C2A-KS16

Question 1

The California Energy Code is based upon

Answer 1

the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings.

Question 2

2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings

Answer 2

The Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings were established in 1978 in response to a legislative mandate to reduce California’s energy consumption. The standards are updated periodically to allow consideration and possible incorporation of new energy efficiency technologies and methods.

Question 3

2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings is published by

Answer 3

The California Energy Commission

Mission Statement/About - The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created by the Legislature in 1974 and located in Sacramento, the Commission responsibilities include:

• Forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical energy data.
• Licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger.

-Promoting energy efficiency by setting the state’s appliance and building efficiency
standards and working with local governments to enforce those standards.

• Supporting public interest energy research that advances energy science and technology through research, development, and demonstration programs.
• Supporting renewable energy by providing market support to existing, new, and emerging renewable technologies; providing incentives for small wind and fuel cell electricity systems; and providing incentives for solar electricity systems in new home construction.
• Developing and implementing the state Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to reduce the state’s petroleum dependency and help attain the state climate change policies.
• Administering more than $300 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding through the state energy program, the energy efficiency conservation and block grant program; the energy efficiency appliance rebate program and the energy assurance and emergency program.
• Planning for and directing state response to energy emergencies.

Question 4

How is the energy code enforced?

Answer 4

Building Permit - is an electrical, plumbing, mechanical, building, or other permit or approval, that is issued by an enforcement agency, and that authorizes any construction that is subject to Part 6 of the California Buildings Standards Code.

Question 5

True or false

The California Energy Code is NOT Title 24, although most plan checkers will refer to it as such and ask you for “Title 24 calcs” when submitting drawings for plan check.

Answer 5

True

Note: They are really asking for the documents that illustrate compliance with Part 6 of the California Energy Code. Compliance with the Energy Code is plan checked by the local Building & Safety plan checker and enforced in the field by the local building official.

Question 6

Mandatory requirements for achieving energy efficiency in the following areas:

Answer 6

• Space conditioning equipment
• Water heating equipment
• Glazing requirements
• Building envelope
• Building fenestration
• Insulation requirements
• Lighting systems and equipment

Question 7

When the Building & Safety Plan Checker is asking for

your Title 24 Report, they are really asking for

Answer 7

the energy calculations required by Part 6 of the California Building Standards Code. Ask them if they know the difference next time you submit drawings.

Question 8

Methods of Compliance

Answer 8

Two methods of compliance

1. Performance Approach
2. Prescriptive Approach

Question 9

How many climate zones are in California?

Answer 9

Climate Zones — there are 16 Climate Zones in California used in the compliance methods

Question 10

Performance Approach

Answer 10

• Most detailed, complex, and flexible compliance path.
• Credit for certain conservation features, such as a day lit atrium, cannot be taken in the prescriptive approach, but could be evaluated in the performance approaching using an approved computer program.
• Based upon computer calculations
• Basic procedure is show the Time Dependant Valuation (TDV) energy of the proposed design is less than or equal to the TDV energy of the standard design (or existing design)
• Calculated according to actual building geometry and site placement (solar orientation, overhangs, size of openings, etc.)
• Calculating TDV Energy — the compliance software calculates TDV energy for three main components: space conditioning use, lighting energy use, and service water heating use.

Question 11

For the performance based approach to compliance, the calculations include:

Answer 11

• Heat gain and heat loss through walls, roof/ceilings, doors, floors, windows, and skylights
• Solar gain from windows, skylights, and opaque surfaces
• Heat storage effects of different types of thermal mass
• Building operating schedules for people, lighting, equipment and ventilation
• Space conditioning system operation including equipment part load performance

Question 12

For the performance based approach to compliance approved Computer Programs must meet what standards?

Answer 12

Approved Computer Programs - Approved programs must simulate or model the thermal behavior of buildings and the interaction of their space conditioning, lighting and service water heating systems.

Question 13

Prescriptive Approach

Answer 13

• Simpler method
• Less design flexibility
• Components must comply with the respective section of the Energy Code, such as the building envelope, space conditioning equipment, service water heating system, lighting system, outdoor lighting system, interior and exterior signs.

Question 14

Certificate of Compliance

Answer 14

• Signed by the person(s) responsible for the building design to certify compliance with Part 6
• If more than one person has responsibility for the design, each person shall sign the Certificate of Compliance documents, i.e. the architect and person who prepared the report.

Question 15

Application for Building Permit

Each application for building permit subject to Part 6 shall submit the following:

Answer 15

1. Certificate of Compliance
2. Plans and specifications
3. All documents necessary to demonstrate compliance of the building with Part 6

Question 16

Installation Certificate

Answer 16

The person with the overall responsibility for construction or the person responsible for the installation of features, materials, components, or manufactured devices regulated by Part 6 shall post the Installation Certificate(s) at the project site or make available with the building
permit, and shall be made available to the enforcement agency at time of inspection.

Question 17

Insulation Certificate

Answer 17

After installing wall, ceiling, or floor insulation, the installer shall make available to the enforcement agency or post in a conspicuous location in the building a certificate signed by the installer stating that the installation is consistent with the plans and specifications and complies with Part 6.

Question 18

Operating Information

Answer 18

• At final inspection, the enforcement agency shall require the builder to leave in the building, for the building owner at occupancy, operating information for all applicable features, materials, components, and mechanical devices installed in the building.
• Operating information shall include instructions on how to operate the features, materials, components, and mechanical devices correctly and efficiently.

Question 19

Maintenance Information

Answer 19

-At final inspection, the enforcement agency shall require the builder to leave in the building, for the building owner at occupancy, maintenance information for all features, materials, components, and manufactured devices that require routine maintenance for efficient operation.