Are you Compliant? Title 24 and You
California’s Zero Net Energy (ZNE) initiative aims to have 100% of new homes producing more energy than they consume by 2020.
Are you looking at buying or building a new home? Is this Greek to you? Me too. Here’s the gist of it: Across the board efficiency is listed in the latest batch of regulations for the “2016 code” in that all lights must be high-efficacy. Every light must be controllable with a dimmer, vacancy sensor, or other energy management control system. This applies not just indoors, but outdoors as well.
Updates to Title 24
All High Efficacy Lighting
California’s Zero Net Energy initiative states indoor and outdoor lighting for new homes must be high efficacy. High-efficacy lighting isn’t the same as high-efficiency lighting. Efficient lights help save energy. Efficacious lights do save energy, but they also achieve certain other results such as accurate color rendering. The definition of “high-efficacy” luminaires can be found in the Joint Appendix 8 (JA8) of the residential lighting code.
JA8 Updated
Joint Appendix JA8 regulations now contain requirements for more types of residential high efficacy lamps and luminaries. In the 2013 standards, JA8 regulations only applied to LED sources.
Simplified Control Requirements
Lighting control requirements for indoor spaces are now simpler. Control requirements are based, in nearly all cases, on the type of lamp or luminaire installed, no the space.
Also, builders are now required to provide you with a luminaire schedule that includes a list of installed lamps and luminaires.
How much will this cost you?
The California energy commission estimates when all new codes are followed, it will add about $0.60 -$.0.80 cents per square foot to the cost of a home. Other estimate show a $6 to $8 increase per square foot.
How much will you save?
Pennies compared to what will be spent on installation and compliant products. About $75 in electricity costs per year.
What’s in it for you? Why should you go through all of the hassle and cost?
Of course we all want to make the world a better place and reduce our carbon footprint. It’s also the law. However, everyone likes to save money. Besides easing your conscience about your energy use, below are just a few incentives to ease your pocketbook while making these upgrades.
Southern California Edison
Business Incentives
Custom Solutions Incentives
San Diego Gas and Electric
Lighting Credit
There are a wide variety of incentive programs listed here for PG&E, SCE, SoCal Gas, SDG&E, and SWG
Energy.gov
California plans on becoming a Zero Net Energy state by 2020. If it sounds far-fetched, it isn’t. Many neighborhoods and cities are already doing this. West Village, UC Davis; Massachusetts neighborhoods- Townsend, Princeton, Devens, Harvard, Roxbury, Northampton and Littleton; Meritage Homes in Fontana California.
If you are interested installing or updating the control options for your home or business, please give us a call or email.
To read the summary of the updated Title 24 code, visit here.