All new construction, alterations, and additions in California must comply with the latest building energy efficiency standards adopted by the California Energy Commission (CEC) - known as Title 24. These standards are updated every three years to ensure that they reflect the latest in energy efficiency technology and practices.
The goal of these standards is to reduce statewide energy consumption, peak demand, and greenhouse gas emissions. They are designed to do this by requiring that buildings be more energy efficient than those built to the previous code cycle. In other words, buildings must use less energy per square foot to operate than those built under the older standards.
There are two main ways to achieve compliance with Title 24 - prescriptive and performance-based compliance.
Prescriptive Compliance
Prescriptive compliance means meeting a specific set of requirements outlined in the code. In this method, each individual component of the proposed building must meet a prescribed minimum energy requirement. This is often referred to as a "rules-based" approach.
The benefits of prescriptive compliance are that it is simple as an applicant needs to only show that it meets the minimum requirements. However, it is also quite restrictive, and is not recommended for new homes or larger additions as it can result in higher construction costs.
Performance Compliance
Performance-based compliance means demonstrating that the proposed design will meet or exceed the energy efficiency goals set forth in the code by use of computer calculations. This allows for the most flexibility when seeking Title 24 compliance. In a performance compliance approach, a detailed accounting of energy trade-offs between measures is possible. While this approach requires the most effort, it also provides the greatest flexibility. For this reason, the majority of Title 24 calculations utilize the performance approach.
Achieving compliance with Title 24 can seem like a daunting task -by working with a qualified professional, you can ensure that your project meets all of the necessary requirements for compliance. C&S Energy Pro is committed to getting a fast turnaround on your Title 24 documents which will help ensure construction projects are completed on time and that consumers will be able to move into their homes quicker. Avoid the hassle of long wait times generally associated with Title 24 documentation and call us today!
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