Journal
Practical guides to energy-code decisions.
2025 Energy Code guidance, intake checklists and worked examples. General information, not engineering advice; older permits may use an earlier edition.
Which Energy Code Applies? 2022 vs 2025 by Application Date
2022 vs 2025 California Energy Code: applications on or after January 1, 2026 use 2025. Confirm the AHJ-recorded date, forms, software and local amendments.
What to Send for a Title 24 Quote: Plans & Intake Checklist
Prepare a Title 24 quote with the right plans, window schedules, equipment details and permit record. CF1R, NRCC and revision checklists with an addition example.
CF1R vs CF2R vs CF3R: A California Permit-Stage Guide
Understand CF1R design, CF2R installation and CF3R ECC verification records. Follow an addition example and identify which document your permit stage needs.
HERS to ECC: California Permits, Raters & Older Reports
Decode HERS-to-ECC language on California permit comments. Check your code cycle, registry records and rater responsibilities before ordering reports or testing.
Prescriptive vs Performance Title 24 Compliance
Compare California Energy Code compliance paths using a design-decision checklist and a glazing example, without treating mandatory measures as trade-offs.
Addition-Alone vs Existing-Plus-Addition Energy Modeling
Choose a defensible modeling boundary for an addition, with an existing-condition evidence checklist and a worked comparison of two preparation paths.
ADU Title 24: Detached, Attached & Garage Conversion Guide
Choose the right ADU energy-documentation path: new detached buildings, attached additions, garage conversions and JADUs, with a practical CF1R intake checklist.
Responding to an Energy Plan-Check Correction
Use a comment-response matrix, a worked window-schedule correction and a revision checklist to keep energy reports and permit drawings coordinated.
Tenant Improvement Title 24: NRCC & Lighting Checklist
Scope a commercial TI energy package: shell boundaries, NRCC-LTI lighting, Area Category Method, installer records and acceptance-testing handoffs.
Heat-Pump Reach Codes: California Altered-Cooling Guide
Replacing cooling equipment? Separate statewide Title 24 from local altered-cooling ordinances, compare documented options and prepare the right permit inputs.
Do I Need Title 24? California Energy Compliance Guide
It depends on the work—not just the permit label. Check the application date, building category and changed components before ordering California energy documents.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Remodel in California?
It depends on the changed components. Separate cosmetic work from window, HVAC, lighting and envelope alterations before ordering remodel energy documentation.
Do I Need Title 24 for a California Home Addition?
Usually yes for a conditioned addition. Identify the added area, changed existing components and permit date before choosing documents or a modeling boundary.
Do I Need Title 24 When Replacing Windows?
Often yes when permitted work alters fenestration. Check replacement versus addition scope, U-factor/SHGC and the required documents before ordering windows.
Do I Need Title 24 for Solar Panels in California?
It depends on the permit scope. Separate standalone PV work from solar included in new-home or ADU energy compliance; panels do not replace required CF1R documents.
Do I Need Title 24 for a New California Home?
Yes—new conditioned dwellings typically need energy-compliance documentation before permit. Confirm the application date, classification and design path early.
Do I Need Title 24 for an ADU or Garage Conversion?
Usually yes for new ADUs and many conversions to conditioned living space. Establish detached, attached, conversion or JADU scope before selecting energy documents.
Do I Need Title 24 for an SB 9 Project?
Usually yes when SB 9 leads to new conditioned dwellings. Separate lot-split/planning approval from building-permit energy compliance and document each building.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Multifamily Project?
Yes for new multifamily construction and many additions/alterations. Confirm classification, common systems and form families rather than assuming CF1R covers everything.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Commercial Tenant Improvement?
Often yes for permitted commercial lighting, HVAC and envelope work. Define the changed scope and occupancy before choosing an NRCC package or full-building analysis.
Do I Need Title 24 for an HVAC Replacement?
Often yes for altered heating or cooling. Identify equipment, ducts and permit date before choosing California energy forms or assuming like-for-like work is exempt.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Water Heater Replacement?
Often yes for altered water-heating components, but not always a whole-house model. Check the system, permit date and applicable forms before ordering a report.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Roof Replacement?
It depends on reroof scope, building type and location. Check cool-roof evidence, altered assemblies and permit date before assuming a whole-house report is needed.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel?
It depends on the changed components, not room size. Separate finish-only work from lighting, ventilation, hot-water and window changes before requesting energy documents.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Garage Conversion?
It depends on the approved existing condition and proposed use. Turning an unconditioned garage into living space usually needs energy documentation, not just a new room label.
Do I Need Title 24 for an EV Charger?
It depends on the permit scope. Separate EVSE electrical and CALGreen requirements from Part 6 energy documentation before ordering a whole-building report for a charger.
Do I Need Title 24 for Battery Storage?
It depends whether storage is a standalone electrical installation or part of building compliance. Separate installed batteries, BESS readiness and a required CF1R package.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Lighting-Only Commercial TI?
