USE OF FUNDS.

SEC. 544. USE OF FUNDS. An eligible entity may use a grant received under this subtitle to carry out activities to achieve the purposes of the program, including—(1) development and implementation of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy under section 545(b);(2) retaining technical consultant services to assist the eligible entity in the development of such a strategy, including—(A) formulation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and energy usage goals;(B) identification of strategies to achieve those goals—(i) through efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption; and(ii) by encouraging behavioral changes among the population served by the eligible entity;(C) development of methods to measure progress in achieving the goals;(D) development and publication of annual reports to the population served by the eligible entity describing—(i) the strategies and goals; and(ii) the progress made in achieving the strategies and goals during the preceding calendar year; and(E) other services to assist in the implementation of the energy efficiency and conservation strategy;(3) conducting residential and commercial building energy audits;(4) establishment of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements;(5) the provision of grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing energy efficiency retrofits;(6) development and implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, including—(A) design and operation of the programs;(B) identifying the most effective methods for achieving maximum participation and efficiency rates;(C) public education;(D) measurement and verification protocols; and(E) identification of energy efficient technologies;(7) development and implementation of programs to conserve energy used in transportation, including—(A) use of flex time by employers;121 STAT. 1670(B) satellite work centers;(C) development and promotion of zoning guidelines or requirements that promote energy efficient development;(D) development of infrastructure, such as bike lanes and pathways and pedestrian walkways;(E) synchronization of traffic signals; and(F) other measures that increase energy efficiency and decrease energy consumption;(8) development and implementation of building codes and inspection services to promote building energy efficiency;(9) application and implementation of energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency, including—(A) distributed resources; and(B) district heating and cooling systems;(10) activities to increase participation and efficiency rates for material conservation programs, including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency;(11) the purchase and implementation of technologies to reduce, capture, and, to the maximum extent practicable, use methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources;(12) replacement of traffic signals and street lighting with energy efficient lighting technologies, including—(A) light emitting diodes; and(B) any other technology of equal or greater energy efficiency;(13) development, implementation, and installation on or in any government building of the eligible entity of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources, including—(A) solar energy;(B) wind energy;(C) fuel cells; and(D) biomass; and(14) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with—(A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;(B) the Secretary of Transportation; and(C) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.