Energy Code Ace is a California ratepayer funded program that provides support and resources to help your building comply with California’s Title 24, Part 6 building energy code and Title 20 appliance standards.
Title 24 includes California’s overall Building Standards Code, with Part 6 covering Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The Code promotes a high standard for energy efficiency in California buildings, including residential, nonresidential, and multifamily, to improve building comfort and energy performance. Title 24, Part 6 building regulations include:
The California Energy Code is updated every three years. Currently, building permits are required to comply with 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The upcoming 2025 Building Energy Code was adopted by the California Energy Commission (CEC) in 2024, and will take effect on January 1st, 2026. Therefore, building permit applications applied on or after the start of the new year must comply with the new Code. It is also important to check local ordinances that may exceed the standards of the California Energy Code.
Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations can be found in Chapter 4, Article 4 of California’s overall Title 20 Public Utilities and Energy regulations. These standards regulate energy and water use in certain appliances, and include both state and federal requirements. You can utilize the CEC’s Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS) to identify water and energy efficient products for installation (learn more about how to utilize MAEDbS here). Appliance categories subject to Title 20 range from the expected, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and clothes washers, to the more niche, like landscape irrigation equipment, battery charging systems, and plumbing fixtures.
The Energy Code Ace website has extensive resources to support your compliance with California energy efficiency codes and regulations. For instance, the website can provide guidance if you are working on a specific project and want to ensure compliance, if you need assistance with accessing required forms, if you want to explore appliance efficiency regulations, or if you simply would like to explore the Energy Code. Energy Code Ace also hosts free on-demand and live training courses on multiple topics as well as extensive building and appliance fact sheets and checklists so you can be confident that all your projects and appliances are up to California standards. If you’d like to learn more about Energy Code Ace, Title 24 and/or Title 20 regulations, or are curious about what regulations you should be aware of to pursue energy efficiency projects, please email us at snew@sierrabusiness.org.
PG&E Customer or Energy Professional? You’re Eligible to Use the Tool Library Some building and energy projects require tools to detect niche
Join SBC at these Upcoming Events Across the Region
Two SNEW services that are often requested by Sierra Nevada public agencies are energy benchmarking (sometimes including AB 802 reporting for buildings
