S. 3591 (109th): High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2006
109th Congress, 2005–2006. Text as of Nov 13, 2006 (Reported by Senate Committee).
Status & Summary | PDF | Source: GPO
S 3591 RS
To improve efficiency in the Federal Government through the use of high-performance green buildings, and for other purposes.
June 28, 2006
Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. CHAFEE, Mrs. BOXER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. OBAMA, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. WYDEN, and Mr. BINGAMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
November 13, 2006
Reported by Mr. INHOFE, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
To improve efficiency in the Federal Government through the use of high-performance green buildings, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[Struck out->] SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2006'. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows: [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 2. Definitions. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE I--OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 101. Oversight. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 102. Office of High-Performance Green Buildings. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 103. Green Building Advisory Committee. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 104. Public outreach. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 105. Research and development. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 106. Budget and life-cycle costing and contracting. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 107. Authorization of appropriations. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE II--HEALTHY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 201. Definitions. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 202. Grants for healthy school environments. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 203. Federal guidelines for siting of school facilities. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 204. Environmental health program. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE III--STRENGTHENING FEDERAL LEADERSHIP [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 301. Incentives. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 302. Federal procurement. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 303. Federal green building performance. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE IV--DEMONSTRATION PROJECT [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 401. Coordination of goals. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] Sec. 402. Authorization of appropriations. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] In this Act: [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of General Services. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) COMMITTEE- The term `Committee' means the Green Building Advisory Committee established under section 103(a). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) DIRECTOR- The term `Director' means the individual appointed to the position established under section 101(a). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) FEDERAL FACILITY- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) IN GENERAL- The term `Federal facility' means any building or facility the intended use of which requires the building or facility to be-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) accessible to the public; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) constructed or altered by or on behalf of the United States. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) EXCLUSIONS- The term `Federal facility' does not include a privately-owned residential or commercial structure that is not leased by the Federal Government. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDING- The term `high-performance green building' means a building that, during its life-cycle-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) reduces energy, water, and material resource use; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) improves indoor environmental quality including, reducing indoor pollution, improving thermal comfort, and improving lighting and acoustic environments that affect occupant health and productivity; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) reduces negative impacts on the environment throughout the life-cycle of the building, including air and water pollution and waste generation; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (D) increases the use of environmentally preferable products, including biobased, recycled content, and nontoxic products with lower life-cycle impacts; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (E) increases reuse and recycling opportunities; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (F) integrates systems in the building; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (G) reduces the environmental and energy impacts of transportation through building location and site design that support a full range of transportation choices for users of the building; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (H) considers indoor and outdoor effects of the building on human health and the environment, including-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) improvements in worker productivity; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) the life-cycle impacts of building materials and operations; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) other factors that the Office considers to be appropriate. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (6) LIFE-CYCLE- The term `life-cycle', with respect to a high-performance green building, means all stages of the useful life of the building (including components, equipment, systems, and controls of the building) beginning at conception of a green building project and continuing through site selection, design, construction, landscaping, commissioning, operation, maintenance, renovation, deconstruction or demolition, removal, and recycling of the green building. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (7) LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT- The term `life-cycle assessment' means a comprehensive system approach for measuring the environmental performance of a product or service over the life of the product or service, beginning at raw materials acquisition and continuing through manufacturing, transportation, installation, use, reuse, and end-of-life waste management. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (8) LIFE-CYCLE COSTING- The term `life-cycle costing', with respect to a high-performance green building, means a technique of economic evaluation that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) sums, over a given study period, the costs of initial investment (less resale value), replacements, operations (including energy use), and maintenance and repair of an investment decision; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) is expressed-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) in present value terms, in the case of a study period equivalent to the longest useful life of the building, determined by taking into consideration the typical life of such a building in the area in which the building is to be located; or [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) in annual value terms, in the case of any other study period. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (9) OFFICE- The term `Office' means the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings established under section 102(a). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE I--OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS [<-Struck out]
TITLE I--OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS [<-Struck out] [Struck out->] SEC. 101. OVERSIGHT. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) In General- The Administrator shall establish within the General Services Administration, and appoint an individual to serve as Director in, a position in the career-reserved Senior Executive service, to-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) establish and manage the Office in accordance with section 102; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) carry out other duties as required under this Act. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Compensation- The compensation of the Director shall not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code, including any applicable locality-based comparability payment that may be authorized under section 5304(h)(2)(C) of that title. