving federal facilities benefit because their products are less likely to disqualify a building from certification. Agencies managing courthouses, military facilities, laboratories, and offices benefit from flexibility while DOE rewrites rules.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Department of Energy building-standard staff must revise regulations and guidance to implement the changed federal standard. Green building technology companies and renewable energy providers may lose business opportunities tied to stricter fossil-fuel limits in federal buildings. Environmental advocates bear a policy burden because the bill weakens or delays fossil-fuel restrictions in federal building performance standards. Federal energy managers must navigate a transition period while prior regulations have no force and new rules are pending.

Key Provisions

• Repeals fossil-fuel-related federal building energy efficiency performance standards from earlier bill text.
• Provides that green-building certification systems may not exclude buildings solely because of direct or indirect fossil fuel consumption.
• Blocks existing 10 C.F.R. parts 433 and 435 subpart B regulations until DOE issues revised rules.
• Modifies Energy Independence and Security Act cross-references to the old federal building standard.