Overview of the Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards
The first version of the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards was published in 1978, which means these standards have been improving energy efficiency for over four decades. They are reviewed every three years by the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the 2019 standards replaced the 2016 version since January 1, 2020. Following the three-year update cycle, the next version will be published in 2021. The CEC conducts a public review process, where the California construction industry can provide suggestions and feedback.
Most energy efficiency measures offer an attractive return on investment, and every dollar spent on them is recovered many times. Building energy codes simply make these measures mandatory up to a specified performance level. California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards are demanding, but they provide several benefits in residential and commercial properties:
- Lower energy consumption and reduced operating costs. Since the building energy standards were introduced in 1978, they have saved over $70 billion for homes and businesses in California.
- Improving energy availability and making the power grid more reliable, by reducing the electrical load from homes and commercial buildings. For example, if 1,000 buildings reduce power consumption by 20 kilowatts each, a total load of 20 megawatts is removed from the grid.
- Reducing emissions and the overall environmental impact of the building sector.
- Some energy efficiency measures also make indoor spaces more comfortable, and smart ventilation controls are a good example.
Thanks to the Title 24 energy efficiency standards in California, the residential and commercial sectors consume less than 20% of the state’s energy each. For comparison, the industrial sector consumes 25% of the state’s energy, while the transportation sector consumes 40%.
Building owners and real estate developers must be aware that Title 24 is strictly enforced in California. There are legal consequences for not meeting Building Energy Efficiency Standards, and the corresponding fines can exceed $5,000 per code violation. To make sure your project meets the Title 24 requirements, the best recommendation is working with a qualified engineering firm.