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 102. OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) Establishment- The Director shall establish within the General Services Administration an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Duties- The Director shall-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) ensure full coordination of high-performance green building information and activities within the General Services Administration and all relevant agencies, including, at a minimum-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) the Environmental Protection Agency; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) the Office of Federal Procurement Policy; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (D) the Department of Energy; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (E) the Department of Health and Human Services; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (F) the Department of Defense; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (G) such other Federal agencies as the Director considers to be appropriate; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) establish a senior-level Federal green building advisory committee, which shall provide advice and recommendations in accordance with section 103; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) identify and biennially reassess improved or higher rating standards recommended by the Committee; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) establish a national high-performance green building clearinghouse in accordance with section 104, which shall provide green building information through-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) outreach; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) education; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) the provision of technical assistance; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) ensure full coordination of research and development information relating to high-performance green building initiatives under section 105; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (6) identify and develop green building standards that could be used for all types of Federal facilities in accordance with section 105; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (7) establish green practices that can be used throughout the life of a Federal facility; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (8) review and analyze current Federal budget practices and life-cycle costing issues, and make recommendations to Congress, in accordance with section 106; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (9) complete and submit the report described in subsection (c). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (c) Report- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) describes the status of the green building initiatives under this Act and other Federal programs in effect as of the date of the report, including-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) the extent to which the programs are being carried out in accordance with this Act; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) the status of funding requests and appropriations for those programs; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) identifies within the planning, budgeting, and construction process all types of Federal facility procedures that inhibit new and existing Federal facilities from becoming high-performance green buildings as measured by-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) a silver rating, as defined by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Building Rating System standard established by the United States Green Building Council (or an equivalent rating); or [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) an improved or higher rating standard, as identified by the Committee; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) identifies inconsistencies, as reported to the Committee, in Federal law with respect to product acquisition guidelines and high-performance product guidelines; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) recommends language for uniform standards for use by Federal agencies in environmentally responsible acquisition; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, reviews the budget process for capital programs with respect to alternatives for-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) restructuring of budgets to require the use of complete energy- and environmental-cost accounting; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) using operations expenditures in budget-related decisions while simultaneously incorporating productivity and health measures (as those measures can be quantified by the Office, with the assistance of universities and national laboratories); [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) permitting Federal agencies to retain all identified savings accrued as a result of the use of life-cycle costing for future high-performance green building initiatives; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (D) identifying short- and long-term cost savings that accrue from high-performance green buildings, including those relating to health and productivity; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (6) identifies green, self-sustaining technologies to address the operational needs of Federal facilities in times of national security emergencies, natural disasters, or other dire emergencies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (7) summarizes and highlights development, at the State and local level, of green building initiatives, including executive orders, policies, or laws adopted promoting green building (including the status of implementation of those initiatives); and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (8) includes, for the 2-year period covered by the report, recommendations to address each of the matters, and a plan for implementation of each recommendation, described in paragraphs (1) through (6). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (d) Implementation- The Office shall carry out each plan for implementation of recommendations under subsection (c)(7). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 103. GREEN BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) Establishment- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a committee to be known as the `Green Building Advisory Committee'. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Membership- The Committee shall be composed of representatives of, at a minimum-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) each agency referred to in section 102(b)(1); and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) other relevant entities, as determined by the Director, including at least 1 representative of each of the following: [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) State and local governmental green building programs. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) Independent green building associations or councils. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) Building experts, including architects, material suppliers, and construction contractors. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (D) Security advisors focusing on national security needs, natural disasters, and other dire emergency situations. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (E) Children and adult environmental health experts. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (c) Meetings- The Director shall establish a regular schedule of meetings for the Committee, which shall convene a minimum of 6 times each year. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (d) Duties- The Committee shall provide advice and expertise for use by the Director in carrying out the duties under this Act, including such recommendations relating to Federal activities carried out under sections 104 through 106 as are agreed to by a majority of the members of the Committee. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (e) FACA Exemption- The Committee shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 104. PUBLIC OUTREACH. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] The Director, in coordination with the Committee, shall carry out public outreach to inform individuals and entities of the information and services available Government-wide by-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) establishing and maintaining a national high-performance green building clearinghouse, including on the Internet, that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) identifies existing similar efforts and coordinates activities of common interest; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) provides information relating to high-performance green buildings, including hyperlinks to Internet sites that describe the activities, information, and resources of-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) the Federal Government; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) State and local governments; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) the private sector (including nongovernmental and nonprofit entities and organizations); and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) international organizations; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) identifying and recommending educational resources for implementing high-performance green building practices, including security and emergency benefits and practices; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) providing access to technical assistance on using tools and resources to make more cost-effective, energy-efficient, health-protective, and environmentally beneficial decisions for constructing high-performance green buildings, particularly tools available to conduct life-cycle costing and life-cycle assessment; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) providing information on application processes for certifying a high-performance green building, including certification and commissioning; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) providing technical information, market research, or other forms of assistance or advice that would be useful in planning and constructing high-performance green buildings; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (6) using such other methods as are determined by the Director to be appropriate. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 105. