---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16193"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16193"
heading: "National Building Performance Initiative"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16193"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
  - "Part A — Energy Efficiency"
---

# §16193. National Building Performance Initiative

- (a) **Interagency group—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after August 8, 2005, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an interagency group to develop, in coordination with the [advisory committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) established under [subsection (e)](#e), a National Building Performance Initiative (referred to in this section as the “Initiative”).
  - (2) **Cochairs—** The interagency group shall be co-chaired by appropriate officials of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) and the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) of Commerce, who shall jointly arrange for the provision of necessary administrative support to the group.
- (b) **Integration of efforts—** The Initiative shall integrate Federal, [State](/usc/42/15951.md?p=b-2), and voluntary private sector efforts to reduce the costs of [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), operation, maintenance, and renovation of commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential buildings.
- (c) **Plan—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005, the interagency group shall submit to Congress a plan for carrying out the appropriate Federal role in the Initiative.
  - (2) **Inclusions—** The plan shall include—
    - (A) research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of energy technology systems and materials for new [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) and retrofit relating to the building envelope and building system components;
    - (B) research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of energy technology and infrastructure enabling the energy efficient, automated operation of buildings and building equipment; and
    - (C) the collection, analysis, and dissemination of research results and other pertinent information on enhancing building performance to industry, government entities, and the public.
- (d) **Department of Energy role—** Within the Federal portion of the Initiative, the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) shall be the lead [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) for all aspects of building performance related to use and conservation of energy.
- (e) **Advisory committee—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an [advisory committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) to—
  - (1) analyze and provide recommendations on potential private sector roles and participation in the Initiative; and
  - (2) review and provide recommendations on the plan described in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (f) **Administration—** Nothing in this section provides any Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) with new authority to regulate building performance.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 913, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 860.)