U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 16617. Study on the feasibility of use of ground source heat pumps

(a) In general

The Administrator shall conduct a feasibility study on the use of ground source heat pumps in future NASA facilities or substantial renovation of existing NASA facilities involving the installation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. Not later than 1 year after December 30, 2005, the Administrator shall transmit the study to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

(b) Contents

The study shall examine—

(1) the life-cycle costs, including maintenance costs, of the operation of such heat pumps compared to generally available heating, cooling, and water heating equipment;

(2) barriers to installation, such as availability and suitability of terrain; and

(3) such other issues as the Administrator considers appropriate.

In this section, the term “ground source heat pump” means an electric-powered system that uses the Earth’s relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, or hot water.

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