---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 5503"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "5503"
heading: "Development and demonstration of solar heating systems for use in residential dwellings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/5503"
units:
  - "Chapter 71 — Solar Energy"
  - "Subchapter I — Heating and Cooling"
---

# §5503. Development and demonstration of solar heating systems for use in residential dwellings

- (a) **Functions of Administrator and Secretary—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) shall promptly initiate and carry out a program, as provided in this section, for the development and demonstration of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems (including collectors, controls, and thermal storage) for use in [residential dwellings](/usc/42/5502.md?p=3).
- (b) **Time for determination, prescription and publishing of interim performance criteria; selection of designs for suitable dwellings—**
  - (1) Within 120 days after September 3, 1974, the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5), utilizing the services of the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) of Energy, shall determine, prescribe, and publish—
    - (A) interim performance criteria for [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) components and systems to be used in [residential dwellings](/usc/42/5502.md?p=3), and
    - (B) interim performance criteria (relating to suitability for [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1)) for such dwellings themselves,

    taking into account in each instance climatic variations existing between different geographic areas.

  - (2) As soon as possible after the publication of the performance criteria prescribed under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5), in consultation with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4), will select on the basis of open competition a number of designs for various types of [residential dwellings](/usc/42/5502.md?p=3) suitable for and adapted to the installation of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems meeting the performance criteria prescribed under [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A).
- (c) **Contracts and grants for development of heating systems for commercial production and residential use; contracts for procurement of heating systems and components—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4), in accordance with the applicable provisions of subchapter II of [chapter 201](/usc/51/chstII/ch201.md) of title 51 and under program guidelines established jointly by the [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5), shall, after consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5)—
  - (1) enter into such contracts and grants as may be necessary or appropriate for the development (for commercial production and residential use) of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems meeting the performance criteria prescribed under [subsection (b)(1)(A)](#b-1-A) (including any further planning and design which may be required to conform with the specifications set forth in such criteria); and
  - (2) enter into contracts with a number of persons or firms for the procurement of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) components and systems meeting such performance criteria (including adequate numbers of spare and replacement parts for such systems).
- (d) **Installation of heating systems; operation during demonstration period; title and ownership of dwellings and systems; agreement of owner to observe and monitor system for five years; reports by owner—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) shall (1) arrange for the installation of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems procured by the [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4) under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) in a substantial number of [residential dwellings](/usc/42/5502.md?p=3) and (2) provide for the satisfactory operation of such installations during the demonstration period. Title to and ownership of any dwellings constructed hereunder and of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems installed hereunder may be conveyed to purchasers or [owners](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) of such dwellings under terms and conditions prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5), including an express agreement that any such purchaser or [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) shall, in such manner and form and on such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) may prescribe, observe and monitor (or permit the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) to observe and monitor) the performance and operation of such system for a period of five years, and that such purchaser or [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) (including any subsequent [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) and occupant of the property who also makes such an agreement) shall regularly furnish the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) with such reports thereon as the agreement may require.
- (e) **Installation of heating systems by Secretary of Defense in dwellings located on Federal or federally administered property—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) of Defense shall arrange for the installation of [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems procured by the [Administrator](/usc/42/5502.md?p=4) under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) in a substantial number of [residential dwellings](/usc/42/5502.md?p=3) which are located on Federal or federally administered property where the performance and operation of such systems can be regularly and effectively observed and monitored by designated Federal personnel.
- (f) **Coordination of activities to assure a realistic and effective demonstration—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/5502.md?p=5) of Defense, and officials responsible for administering Federal or federally administered property, shall coordinate their activities under this section to assure that [solar heating](/usc/42/5502.md?p=1) systems are installed in a substantial number of [residential dwellings](/usc/42/5502.md?p=3) and in a sufficient number of different geographic areas under varying climatic conditions to constitute a realistic and effective demonstration in support of the objectives of this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–409, § 5, Sept. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1070; Pub. L. 93–438, title I, § 104(f), title III, § 301(h), Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1238, 1250; Pub. L. 95–91, title III, § 301(a), title VII, §§ 703, 707, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577, 606, 607; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

In subsec. (c), “subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 51” substituted for “title II of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958” on authority of Pub. L. 111–314, § 5(e), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3443, which Act enacted Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.

### Amendments

1988—Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 100–418 substituted “National Institute of Standards and Technology” for “National Bureau of Standards”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

“Secretary of Energy” substituted for “Director”, meaning Director of National Science Foundation, in subsec. (b)(1) pursuant to sections 104(f) and 301(h) of Pub. L. 93–438, which are classified to sections 5814(f) and 5871(h) of this title and which transferred functions of National Science Foundation relating to or utilized in connection with solar heating and cooling development to Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, and pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95–91, which are classified to sections 7151(a), 7293, and 7297 of this title and which terminated Energy Research and Development Administration and transferred its functions and functions of Administrator thereof (with certain exceptions) to Secretary of Energy.