(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]