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) Establishment- The Director, in coordination with the Committee, shall-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1)(A) survey existing research and studies relating to high-performance green buildings; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) coordinate activities of common interest; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) develop and recommend a high-performance green building research plan that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) identifies information and research needs, including the relationships between health, occupant productivity, and each of-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) pollutant emissions from materials and products in the building; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) natural day lighting; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) ventilation choices and technologies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) heating, cooling, and system control choices and technologies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (v) moisture control and mold; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vi) maintenance, cleaning, and pest control activities; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vii) acoustics; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (viii) other issues relating to the health, comfort, productivity, and performance of occupants of the building; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) promotes the development and dissemination of high-performance green building measurement tools that, at a minimum, may be used-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) to monitor and assess the life-cycle performance of facilities (including demonstration projects) built as high-performance green buildings; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) to perform life-cycle assessments; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) assist the budget and life-cycle costing functions of the Office under section 106; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) study and identify potential benefits of green buildings relating to security, natural disaster, and emergency needs of the Federal Government; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) support other research initiatives determined by the Office. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Indoor Air Quality- The Director, in consultation with the Committee, shall develop and implement a comprehensive indoor air quality program for all Federal facilities to ensure the safety of Federal workers and facility occupants-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) during new construction and renovation of facilities; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) in existing facilities. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 106. BUDGET AND LIFE-CYCLE COSTING AND CONTRACTING. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) Establishment- The Director, in coordination with the Committee, shall-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) identify, review, and analyze current budget and contracting practices that affect achievement of high-performance green buildings, including the identification of barriers to green building life-cycle costing and budgetary issues; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) develop guidance and conduct training sessions with budget specialists and contracting personnel from Federal agencies and budget examiners to apply life-cycle cost criteria to actual projects; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) identify tools to aid life-cycle cost decisionmaking; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) explore the feasibility of incorporating the benefits of green buildings, such as security benefits, into a cost-budget analysis to aid in life-cycle costing for budget and decision making processes. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012, to remain available until expended. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE II--HEALTHY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS [<-Struck out]
TITLE II--HEALTHY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS [<-Struck out] [Struck out->] SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] In this title: [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOL- The term `high-performance school' has the meaning given the term `healthy, high-performance school building' in section 5586 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7277e). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The term `local educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The term `State educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 202. GRANTS FOR HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) In General- The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may provide grants to State and local educational agencies for use in-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) providing technical assistance for programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (including the Tools for Schools Program and the Healthy School Environmental Assessment Tool) to schools for use in addressing environmental issues; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) development of State school environmental quality plans, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, that include-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) standards for healthy high-performance school building design, construction, and renovation; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) identification of ongoing school building environmental problems in the State, including assessment of information on the exposure of children to environmental hazards in school facilities, as provided by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) proposals for the systematic improvement (including benchmarks and timelines) of environmental conditions in schools throughout the State, including-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) school building siting, construction, and maintenance; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) indoor air quality; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) pest control; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) radon contamination; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (v) lead contamination; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vi) environmentally preferable purchasing of products for classroom instruction and for maintenance; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vii) hazard identification and remediation; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (viii) modes of transportation available to students and staff; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (D) recommendations for improvements in the capacity of the State to track child and adult health complaints relating to schools; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (E) plans for operation as an emergency, self-sustaining evacuation center. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Other Grants- The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may provide grants to qualified, nonprofit organizations to assist in community and public education on healthy school environments. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (c) Cost Sharing- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost of a project or activity carried out using funds from a grant under subsection (a) shall not exceed 90 percent. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share of the cost of a project or activity carried out using funds from a grant under subsection (a) may be provided in the form of cash or in-kind goods and services. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (d) Grant Priority- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) IN GENERAL- In providing grants under this section for use in carrying out the program referred to in subsection (a)(1), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall give priority to school districts with need for environmental improvement as identified in the school environmental plans described in this section. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) SCHOOL DISTRICTS- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, each school district that receives funds from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a program described in subsection (a) shall submit to the State educational agency with jurisdiction over the school district a report that includes-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) a list of schools in the districts that, as of the date of the report, have accepted funds or other assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency for use in carrying out this section; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) an overview of the impact of the funds, including-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (I) general data regarding measures of student health and attendance rates before and after grant intervention; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (II) descriptions of toxic or hazardous cleaning, maintenance, or instructional products eliminated or reduced in use as part of the promotion or remediation of the indoor air quality of schools within the school district; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) basic information on the potential influence of other factors (such as the installation of carpet and HVAC systems and similar activities) on air quality. