(a) If a Federal agency chooses to use a green building certification system to certify a new Federal building or a Federal building undergoing a major renovation and such building is also either a public building (as defined in 40 U.S.C. 3301) for which transmittal of a prospectus to Congress is required under 40 U.S.C. 3307, or a Federal building for which estimated new building or major renovation design and construction costs are at least $2,500,000 (in 2007 dollars, adjusted for inflation), and design for construction began on or after October 14, 2015.

(b) The system under which the building is certified must:

(1) Allow assessors and auditors to independently verify the criteria and measurement metrics of the system;

(2) Be developed by a certification organization that:

(i) Provides an opportunity for public comment on the system; and

(ii) Provides an opportunity for development and revision of the system through a consensus-based process;

(3) Be nationally recognized within the building industry;

(4) Be subject to periodic evaluation and assessment of the environmental and energy benefits that result under the rating system; and

(5) Include a verification system for post-occupancy assessment of the rated buildings to demonstrate continued energy and water savings at least every four years after initial occupancy.

(c) Certification level. The building must be certified to a level that promotes the high performance sustainable building guidelines referenced in Executive Order 13423 “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management” and Executive Order 13514 “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance.”

[79 FR 61570, Oct. 14, 2014]