The most significant changes in the 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards affecting residential buildings include the new requirements for high performance fenestration products. Other changes for residential buildings include the following:
A. Revisions to the administrative section §10-103 sets the format and informational order for electronic compliance document registration and submittal and for electronic retention of compliance documentation for future use and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the documentation author and the responsible person; §10-109 describes the rules for approving compliance software, alternative component packages, exceptional methods, data registries and related data input software, or electronic document repositories. §10-111 describes the rules for reporting fenestration U-factor, SHGC, and VT.
B. §110.3(c)5 explains the requirements for the water heating recirculation loops serving multiple dwelling units, high-rise residential, hotel/motel, and nonresidential occupancies
C. Revisions to §110.9 now covers ballasts and luminaires and residential vacancy sensors.
A. Duct sealing in all climate zones (CZs) (defined in Section 1.7 of this chapter). (Section 150.0(m)11)
B. Return duct design or fan power, airflow testing, and grill sizing requirements (Residential HVAC Quality Installation Improvements). (Section150.0(m)13)
C. Lighting – Improving and clarifying the mandatory lighting requirements for all residential buildings including kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, utility rooms, garages, hall ways, bedrooms, and outdoor lighting. (Section150.0(k)
D. New luminaire efficacy levels in Table 150.0-B
E. Hot water pipe insulation - Requires insulation on pipes ¾ inch and larger. (Section150.0(j)2Aii)
F. Solar Ready Measure – 250 square feet of solar ready zone on single family roofs in subdivisions of 10 or more swelling units. (Section150.0(r)
G. Walls with 2x6 framing and larger must have at least R-19 insulation (Section 150.0(c)2).
H. New mandatory U-factor of 0.58 for vertical fenestrations products and skylights, Section 150.0(q).
I. New third party HERS verifications requirement for Ventilation for Indoor Air Quality, ASHRAE 62.2 requirements, Section 150.0(o).
A. High Performance Windows – Reducing the U-Factor to 0.32 and SHGC to 0.25 in most climate zones. (Section 150.1(c)3A).
B. Duct Insulation – Raise minimum from R-4.2 to R-6.0 in climate zones 6, 7, and 8. (Section 150.1(c)9).
C. Night Ventilation – Whole house fan required to be installed in climate zones 8 through 14; a Smart Vents and Night Breeze allowed as performance path alternatives. (Section 150.1(c)12).
D. Expand the Radiant Barrier requirements to climate zones 3, and 5 through 7. (Section 150.1(c)2).
E. Refrigerant charge and verification now expanded to include ducted package units, mini-splits, and other units (Section 150.1(c)7).
F. Increase wall insulation to R15+4 in all CZs (Section 150.1(c)1B).
The modeling procedures and requirements for compliance software have been significantly modified for the 2013 Standards. All compliance software vendors must use a single modeling approach and a single interpretation of the performance compliance rules. This “Compliance Manager” software will be integrated into vendor-supplied compliance software that is certified by the Energy Commission. More information is available in the 2013 Residential ACM Approval Manual and the 2013 Residential ACM Reference 'Manual.
A. Simplified Compliance documentation requirements for small additions and alteration projects that do not involve a HERS measure. (Section 10-103(a)1C and Section 10-103(a)3C)
B. Simplified rules for both the prescriptive and performance paths for additions, alterations, and existing plus additions plus alterations (Section 150.2 (a) and (b)