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY REPORTS- Not later than 180 days after the date on which each State educational agency has received the annual reports under subparagraph (A) from all participating school districts, the State educational agency shall submit to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress a consolidated report of all information received from the school districts. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 203. FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR SITING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop school site selection guidelines that account for-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) the special vulnerability of children to hazardous substances or pollution exposures in any case in which the potential for contamination at a potential school site exists, as determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) modes of transportation available to students and staff; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) the potential use of a school at the site as an emergency shelter. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 204. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) In General- The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other relevant agencies, shall issue guidelines for use by the State in developing and implementing an environmental health program for schools that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) takes into account the status and findings of Federal research initiatives established under this Act and other relevant Federal law with respect to school facilities, including relevant updates on trends in the field, such as the impact of school facility environments on student and staff-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) health, safety, and productivity; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) disabilities or special needs; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) provides research using relevant tools identified or developed in accordance with section 105 to quantify the relationships between-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) human health, occupant productivity, and student performance; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) with respect to school facilities, each of-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) pollutant emissions from materials and products; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) natural day lighting; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) ventilation choices and technologies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) heating and cooling choices and technologies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (v) moisture control and mold; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vi) maintenance, cleaning, and pest control activities; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vii) acoustics; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (viii) other issues relating to the health, comfort, productivity, and performance of occupants of the school facilities; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) provides technical assistance on siting, design, management, and operation of school facilities, including facilities used by students with disabilities or special needs; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) collaborates with federally funded pediatric environmental health centers to assist in on-site school environmental investigations; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) assists States and the public in better understanding and improving the environmental health of children; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (6) provides to the Office a biennial report of all activities carried out under this title, which the Director shall include in the report described in section 102(c). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Public Outreach- The Director shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the public clearinghouse established under section 104 receives and makes available-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) information from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency that is contained in the report described in subsection (a)(6); and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) information on the exposure of children to environmental hazards in school facilities, as provided by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2012, to remain available until expended. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE III--STRENGTHENING FEDERAL LEADERSHIP [<-Struck out]
TITLE III--STRENGTHENING FEDERAL LEADERSHIP [<-Struck out] [Struck out->] SEC. 301. INCENTIVES. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall identify incentives to encourage the use of green buildings and related technology in the operations of the Federal Government, including through-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) the provision of recognition awards; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) the maximum feasible retention of financial savings in the annual budgets of Federal agencies for use in reinvesting in future green building initiatives. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 302. FEDERAL PROCUREMENT. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) In General- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, in consultation with the Director and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, shall promulgate revisions of the applicable acquisition regulations, to take effect as of the date of promulgation of the revisions-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) to direct any Federal procurement executives involved in the acquisition, construction, or major renovation (including contracting for the construction or major renovation) of any facility-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) to employ integrated design principles; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) to improve site selection for environmental and community benefits; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (C) to optimize building and systems energy performance; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (D) to protect and conserve water; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (E) to enhance indoor environmental quality; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (F) to reduce environmental impacts of materials and waste flows; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) to direct Federal procurement executives involved in leasing buildings, to give preference to the lease of facilities that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) are energy-efficient; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) to the maximum extent practicable, have applied contemporary high-performance and sustainable design principles during construction or renovation. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Guidance- Not later than 90 days after the date of promulgation of the revised regulations under subsection (a), the Director shall issue guidance to all Federal procurement executives providing direction and instructions to renegotiate the design of proposed facilities, renovations for existing facilities, and leased facilities to incorporate improvements that are consistent with this section. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 303. FEDERAL GREEN BUILDING PERFORMANCE. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) In General- Not later than October 31 of each of the 2 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which this Act is enacted, and at such times thereafter as the Comptroller General of the United States determines to be appropriate, the Comptroller General of the United States shall, with respect to the fiscal years that have passed since the preceding report-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) conduct an audit of the implementation of this Act; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) submit to the Office, the Committee, the Administrator, and Congress a report describing the results of the audit. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Contents- An audit under subsection (a) shall include a review, with respect to the period covered by the report under subsection (a)(2), of-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) budget, life-cycle costing, and contracting issues, using best practices identified by the Comptroller General of the United States and heads of other agencies in accordance with section 106; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) the level of coordination among the Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and relevant agencies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (3) the performance of the Office in carrying out the implementation plan; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (4) the design stage of high-performance green building measures; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (5) high-performance building data that were collected and reported to the Office; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (6) such other matters as the Comptroller General of the United States determines to be appropriate. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (c) Consultation- The Director shall consult with the Committee to enhance and assist the implementation of the Environmental Stewardship Scorecard announced at the White House Summit on Federal sustainable buildings in January 2006, to measure the implementation by each Federal agency of sustainable design and green building initiatives. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] TITLE IV--DEMONSTRATION PROJECT [<-Struck out]
