((a)) ** Director of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, shall appoint a Director of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings to a position in the career-reserved Senior Executive service, with the principal responsibility to—

((1)) establish and manage the Office of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings; and

((2)) carry out other duties as required under this part.

((b)) ** Qualifications** The Commercial Director shall be an individual, who by reason of professional background and experience, is specifically qualified to carry out the duties required under this part.

((c)) ** Duties** The Commercial Director shall, with respect to development of high-performance green buildings and zero-energy commercial buildings nationwide—

((1)) coordinate the activities of the Office of Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings with the activities of the Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings;

((2)) develop the legal predicates and agreements for, negotiate, and establish one or more public-private partnerships with the Consortium, members of the Consortium, and other capable parties meeting the qualifications of the Consortium, to further such development;

((3)) represent the public and the Department in negotiating and performing in accord with such public-private partnerships;

((4)) use appropriated funds in an effective manner to encourage the maximum investment of private funds to achieve such development;

((5)) promote research and development of high-performance green buildings, consistent with ; and

((6)) jointly establish with the Federal Director a national high-performance green building clearinghouse in accordance with , which shall provide high-performance green building information and disseminate research results through—

((A)) outreach;

((B)) education; and

((C)) the provision of technical assistance.

((d)) ** Reporting** The Commercial Director shall report directly to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, or to other senior officials in a way that facilitates the integrated program of this part for both energy efficiency and renewable energy and both technology development and technology deployment.

((e)) ** Coordination** The Commercial Director shall ensure full coordination of high-performance green building information and activities, including activities under this part, within the Federal Government by working with the General Services Administration and all relevant agencies, including, at a minimum—

((1)) the Environmental Protection Agency;

((2)) the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive;

((3)) the Office of Federal Procurement Policy;

((4)) the Department of Energy, particularly the Federal Energy Management Program;

((5)) the Department of Health and Human Services;

((6)) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

((7)) the Department of Defense;

((8)) the National Institute of Standards and Technology;

((9)) the Department of Transportation;

((10)) the Office of Science Technology and Policy; and

((11)) such nonprofit high-performance green building rating and analysis entities as the Commercial Director determines can offer support, expertise, and review services.

((f)) ** High-Performance Green Building Partnership Consortium**

((1)) ** Recognition** Not later than 90 days after , the Commercial Director shall formally recognize one or more groups that qualify as a high-performance green building partnership consortium.December 19, 20072007-12-19

((2)) ** Representation to qualify** To qualify under this section, any consortium shall include representation from—

((A)) the design professions, including national associations of architects and of professional engineers;

((B)) the development, construction, financial, and real estate industries;

((C)) building owners and operators from the public and private sectors;

((D)) academic and research organizations, including at least one national laboratory with extensive commercial building energy expertise;

((E)) building code agencies and organizations, including a model energy code-setting organization;

((F)) independent high-performance green building associations or councils;

((G)) experts in indoor air quality and environmental factors;

((H)) experts in intelligent buildings and integrated building information systems;

((I)) utility energy efficiency programs;

((J)) manufacturers and providers of equipment and techniques used in high-performance green buildings;

((K)) public transportation industry experts; and

((L)) nongovernmental energy efficiency organizations.

((3)) ** Funding** The Secretary may make payments to the Consortium pursuant to the terms of a public-private partnership for such activities of the Consortium undertaken under such a partnership as described in this part directly to the Consortium or through one or more of its members.

((g)) ** Report** Not later than 2 years after , and biennially thereafter, the Commercial Director, in consultation with the Consortium, shall submit to Congress a report that—

((1)) describes the status of the high-performance green building initiatives under this part and other Federal programs affecting commercial high-performance green buildings in effect as of the date of the report, including—

((A)) the extent to which the programs are being carried out in accordance with this part; and

((B)) the status of funding requests and appropriations for those programs; and

((2)) summarizes and highlights development, at the State and local level, of high-performance green building initiatives, including executive orders, policies, or laws adopted promoting high-performance green building (including the status of implementation of those initiatives).