---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17082"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17082"
heading: "Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17082"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter III — Energy Savings in Buildings and Industry"
  - "Part B — High-Performance Commercial Buildings"
---

# §17082. Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Consortium—** The term “[consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4)” means a [High-Performance Green Building](/usc/42/17061.md?p=13) [Consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) selected by the [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3).
  - (2) **Initiative—** The term “initiative” means the [Zero-Net-Energy Commercial Buildings](/usc/42/17061.md?p=20) Initiative established under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1).
  - (3) **Zero-net-energy commercial building—** The term “[zero-net-energy commercial building](/usc/42/17061.md?p=20)” means a high-performance commercial building that is designed, constructed, and operated—
    - (A) to require a greatly reduced quantity of energy to operate;
    - (B) to meet the balance of energy needs from sources of energy that do not produce greenhouse gases;
    - (C) in a manner that will result in no net emissions of greenhouse gases; and
    - (D) to be economically viable.
- (b) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3) shall establish an initiative, to be known as the “[Zero-Net-Energy Commercial Buildings](/usc/42/17061.md?p=20) Initiative”—
    - (A) to reduce the quantity of energy consumed by commercial buildings located in the United States; and
    - (B) to achieve the development of zero net energy commercial buildings in the United States.
  - (2) **Consortium—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, the [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3) shall competitively select, and enter into an agreement with, a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) to develop and carry out the initiative.
    - (B) **Agreements—** In entering into an agreement with a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) under [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A), the [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3) shall use the authority described in [section 7256(g) of this title](/usc/42/7256.md?p=g), to the maximum extent practicable.
- (c) **Goal of initiative—** The goal of the initiative shall be to develop and disseminate technologies, [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), and policies for the development and establishment of zero net energy commercial buildings for—
  - (1) any commercial building newly constructed in the United States by 2030;
  - (2) 50 percent of the commercial building stock of the United States by 2040; and
  - (3) all commercial buildings in the United States by 2050.
- (d) **Components—** In carrying out the initiative, the [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3), in consultation with the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4), may—
  - (1) conduct research and development on building science, design, materials, components, equipment and controls, operation and other [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), integration, energy use measurement, and benchmarking;
  - (2) conduct pilot [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) and demonstration [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to evaluate replicable approaches to achieving energy efficient commercial buildings for a variety of building types in a variety of climate zones;
  - (3) conduct deployment, dissemination, and technical assistance activities to encourage widespread adoption of technologies, [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), and policies (including demand-response technologies, [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), and policies) to achieve energy efficient commercial buildings;
  - (4) conduct other research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities necessary to achieve each goal of the initiative, as determined by the [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3), in consultation with the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4);
  - (5) develop training materials and courses for building professionals and trades on achieving cost-effective high-performance energy efficient buildings;
  - (6) develop and disseminate public education materials to share information on the benefits and cost-effectiveness of high-performance energy efficient buildings;
  - (7) support code-setting organizations and [State](/usc/42/17151.md?p=6) and local governments in developing minimum performance standards in building codes that recognize the ready availability of many technologies utilized in high-performance energy efficient buildings;
  - (8) develop strategies for overcoming the split incentives between builders and purchasers, and landlords and tenants, to ensure that energy efficiency and high-performance investments are made that are cost-effective on a lifecycle basis; and
  - (9) develop improved means of measurement and verification of energy savings and performance for public dissemination.
- (e) **Cost sharing—** In carrying out this section, the [Commercial Director](/usc/42/17061.md?p=3) shall require cost sharing in accordance with [section 16352 of this title](/usc/42/16352.md).
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
  - (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (2) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010;
  - (3) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012; and
  - (4) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2018.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title IV, § 422, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1604; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title I, § 40104(d), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 933.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 117–58 inserted “(including demand-response technologies, practices, and policies)” after “policies”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.

### Wage Rate Requirements

For provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of this title.