TITLE IV--DEMONSTRATION PROJECT [<-Struck out] [Struck out->] SEC. 401. COORDINATION OF GOALS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) In General- The Director shall establish guidelines to implement a demonstration project to contribute to the research goals of the Office. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) Projects- In accordance with guidelines established by the Director under subsection (a) and the duties of the Director described in title I, the Director shall carry out-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, 1 demonstration project in a Federal building selected by the Director in accordance with relevant agencies and described in subsection (c)(1), that-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) provides for the evaluation of the information obtained through the conduct of projects and activities under this Act; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) achieves a platinum rating, as defined by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Building Rating System standard established by the United States Green Building Council (or equivalent rating); and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) no fewer than 4 demonstration projects at 4 universities, that, as competitively selected by the Director in accordance with subsection (c)(2), have-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) appropriate research resources and relevant projects to meet the goals of the demonstration project established by the Office; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) the ability-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) to serve as a model for high-performance green building initiatives, including research and education; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) to identify the most effective ways to use high-performance green building and landscape technologies to engage and educate undergraduate and graduate students; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) to effectively implement a high-performance green building education program for students and occupants; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) to demonstrate the effectiveness of various high-performance technologies in each of the 4 climatic regions of the United States described in subsection (c)(2)(B); and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (v) to explore quantifiable and nonquantifiable beneficial impacts on public health and employee and student performance. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (c) Criteria- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) FEDERAL FACILITIES- With respect to the existing or proposed Federal facility at which a demonstration project under this section is conducted, the Federal facility shall-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) be an appropriate model for a project relating to-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) the effectiveness of high-performance technologies; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) analysis of materials, components, systems, and emergency operations in the building, and the impact of those materials, components, and systems, including the impact on the health of building occupants; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) life-cycle costing and life-cycle assessment of building materials and systems; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) location and design that promote access to the Federal facility through walking, biking, and mass transit; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) possess sufficient technological and organizational adaptability. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) UNIVERSITIES- With respect to the 4 universities at which a demonstration project under this section is conducted-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (A) the universities should be selected, after careful review of all applications received containing the required information, as determined by the Director, based on-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) successful and established public-private research and development partnerships; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) demonstrated capabilities to construct or renovate buildings that meet high indoor environmental quality standards; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) organizational flexibility; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) technological adaptability; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (v) the demonstrated capacity of at least 1 university to replicate lessons learned among nearby or sister universities, preferably by participation in groups or consortia that promote sustainability; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vi) the demonstrated capacity of at least 1 university to have officially-adopted, institution-wide `green building' guidelines for all campus building projects; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (vii) the demonstrated capacity of at least 1 university to have been recognized by similar institutions as a national leader in sustainability education and curriculum for students of the university; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (B) each university shall be located in a different climatic region of the United States, each of which regions shall have, as determined by the Office-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (i) a hot, dry climate; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (ii) a hot, humid climate; [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iii) a cold climate; or [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (iv) a temperate climate (including a climate with cold winters and humid summers). [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (d) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through September 30, 2013-- [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (1) the Director shall submit to the Administrator a report that describes the status of the demonstration projects; and [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (2) each University at which a demonstration project under this section is conducted shall submit to the Administrator a report that describes the status of the demonstration projects under this section. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (a) Federal Demonstration Project- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Federal demonstration project described in section 401(b)(1) $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, to remain available until expended. [<-Struck out]
[Struck out->] (b) University Demonstration Projects- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the university demonstration projects described in section 401(b)(2) $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2013, to remain available until expended. [<-Struck out]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2006'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS
Sec. 101. Oversight.
Sec. 102. Office of High-Performance Green Buildings.
Sec. 103. Green Building Advisory Committee.
Sec. 104. Public outreach.
Sec. 105. Research and development.
Sec. 106. Budget and life-cycle costing and contracting.
Sec. 107. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE II--HEALTHY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS
Sec. 201. Definition of high-performance school.
Sec. 202. Grants for healthy school environments.
Sec. 203. Model guidelines for siting of school facilities.
Sec. 204. Public outreach.
Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE III--STRENGTHENING FEDERAL LEADERSHIP
Sec. 301. Incentives.
Sec. 302. Federal procurement.
Sec. 303. Federal green building performance.
TITLE IV--DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Sec. 401. Coordination of goals.
Sec. 402. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of General Services.
(2) COMMITTEE- The term `Committee' means the Green Building Advisory Committee established under section 103(a).
(3) DIRECTOR- The term `Director' means the individual appointed to the position established under section 101(a).
(4) FEDERAL FACILITY-
(A) IN GENERAL- The term `Federal facility' means any building or facility the intended use of which requires the building or facility to be--
(i) accessible to the public; and
(ii) constructed or altered by or on behalf of the United States.
(B) EXCLUSIONS- The term `Federal facility' does not include a privately-owned residential or commercial structure that is not leased by the Federal Government.
(5) HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDING- The term `high-performance green building' means a building--
(A) that, during its life-cycle--
(i) reduces energy, water, and material resource use and the generation of waste;
(ii) improves indoor environmental quality, including protecting indoor air quality during construction, using low-emitting materials, improving thermal comfort, and improving lighting and acoustic environments that affect occupant health and productivity;
(iii) improves indoor and outdoor impacts of the building on human health and the environment;
(iv) increases the use of environmentally preferable products, including biobased, recycled content, and nontoxic products with lower life-cycle impacts;
(v) increases reuse and recycling opportunities; and
(vi) integrates systems in the building; and
(B) for which, during its planning, design, and construction, the environmental and energy impacts of building location and site design are considered.