Usually yes for regulated lighting alterations in a permitted commercial TI. Define the fixtures, controls and affected areas before choosing nonresidential energy documents.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Pool or Spa? Heating, Pumps and Forms
Yes, pool equipment can trigger mandatory 2025 energy rules—but not automatically a whole-house model. Check heater scope, exceptions, covers, pumps and forms.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Historic Home? Scope Before Assumptions
It depends on scope, not historic status alone. Coordinate preservation constraints, application date, windows and altered systems before ordering energy documents.
Do I Need Title 24 for Condo Windows? Forms, Ratings and HOA Scope
Yes, condo window replacement often triggers energy alteration requirements. Separate HOA consent from AHJ review and confirm the form family and rated product data.
Do I Need Title 24 for an Accessory Structure or Backyard Studio?
It depends on conditioning and occupancy, not the shed or studio label. Compare storage, conditioned accessory space, guest houses and ADUs before ordering forms.
Do I Need Title 24 for a Change of Occupancy or Use?
Often yes: a change of occupancy can need scoped energy documents. Review conditioning, lighting, HVAC and envelope work before choosing CF1R, multifamily or NRCC forms.
Window U-Factor and SHGC for 2025 Title 24 Additions & Alterations
Understand the 2025 single-family window changes, U-factor 0.27 versus 0.30, climate-zone conditions, added glazing and the product evidence your report needs.
Heat-Pump Water Heaters and 2025 Title 24: Inputs, Air and Forms
Scope a heat-pump water heater for new construction or replacement. Understand 2025 backup-heat and ventilation provisions without mistaking a report for plumbing design.
Duct Testing and ECC Verification: HVAC Changeout Documents Explained
Plan the CF1R, installer CF2R and required ECC CF3R handoffs for an HVAC changeout. Learn what to upload, who tests and why a report is not a test result.
All-Electric Reach Codes? Read California’s 2025 Local Energy List Carefully
Distinguish statewide energy rules from CEC-approved local efficiency and altered-cooling ordinances. See verified ordinance numbers, approval dates and the questions to ask your AHJ.
2025 Title 24 PV and Battery Readiness: New Single-Family Guide
Separate required PV, PV sizing exceptions, the qualifying battery reduction and BESS-ready infrastructure. Understand what applies to new homes versus additions or alterations.
How Much Does a Title 24 Report Cost in California?
Title 24 reports from $149 residential or $399 commercial. Compare worked remodel, ADU and TI examples, units, rush and revisions before uploading plans.
Title 24 Report Cost for an ADU: Area, Units and Scope
ADU reports use the published residential tiers from $149, not an ADU-only menu. Check conditioned area, units, conversion scope and excluded verification costs.
Title 24 Report Cost for an Addition: Scope Before Price
Understand residential addition report pricing, conditioned-area boundaries, unit count and revisions. Use the published tiers—not a separate addition fee—and upload plans.
Title 24 Cost for a Remodel: New Reports vs Revisions
Remodel report pricing uses the residential square-footage menu. Distinguish a new report, a $75 architectural revision and a custom full-model rebuild before uploading plans.
Title 24 Report Cost for Commercial Tenant Improvements
Commercial TI reports use the published $399/$599/custom square-footage tiers. Define NRCC scope, lighting, revisions and separate acceptance testing before requesting a quote.
Which Title 24 Forms Do I Need? CF1R, PRF, NCB, ALT and NRCC
Choose a starting documentation pathway for new homes, additions, alterations, ADUs or commercial work. Compare CF1R families, registration and what to upload.
City Asked for Title 24? Plan-Check Documents and Revision Triage
Turn an energy plan-check comment into a clear upload packet. Identify missing CF1R/NRCC documents, reconcile plans and distinguish Free, $75 or custom revisions.
Title 24 Part 6 vs CALGreen: Which Documents Does Your Project Need?
Separate Part 6 energy reports from CALGreen Part 11 green-building documents. Compare responsibilities, EV and battery questions, exclusions and permit intake.
Performance vs Prescriptive: Choose a 2025 Title 24 Compliance Path
Compare prescriptive and performance energy compliance before commissioning a report. Review inputs, project boundaries, mandatory measures and CF1R/NRCC handoffs.
What Title 24, Part 6 actually is
A plain-language orientation to California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards and how they show up in a project.
California Climate Zone Lookup: CEC ZIP and City References
Look up curated CEC ZIP assignments and reference weather cities. Understand California climate zones, ambiguous ZIPs and how to confirm your exact project location.
Additions and alterations: what changes, what stays
How existing buildings are approached in energy documentation, and why existing conditions deserve careful records.
HVAC change-outs and the Energy Code
Why replacing heating or cooling equipment can bring documentation and verification steps.
Windows and glazing: the most negotiable line in your model
U-factor, SHGC, area and orientation: what to understand before you order windows.
NRCC, NRCI, NRCV & NRCA: Commercial Title 24 Forms Guide
Identify the missing commercial energy form by permit stage: NRCC design, NRCI installation, NRCV verification and NRCA acceptance, with a TI handoff example.
Next step
Ready to send your plans?
Published flat pricing from $149 residential and $399 commercial. Upload plans privately; no payment is taken online.