Welcome to our guide for new construction basics. Here's an overview of what this article will cover:
The state building code cycle
Complying with the energy code
Local government requirements
Fuel choice
All-electric buildings
State building code cycle
California updates the state building code, Title 24, every three years. Cities and counties are required to adopt this new code and enforce it locally. The next code cycle will be in effect for 2023, 2024 and 2025. It is referred to as the 2022 code.
Complying with the energy code
There are two options for complying with the energy code. The prescriptive option is a detailed recipe for constructing a building in practice. While this method is simpler, it offers little flexibility, thus most new construction projects comply using the performance method. The performance option sets minimum energy performance requirements and allows applicants flexibility to select and trade measures to achieve the minimum performance required for compliance. Applicants demonstrate this by using state-certified energy modeling software, either:
California Building Energy Code Compliance (CBECC-Res 2022) for single family projects, or
California Building Energy Code Compliance (CBECC 2022) for multifamily and nonresidential projects.
Local government requirements
Local governments can require additional energy performance by mandating that new buildings exceed state energy code requirements by a specified amount, also known as a compliance margin. In addition to other requirements, local governments must document that the more stringent requirements are cost effective. There is no specific methodology for this set by the state, it's up to the local government. In practice, local governments may conduct their own analyses or leveraging results from cost-effectiveness studies completed by the Reach Codes program.
Fuel choice
Buildings are powered by one or two fuels. All-electric buildings are powered only by electricity. Mixed-fuel buildings are powered by both natural gas and electricity.
All electric buildings
In addition to setting a compliance margin, jurisdictions can also eliminate mixed-fuel construction as a choice for builders, mandating that new buildings be all-electric. The carbon footprint of mixed-fuel buildings will get increasingly larger than all-electric buildings as electricity generation continues to move away from fossil fuel sources. The 2022 building code encourages all electric buildings.