(6) LIFE CYCLE- The term `life cycle', with respect to a high-performance green building, means all stages of the useful life of the building (including components, equipment, systems, and controls of the building) beginning at conception of a green building project and continuing through site selection, design, construction, landscaping, commissioning, operation, maintenance, renovation, deconstruction or demolition, removal, and recycling of the green building.
(7) LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT- The term `life-cycle assessment' means a comprehensive system approach for measuring the environmental performance of a product or service over the life of the product or service, beginning at raw materials acquisition and continuing through manufacturing, transportation, installation, use, reuse, and end-of-life waste management.
(8) LIFE-CYCLE COSTING- The term `life-cycle costing', with respect to a high-performance green building, means a technique of economic evaluation that--
(A) sums, over a given study period, the costs of initial investment (less resale value), replacements, operations (including energy use), and maintenance and repair of an investment decision; and
(B) is expressed--
(i) in present value terms, in the case of a study period equivalent to the longest useful life of the building, determined by taking into consideration the typical life of such a building in the area in which the building is to be located; or
(ii) in annual value terms, in the case of any other study period.
(9) OFFICE- The term `Office' means the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings established under section 102(a).
TITLE I--OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS
SEC. 101. OVERSIGHT.
(a) In General- The Administrator shall establish within the General Services Administration, and appoint an individual to serve as Director in, a position in the career-reserved Senior Executive service, to--
(1) establish and manage the Office in accordance with section 102; and
(2) carry out other duties as required under this Act.
(b) Compensation- The compensation of the Director shall not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code, including any applicable locality-based comparability payment that may be authorized under section 5304(h)(2)(C) of that title.
SEC. 102. OFFICE OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS.
(a) Establishment- The Director shall establish within the General Services Administration an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings.
(b) Duties- The Director shall--
(1) ensure full coordination of high-performance green building information and activities within the General Services Administration and all relevant Federal agencies, including, at a minimum--
(A) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(B) the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive;
(C) the Office of Federal Procurement Policy;
(D) the Department of Energy;
(E) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(F) the Department of Defense; and
(G) such other Federal agencies as the Director considers to be appropriate;
(2) establish a senior-level green building advisory committee, which shall provide advice and recommendations in accordance with section 103;
(3) identify and biennially reassess improved or higher rating standards recommended by the Committee;
(4) establish a national high-performance green building clearinghouse in accordance with section 104, which shall provide green building information through--
(A) outreach;
(B) education; and
(C) the provision of technical assistance;
(5) ensure full coordination of research and development information relating to high-performance green building initiatives under section 105;
(6) identify and develop green building standards that could be used for all types of Federal facilities in accordance with section 105;
(7) establish green practices that can be used throughout the life of a Federal facility;
(8) review and analyze current Federal budget practices and life-cycle costing issues, and make recommendations to Congress, in accordance with section 106; and
(9) complete and submit the report described in subsection (c).
(c) Report- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that--
(1) describes the status of the green building initiatives under this Act and other Federal programs in effect as of the date of the report, including--
(A) the extent to which the programs are being carried out in accordance with this Act; and
(B) the status of funding requests and appropriations for those programs;
(2) identifies within the planning, budgeting, and construction process all types of Federal facility procedures that inhibit new and existing Federal facilities from becoming high-performance green buildings as measured by--
(A) a silver rating, as defined by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Building Rating System standard established by the United States Green Building Council (or an equivalent rating obtained through a comparable system); or
(B) an improved or higher rating standard, as identified by the Committee;
(3) identifies inconsistencies, as reported to the Committee, in Federal law with respect to product acquisition guidelines and high-performance product guidelines;
(4) recommends language for uniform standards for use by Federal agencies in environmentally responsible acquisition;
(5) in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, reviews the budget process for capital programs with respect to alternatives for--
(A) restructuring of budgets to recommend the use of complete energy- and environmental-cost accounting;
(B) using operations expenditures in budget-related decisions while simultaneously incorporating productivity and health measures (as those measures can be quantified by the Office, with the assistance of universities and national laboratories);
(C) permitting Federal agencies to retain all identified savings accrued as a result of the use of life cycle costing; and
(D) identifying short- and long-term cost savings that accrue from high-performance green buildings, including those relating to health and productivity;
(6) identifies green, self-sustaining technologies to address the operational needs of Federal facilities in times of national security emergencies, natural disasters, or other dire emergencies;
(7) summarizes and highlights development, at the State and local level, of green building initiatives, including Executive orders, policies, or laws adopted promoting green building (including the status of implementation of those initiatives); and
(8) includes, for the 2-year period covered by the report, recommendations to address each of the matters, and a plan for implementation of each recommendation, described in paragraphs (1) through (6).
(d) Implementation- The Office shall carry out each plan for implementation of recommendations under subsection (c)(7).
