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Why California Needs the Energy Code:

Enhancing Efficiency, Reliability, Comfort, Economics, Environment, and Decarbonization

• Enhancing Electricity Reliability and Meeting Demand:

Excessive building demand can overload the electric distribution network, leading to blackouts and economic losses. The California Energy Commission (CEC) prioritizes demand reduction measures to ensure stable conditions.

• Improving Building Occupant Comfort:

Energy-efficient buildings with high-performance windows and well-designed HVAC systems provide improved comfort. Poorly designed buildings result in discomfort, especially in older, poorly insulated, or leaky structures.

• Boosting Economics through Energy Efficiency:

Energy efficiency increases profitability for building owners and strengthens the economy by reducing reliance on depletable resources. Investing in energy efficiency is more cost-effective than building new power plants.

• Promoting Environmental Sustainability and Addressing Climate Change:

Fossil fuel burning contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Energy efficiency reduces emissions and addresses the risks climate change poses to water resources, agriculture, forests, and natural habitats.

• Building Decarbonization as a Climate Strategy:

  California’s homes and commercial buildings account for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Code’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards facilitate building decarbonization. The 2022 Energy Code promotes electric heat pumps, electric-ready requirements, and solar photovoltaic systems for select buildings. Anticipated environmental benefits over 30 years are estimated at $1.5 billion, equivalent to removing millions of cars from the road.

California Energy Code and its Impact on Sustainable Building Design

The California Energy Code refers to the set of regulations and standards that govern energy efficiency in buildings and structures in the state of California. It is also known as Title 24, which is the section of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) that addresses energy efficiency.

The California Energy Code establishes requirements for the design and construction of new buildings, as well as alterations and additions to existing buildings. Its primary goal is to reduce energy consumption, promote the use of renewable energy sources, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions associated with building operations.

The energy code covers various aspects of building design and performance, including:

1. Building envelope: The code specifies requirements for insulation, fenestration (windows, skylights, etc.), and air leakage to ensure efficient thermal performance and minimize heat transfer.
2. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems: The code sets standards for energy-efficient HVAC equipment, including requirements for equipment efficiency, duct insulation, and control systems.
3. Lighting: The energy code includes provisions for energy-efficient lighting systems, such as the use of high-efficiency lamps, occupancy sensors, and daylighting controls.
4. Water heating: The code includes requirements for efficient water heating systems, including insulation, pipe insulation, and controls.
5. Renewable energy: The code encourages the use of renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, by requiring a certain percentage of new buildings to incorporate renewable energy generation.
6. Energy modeling and compliance: Builders and designers are required to use energy modeling software to demonstrate compliance with the energy code. This helps assess the energy performance of a building and identify areas for improvement.

It’s important to note that the California Energy Code is regularly updated to incorporate new energy-efficient technologies and advancements.