PUBLIC LAW 94-385—AUG. 14, 1976 mercial buildings because such buildings lack adequate energy conservation features; (2) Federal performance standards for newly constructed buildings can prevent such waste of energy, which the Nation can no longer afford in view of its current and anticipated energy shortage; (3) the failure to provide adequate energy conservation measures in newly constructed buildings increases long-term operating costs that may affect adversely the repayment of, and security for, loans made, insured, or guaranteed by Federal agencies or made by federally insured or regulated instrumentalities; and (4) State and local building codes or similar controls can provide an existing means by which to assure, in coordination with other building requirements and with a minimum of Federal interference in State and local transactions, that newly constructed buildings contain adequate energy conservation features. (b) The purposes of this title, therefore, are to— (1) redirect Federal policies and practices to assure that reasonable energy conservation features will be incorporated into new commercial and residential buildings receiving Federal financial assistance; (2) provide for the development and implementation, as soon as practicable, of performance standards for new residential and commercial buildings which are designed to achieve the maximum practicable improvements in energy efficiency and increases in the use of nondepletable sources of energy; and (3) encourage States and local governments to adopt and enforce such standards through their existing building codes and other construction control mechanisms, or to apply them through a special approval process.
90 STAT. 1145
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DEFINITIONS
SEC. 303. As used in this title: 42 USC 6832. (1) The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration; except that after such Administration ceases to exist, such term means any officer of the United States designated by the President for purposes of this title. (2) The term "building" means any structure to be constructed which includes provision for a heating or cooling system, or both, or for a hot water system. (3) The term "building code" means a legal instrument which is in effect in a State or unit of general purpose local government, the provisions of which must be adhered to if a building is to be considered to be in conformance with law and suitable for occu; pancy and use. (4) The term "commercial building" means any building other than a residential building, including any building developed for industrial or public purposes. (5) The term "Federal agency" means any department, agency,
corporation, or other entity or instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including the United States Postal Service, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. ^ (6) The term "Federal building" means any building to be constructed by, or for the use of, any Federal agency which is not legally subject to State or local building codes or similar requirements.
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