SEC. 103. GREEN BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the `Green Building Advisory Committee'.
(b) Membership-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Committee shall be composed of representatives of, at a minimum--
(A) each agency referred to in section 102(b)(1); and
(B) other relevant agencies and entities, as determined by the Director, including at least 1 representative of each of--
(i) State and local governmental green building programs;
(ii) independent green building associations or councils;
(iii) building experts, including architects, material suppliers, and construction contractors;
(iv) security advisors focusing on national security needs, natural disasters, and other dire emergency situations; and
(v) environmental health experts, including those with experience in children's health.
(2) NON-FEDERAL MEMBERS- The total number of non-Federal members on the Committee at any time shall not exceed 15.
(c) Meetings- The Director shall establish a regular schedule of meetings for the Committee.
(d) Duties- The Committee shall provide advice and expertise for use by the Director in carrying out the duties under this Act, including such recommendations relating to Federal activities carried out under sections 104 through 106 as are agreed to by a majority of the members of the Committee.
(e) FACA Exemption- The Committee shall not be subject to section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
SEC. 104. PUBLIC OUTREACH.
The Director, in coordination with the Committee, shall carry out public outreach to inform individuals and entities of the information and services available Government-wide by--
(1) establishing and maintaining a national high-performance green building clearinghouse, including on the Internet, that--
(A) identifies existing similar efforts and coordinates activities of common interest; and
(B) provides information relating to high-performance green buildings, including hyperlinks to Internet sites that describe related activities, information, and resources of--
(i) the Federal Government;
(ii) State and local governments;
(iii) the private sector (including nongovernmental and nonprofit entities and organizations); and
(iv) other relevant organizations, including those from other countries;
(2) identifying and recommending educational resources for implementing high-performance green building practices, including security and emergency benefits and practices;
(3) providing access to technical assistance on using tools and resources to make more cost-effective, energy-efficient, health-protective, and environmentally beneficial decisions for constructing high-performance green buildings, including tools available to conduct life-cycle costing and life-cycle assessment;
(4) providing information on application processes for certifying a high-performance green building, including certification and commissioning;
(5) providing technical information, market research, or other forms of assistance or advice that would be useful in planning and constructing high-performance green buildings; and
(6) using such other methods as are determined by the Director to be appropriate.
SEC. 105. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
The Director, in coordination with the Committee, shall--
(1)(A) survey existing research and studies relating to high-performance green buildings; and
(B) coordinate activities of common interest;
(2) develop and recommend a high-performance green building research plan that--
(A) identifies information and research needs, including the relationships between human health, occupant productivity, and each of--
(i) emissions from materials and products in the building;
(ii) natural day lighting;
(iii) ventilation choices and technologies;
(iv) heating, cooling, and system control choices and technologies;
(v) moisture control and mold;
(vi) maintenance, cleaning, and pest control activities;
(vii) acoustics; and
(viii) other issues relating to the health, comfort, productivity, and performance of occupants of the building; and
(B) promotes the development and dissemination of high-performance green building measurement tools that, at a minimum, may be used--
(i) to monitor and assess the life-cycle performance of facilities (including demonstration projects) built as high-performance green buildings; and
(ii) to perform life-cycle assessments;
(3) assist the budget and life-cycle costing functions of the Office under section 106;
(4) study and identify potential benefits of green buildings relating to security, natural disaster, and emergency needs of the Federal Government; and
(5) support other research initiatives determined by the Office.
SEC. 106. BUDGET AND LIFE-CYCLE COSTING AND CONTRACTING.
(a) Establishment- The Director, in coordination with the Committee, shall--
(1) identify, review, and analyze current budget and contracting practices that affect achievement of high-performance green buildings, including the identification of barriers to green building life-cycle costing and budgetary issues;
(2) develop guidance and conduct training sessions with budget specialists and contracting personnel from Federal agencies and budget examiners to apply life-cycle cost criteria to actual projects;
(3) identify tools to aid life-cycle cost decisionmaking; and
(4) explore the feasibility of incorporating the benefits of green buildings, such as security benefits, into a cost-budget analysis to aid in life-cycle costing for budget and decision making processes.
SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to remain available until expended.
TITLE II--HEALTHY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS
SEC. 201. DEFINITION OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOL.
In this title, the term `high-performance school' has the meaning given the term `healthy, high-performance school building' in section 5586 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7277e).
SEC. 202. GRANTS FOR HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, may provide grants to qualified State agencies for use in--
(1) providing technical assistance for programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (including the Tools for Schools Program and the Healthy School Environmental Assessment Tool) to schools for use in addressing environmental issues; and
(2) development of State school environmental quality plans that include--
(A) standards for school building design, construction, and renovation; and
(B) identification of ongoing school building environmental problems in the State and recommended solutions to address those problems, including assessment of information on the exposure of children to environmental hazards in school facilities.
