---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6371a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6371a"
heading: "Guidelines"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6371a"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part E — Energy Conservation Program for Schools and Hospitals"
---

# §6371a. Guidelines

- (a) **Energy audits—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) shall, by rule, not later than 60 days after November 9, 1978—
  - (1) prescribe guidelines for the conduct of [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14), including a description of the type, number, and distribution of [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) of [school](/usc/42/6371.md?p=6) and [hospital facilities](/usc/42/6371.md?p=4) that will provide a reasonably accurate evaluation of the [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) conservation needs of all such facilities in each [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4), and
  - (2) prescribe guidelines for the conduct of [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3).
- (b) **State plans for implementation of energy conservation projects in schools and hospitals—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) shall, by rule, not later than 90 days after November 9, 1978, prescribe guidelines for [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) plans for the implementation of [energy conservation projects](/usc/42/6371.md?p=15) in [schools](/usc/42/6371.md?p=6) and [hospitals](/usc/42/6371.md?p=3). The guidelines shall include—
  - (1) a description of the factors which the [State energy agency](/usc/42/6371.md?p=10) may consider in determining which [energy conservation projects](/usc/42/6371.md?p=15) will be given priority in making grants pursuant to this part, including such factors as cost, [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) consumption, [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) savings, and [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) conservation goals,
  - (2) a description of the suggested criteria to be used in establishing a [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) program to identify [persons](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) qualified to implement [energy conservation projects](/usc/42/6371.md?p=15), and
  - (3) a description of the types of [energy conservation measures](/usc/42/8262.md?p=5) deemed appropriate for each region of the Nation.
- (c) **Revisions—** Guidelines prescribed under this section may be revised from time to time after notice and opportunity for comment.
- (d) **Determination of severe hardship class for schools and hospitals—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) shall, by rule prescribe criteria for determining [schools](/usc/42/6371.md?p=6) and [hospitals](/usc/42/6371.md?p=3) which are in a class of severe hardship. Such criteria shall take into account climate, fuel costs, fuel availability, ability to provide the non-Federal share of the costs, and such other factors that he deems appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 392, as added Pub. L. 95–619, title III, § 302(a), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3242.)