---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6372b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6372b"
heading: "Preliminary energy audits and energy audits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6372b"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part F — Energy Conservation Program for Buildings Owned by Units of Local Government and Public Care Institutions"
---

# §6372b. Preliminary energy audits and energy audits

- (a) **Application by Governor—** The [Governor](/usc/42/6371.md?p=21) of any [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) may apply to the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) at such time as the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may specify after promulgation of the guidelines under [section 6372a(a) of this title](/usc/42/6372a.md?p=a) for grants to conduct [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) of [buildings](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-2) owned by units of local government and [public care institutions](/usc/42/6372.md?p=4) in such [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) under this part.
- (b) **Grants for conduct of preliminary energy audits—** Upon application under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may make grants to [States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) to assist in conducting [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) under this part for [buildings](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-2) owned by units of local government and [public care institutions](/usc/42/6372.md?p=4). Such audits shall be conducted in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under [section 6372a(a)(1) of this title](/usc/42/6372a.md?p=a-1).
- (c) **Application by Governor, unit of local government or public care institution—** The [Governor](/usc/42/6371.md?p=21) of any [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4), [unit of local government](/usc/42/6372.md?p=2) or [public care institution](/usc/42/6372.md?p=4) may apply to the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) at such time as the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may specify after promulgation of the guidelines under [section 6372a(a) of this title](/usc/42/6372a.md?p=a) for grants to conduct [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3) of [buildings](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-2) owned by units of local government and [public care institutions](/usc/42/6372.md?p=4) in such [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4) under this part.
- (d) **Grants for conduct of energy audits—** Upon application under [subsection (c)](#c) the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may make grants to [States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4), units of local government, and [public care institutions](/usc/42/6372.md?p=4) for purposes of conducting [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3) of facilities under this part in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under [section 6372a(a)(2) of this title](/usc/42/6372a.md?p=a-2).
- (e) **Audits conducted prior to grant of financial assistance—** If a [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4), [unit of local government](/usc/42/6372.md?p=2), or [public care institution](/usc/42/6372.md?p=4), without the use of financial assistance under this section, conducts [preliminary energy audits](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) or [energy audits](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3) which comply with the guidelines prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) or which are approved by the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1), the funds allocated for purposes of this section shall be added to the funds available for [technical assistance](/usc/42/6371.md?p=17) programs for such [State](/usc/42/6202.md?p=4), and shall be in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purpose.
- (f) **Restriction on use of funds—** Amounts made available under this section (together with any other amounts made available from other Federal sources) may not be used to pay more than 50 percent of the costs of any [preliminary energy audit](/usc/42/6371.md?p=14) or [energy audit](/usc/42/6321.md?p=c-3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 400C, as added Pub. L. 95–619, title III, § 311(a), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3250.)