1 - Introduction
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.