Energy Code Ace - Energy Budget for the Standard Design Building.

SECTION 140.1 - PERFORMANCE APPROACH: ENERGY BUDGETS



A building complies with the performance standards if the energy consumption calculated for the proposed design building is no greater than the energy budget calculated for the standard design building using Commission-certified compliance software as specified by Sections 10-109(c) and 10-116.

(a) Energy Budget. The energy budget is expressed in terms of long-term system cost (LSC) and source energy.

1. Long-term system cost (LSC). The LSC energy budget is determined by applying the mandatory and prescriptive requirements of the standard design to the proposed design building and has two components, the Efficiency LSC and the Total LSC.

The Efficiency LSC energy is the sum of the LSC energy for space-conditioning, water heating, mechanical ventilation, and lighting.
The Total LSC energy is the sum of the Efficiency LSC energy and LSC energy from the photovoltaic system, battery energy storage systems (BEES) and demand flexibility.

2. Source Energy. The source energy budget is determined by applying the mandatory and prescriptive requirements of the standard design to the proposed design building.

Exception to Section 140.1(a). A community shared solar electric generation system, or other renewable electric generation system, and/or community shared BESS, which provides dedicated power, utility energy reduction credits, or payments for energy bill reductions, to the permitted building and is approved by the Energy Commission as specified in Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-115, may offset part or all of the solar electric generation system or BESS LSC energy required to comply with the Standards, as calculated according to methods established by the Commission in the Nonresidential ACM Reference Manual.

Note: Authority: Sections 25213, 25218, 25218.5, 25402 and 25402.1, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 25007, 25008, 25218.5, 25310, 25402, 25402.1, 25402.4, 25402.5, 25402.8, and 25943, Public Resources Code.

Welcome to the 2025 Reference Ace Beta