Each of the technical chapters (Chapters 3 through 10) begins with an overview, followed by a presentation of a specific topic in each subsection. For the building envelope, subsections include fenestration, opaque surfaces (walls, floors, and roofs), air leakage and infiltration, radiant barriers, cool roofs, and quality insulation installation (QII) verification. For HVAC, the subsections include heating equipment, cooling equipment, air distribution and fans, controls, indoor air quality, alternative systems, refrigerant charge, and verification. For water heating, subsections include equipment efficiencies and distribution systems. Lighting subsections include high-efficacy lighting, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, switching devices and controls, and recessed luminaires. Mandatory requirements and prescriptive requirements (defined in Section 1.6 of this chapter) are described within each subsection or component. For photovoltaics (PV), the subsections include qualification requirements for photovoltaic systems, battery storage systems, shared solar electric system, or community-shared battery system compliance option and solar-ready requirements for low-rise residential buildings. Chapter 8 describes the computer performance approach. Chapter 9 covers requirements for additions and alterations. Chapter 10 outlines the mandatory electric readiness requirements for single-family buildings when mixed-fuel space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying is used. Chapter 2, although not a technical chapter, covers important compliance and enforcement topics.

Each technical chapter or subsection also has a compliance options section. The compliance options section includes information on how to design a building that goes beyond the prescriptive energy efficiency requirements and mandatory energy efficiency requirements. Compliance options are used for compliance credit through the performance approach. There are also design recommendations for which no compliance credit is offered. However, following the recommendations will significantly impact building energy use or peak demand.