This compliance manual is intended to help plans examiners, inspectors, owners, designers, builders, and energy consultants comply with and enforce California’s 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code) for single-family residential buildings. The lighting, domestic hot water, and indoor air quality requirements in this compliance manual also apply to low-rise multifamily buildings, three stories or less. The manual is written as a reference and instructional guide and can be helpful for anyone that is directly or indirectly involved in the design and construction of energy-efficient single-family residential buildings.
The compliance manual has 10 chapters:
Chapter 1 introduces the Energy Code and discusses the application and scope of the standards for single-family residences.
Chapter 2 analyzes the compliance and enforcement process, including design and preparation of compliance documentation through field verification and diagnostic testing.
Chapter 3 details the building envelope.
Chapter 4 discusses heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Chapter 5 outlines water-heating systems requirements, including the requirements for swimming pool systems.
Chapter 6 looks at requirements for hardwired interior lighting and for outdoor lighting permanently attached to the building.
Chapter 7 examines photovoltaics, battery storage systems, and shared solar electric systems or community-shared battery system compliance option and solar-ready requirements for single-family residential buildings.
Chapter 8 outlines the performance approach to compliance.
Chapter 9 goes over additions, alterations, and repairs.
Chapter 10 covers the mandatory electric readiness requirements for mixed-fuel single-family buildings.