| All
new buildings in California must meet the requirements found in
the Energy Efficiency Standards contained in Title 24, Part 6 of
the California Code of Regulations. Building Departments are
required to enforce these Energy Standards for conditioned new
buildings and additions. Calculations must be submitted to the
building department documenting that all proposed structures
meet a prescribed minimal level of energy efficiency.
Compliance
options range from filling out pre-printed forms showing that
prescriptive design requirements are met, to a performance
method based upon sophisticated computer simulations. The
disadvantage of using a simple approach is that it generally
results in higher construction costs than the more sophisticated
performance analysis. The package methods set minimum insulation
levels, limitations to glazing area and minimum equipment
efficiency. Performance methods are extremely flexible and
generally result in more efficient design. See our Plans
Checklist. |
