CBECC — The Complete Guide: California Title 24 Energy Code Compliance
CBECC (California Building Energy Code Compliance) is compliance software for the State of California energy code, Title 24. It is developed as open source for the California Energy Commission (CEC) and covers nonresidential and multifamily buildings. Be clear about this from the start: it is a California regulatory tool, not a general-purpose energy simulation program.
CBECC
California Energy Commission
California energy-code (Title 24) compliance software for commercial and multifamily buildings, on the EnergyPlus engine.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Model in a graphical interface — defining zones, envelope, HVAC systems and lighting.
- EnergyPlus simulation — calculating the energy use of the proposed building.
- Standard design — the code reference building generated automatically.
- Comparison with the energy budget — checking whether the design complies.
- Compliance reports — forms for submission in the California permit process.
Who it suits
Energy consultants, architects and HVAC engineers working on California projects and documenting compliance by the performance method. The program runs on Windows, and each release is tied to a specific code cycle, so you must use the version that matches the code applying to the project. Outside California it has no regulatory standing and is useful mainly as an example of how simulation-based compliance is structured.
Related tools
For IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 compliance elsewhere in the US — COMcheck and REScheck. For general energy simulation anywhere — OpenStudio with EnergyPlus.
COMcheck
PNNL (US Department of Energy)
Energy-code compliance checks for commercial buildings — envelope, lighting and mechanical systems — under IECC and ASHRAE 90.1.
Get it from the vendorREScheck
PNNL (US Department of Energy)
Checks home envelopes against the IECC energy code, with a simple UA calculation and a ready report.
Get it from the vendor
OpenStudio
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Graphical workflow on top of EnergyPlus — geometry, systems and scenario comparison.
Get it from the vendor
EnergyPlus
US Department of Energy
Annual building energy simulation — envelope, HVAC, thermal comfort and daylight. The US DOE engine.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
For a California project, CBECC is the official free tool for Title 24 compliance. Outside California, general simulation tools are the better choice.