As energy codes are constantly changing and being updated every 3 years, it’s important to understand how to build to achieve compliance. So, how do you talk to your energy consultant to meet code requirements while minimizing cost? What are the best methods to approach compliance?
On February 24, AWA+D was joined by Chad Campbell, energy consultant at Newton Energy with over 27 years of experience, to learn more about balancing code compliance, construction cost, and client satisfaction.
As designers work towards adapting a more energy-efficient passive heating model, it can be difficult to find a balance between appropriate heating methods, code compliance, and cost efficiency. Here are several points to consider when beginning your journey:
It’s important to get your Title 24 Energy calculations started early in the design process. It can be difficult for both you and your team to work around a finalized design that the client is already happy with.
“One of the biggest problems that we run into as energy consultants is having to go, ‘Okay we can't make it work with this much stuff.’” Chad commented. “Sometimes the response we get is, ‘Well, that's what we told the homeowner he could have, and that's what we're going to get him.’ We can kind of short circuit that whole thing by getting in before the homeowners are absolutely attached to an idea. That would be a really good time to at least start the conversation.”
It’s important to read your report closely and ask questions of your engineer to reach a clear mutual understanding of your needs and wants. Sometimes your engineer may make assumptions that will affect your design, or in some cases they could help you make small changes that have big benefits.
“With energy, they change out water heaters, they change out windows and doors. That's always the fun one, when you get a building inspector going, ‘The plans show two windows and I have eight on this one wall...you need to update your Title 24 report,’ And I'm going, ‘What eight windows? I'm looking at the same plan,’ and yeah, they put in six more!”
The energy code changes frequently (every 3-4 years) so it’s good to be familiar with the basics of the code, and continue to stay up-to-date with the newest changes.
“Every three years the energy code gets updated, and every three years it's more and more challenging,
reflects Chad. “It's a good thing to just get started being fluent in or at least being able to understand a little bit. It's also just really good to start learning the vocabulary enough that you can start just asking questions.”
Contact Chad to learn more about Newton Energy:
Chad Campbell
Newton Energy
310 375-2699