TITLE 24 FAQ'S

1. What is Title 24?

Title 24 is a portion of the California Code of Regulations that pertains to energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings. Effective October 1, 2005, the California Energy Commission (CEC) will update these standards to further reduce California's energy consumption. The legislation includes new regulations which require duct testing and acceptable standards for leakage in certain situations.

2. Why did the CEC put this ruling into effect?

- to respond to California's energy crisis, to reduce energy bills, to increase energy delivery system reliability, and to contribute to an improved economic condition for the state.

- to respond to the AB 970 (Statutes of 2000) urgency legislation to adopt and implement updated and cost-effective building energy efficiency standards.

- to respond to the SB 5X (Statutes of 2001) urgency legislation to adopt energy efficiency building standards for outdoor lighting.

- to emphasize energy efficiency measures that save energy at peak periods and seasons, improve the quality of installation of energy efficiency measures, incorporate recent publicly funded building science research, and collaborate with California utilities to incorporate results of appropriate market incentives programs for specific technologies.

3. Does Title 24 impact every customer in California?

The requirement applies to climate zones 2 & 9-16, unless otherwise adopted by local governments outside these zones.

4. When did the CEC adopt this ruling?

The Energy Commission adopted the 2005 Standards on November 5, 2003, and the Building Standards Commission adopted them on July 21, 2004.

5. When does the ruling become effective?

These new standards are in effect as of October 1, 2005.

Understanding TITLE 24:

What is it?

Beginning October 1, 2005, California's Energy Code will change to include new requirements for installers when replacing HVAC equipment. The changes will require testing and repair of ductwork in houses located in non-coastal California. It is estimated that 80 percent of homes in this area have leaky ductwork that does not conform to newly-mandated energy efficiency standards.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/

Why is this necessary?

1. Inefficient Ducts - In field research, average ducts in existing homes allow about 30 percent of the heated or cooled air to wastefully leak out before it reaches the rooms it was intended to heat or cool.

2. Inconsistent Efficiency Levels - If a new 13 SEER efficient air conditioner or furnace is connected to a leaky duct system, homeowners will lose the energy savings from the new equipment.

3. Health Standards - Sealed ducts provide a healthier living space compared to leaky return ducts, which draw in the surrounding polluted air from the attic, garage or crawlspace where they are located.

How will my system be improved?

Repair - Contractors must test ducts and address leakage problems to ensure they meet the new standards.

Test - Contractors use a variety of approved methods to test the leakage of the duct system.

Verification - Verification is the next step in the process. The homeowner may choose to have verification performed for his/her home; or, in some cases, verifications may be required as part of a sample. Planning department methods for verification may vary.

How will Title 24 affect homeowners?

Homeowners may experience inconveniences such as repair delays or additional costs associated with testing and verification or possible structural modifications. However, homeowners should also benefit from the regulation changes. Some potential benefits include:
- Better system performance
- Lower utility bills
- Increased in-home comfort
- Better air quality

This information has been provided as a courtesy from American Home Shield.