The Energy Code is generally updated every three years with the mandate to increase building energy efficiency while staying cost-effective for building owners over the lifespan of a building. Increases in energy efficiency and on-site generation can:

• reduce utility bills
• improve indoor comfort and air quality
• increase market value
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates that over 30 years the 2022 Energy Code can provide $1.5 billion in consumer benefits and reduce 10 million metric tons of GHG – equivalent to taking nearly 2.2 million gas cars off the road for a year. View our fact sheets here.

Understanding how the Energy Code applies to your project from the very beginning can help inform important decisions, bring key roles into the project at the right time, and avoid surprises down the line that could cause changes to design or construction.

Forms demonstrating compliance must be submitted with other construction documents when applying for a building permit. Additional forms are required during installation, as well as acceptance testing or verification forms that must often be completed by a third-party inspector.

If you’re unsure of where to start, our Forms Ace walks through a simple set of questions about your project and generates a list of required forms. You can also use our fact sheets for a summary of requirements and forms that apply to your project or our Building Inspector Checklists can give you an idea of what a building department is looking for.