SEC. 203. MODEL GUIDELINES FOR SITING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES.
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop school site selection guidelines that account for--
(1) the special vulnerability of children to hazardous substances or pollution exposures in any case in which the potential for contamination at a potential school site exists;
(2) modes of transportation available to students and staff; and
(3) the potential use of a school at the site as an emergency shelter.
SEC. 204. PUBLIC OUTREACH.
(a) In General- The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall provide to the Director information relating to all activities carried out under this title, which the Director shall include in the report described in section 102(c).
(b) Public Outreach- The Director shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the public clearinghouse established under section 104 receives and makes available information on the exposure of children to environmental hazards in school facilities, as provided by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to remain available until expended.
TITLE III--STRENGTHENING FEDERAL LEADERSHIP
SEC. 301. INCENTIVES.
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall identify incentives to encourage the use of green buildings and related technology in the operations of the Federal Government, including through--
(1) the provision of recognition awards; and
(2) the maximum feasible retention of financial savings in the annual budgets of Federal agencies.
SEC. 302. FEDERAL PROCUREMENT.
(a) In General- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, in consultation with the Director and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, shall promulgate revisions of the applicable acquisition regulations, to take effect as of the date of promulgation of the revisions--
(1) to direct any Federal procurement executives involved in the acquisition, construction, or major renovation (including contracting for the construction or major renovation) of any facility, to the maximum extent practicable--
(A) to employ integrated design principles;
(B) to optimize building and systems energy performance;
(C) to protect and conserve water;
(D) to enhance indoor environmental quality; and
(E) to reduce environmental impacts of materials and waste flows; and
(2) to direct Federal procurement executives involved in leasing buildings, to give preference to the lease of facilities that, to the maximum extent practicable--
(A) are energy-efficient; and
(B) have applied contemporary high-performance and sustainable design principles during construction or renovation.
(b) Guidance- Not later than 90 days after the date of promulgation of the revised regulations under subsection (a), the Director shall issue guidance to all Federal procurement executives providing direction and the option to renegotiate the design of proposed facilities, renovations for existing facilities, and leased facilities to incorporate improvements that are consistent with this section.
SEC. 303. FEDERAL GREEN BUILDING PERFORMANCE.
(a) In General- Not later than October 31 of each of the 2 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which this Act is enacted, and at such times thereafter as the Comptroller General of the United States determines to be appropriate, the Comptroller General of the United States shall, with respect to the fiscal years that have passed since the preceding report--
(1) conduct an audit of the implementation of this Act; and
(2) submit to the Office, the Committee, the Administrator, and Congress a report describing the results of the audit.
(b) Contents- An audit under subsection (a) shall include a review, with respect to the period covered by the report under subsection (a)(2), of--
(1) budget, life-cycle costing, and contracting issues, using best practices identified by the Comptroller General of the United States and heads of other agencies in accordance with section 106;
(2) the level of coordination among the Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and relevant agencies;
(3) the performance of the Office in carrying out the implementation plan;
(4) the design stage of high-performance green building measures;
(5) high-performance building data that were collected and reported to the Office; and
(6) such other matters as the Comptroller General of the United States determines to be appropriate.
(c) Environmental Stewardship Scorecard- The Director shall consult with the Committee to enhance, and assist in the implementation of, the Environmental Stewardship Scorecard announced at the White House summit on Federal sustainable buildings in January 2006, to measure the implementation by each Federal agency of sustainable design and green building initiatives.
TITLE IV--DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
SEC. 401. COORDINATION OF GOALS.
(a) In General- The Director shall establish guidelines to implement a demonstration project to contribute to the research goals of the Office.
(b) Projects- In accordance with guidelines established by the Director under subsection (a) and the duties of the Director described in title I, the Director shall carry out a demonstration project, in a Federal building in the State of Vermont in accordance with subsection (c), that--
(1) provides for the evaluation of the information obtained through the conduct of projects and activities under this Act; and
(2) achieves a platinum rating, as defined by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Building Rating System standard established by the United States Green Building Council (or an equivalent rating obtained through a comparable system).
(c) Criteria- With respect to the existing or proposed Federal facility at which a demonstration project under this section is conducted, the Federal facility shall--
(1) be an appropriate model for a project relating to--
(A) the effectiveness of high-performance technologies;
(B) analysis of materials, components, and systems, including the impact on the health of building occupants;
(C) life-cycle costing and life-cycle assessment of building materials and systems; and
(D) location and design that promote access to the Federal facility through walking, biking, and mass transit; and
(2) possess sufficient technological and organizational adaptability.
(d) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through September 30, 2013, the Director shall submit to the Administrator a report that describes the status of and findings regarding the demonstration project.
SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Federal demonstration project described in section 401(b) $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to remain available until expended.
Calendar No. 660
To improve efficiency in the Federal Government through the use of high-performance green buildings, and for other purposes.