Title 24-2016 compliance path for LEED v4 BD+C: Homes projects

On January 5, 2018, USGBC published LEED Interpretation 10470, allowing projects in California that pursue LEED v4 BD+C: Homes to be rewarded for energy savings that exceed Title 24-2016.

See a list of additional credits and prerequisites in LEED v4 Homes that are met by projects that meet CALGreen.

Title 24-2016 Scoring Pathway for Homes/Low-rise Multifamily

Single-family and low-rise multifamily projects in California may use either this Title 24-2016 compliance pathway for the Energy and Atmosphere section, or any of the other balloted approaches in LEED v4 BD+C: Homes that demonstrate building energy savings.

The following prerequisites and credits are part of the Title 24-2016 scoring pathway:

• EA prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance*
• EA prerequisite Energy Metering
• EA prerequisite Education of Homeowner, Tenant or Building Manager
• EA credit Annual Energy Use (27 pts)*
• EA credit Efficient Hot Water Distribution (5 pts)
• EA credit Advanced Utility Tracking (2 pts)
• EA credit Active Solar-Ready Design (1 pt)
• EA credit HVAC Start-Up Credentialing (1 pt)
• EA credit High-Efficiency Appliances (2 pts)

The California T24 LEEDv4 Homes and Multifamily Workbook, which must be used to follow this pathway, can be found under the Resources and Tools section in the LEED for Homes Certification Guide.

Credits with Modified California-Specific Compliance Options

EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance

Projects must meet all of the following requirements:

1. All aspects of Energy Star v3 Homes are met by Title 24 2016 compliance, save for two of the following measures, which must be met by all projects:

a) Cooling equipment selection and sizing limits. All installed cooling equipment must be sized within the following parameters.

Compressor type

• Single-speed: Sizing limit 90-130 percent
• Two-speed: Sizing limit 90-140 percent
• Variable-speed: Sizing limit 90-160 percent

b) External static pressure of ducted heating and cooling systems must be measured by a qualified energy rater at contractor-provided test locations

2. If installed, at least one of the following appliances must be Energy Star-qualified (or performance equivalent for projects outside the U.S.) in each dwelling unit:

• Refrigerator,
• Dishwasher, or
• Clothes washer.

3. All duct runs must be fully ducted (i.e., building cavities may not be used as ducts).

Projects in California may use the standard LEED for Homes v4 scoring approaches for the Energy and Atmosphere section, or they may elect to use this ACP, which combines energy modeling to Title 24-2016 Part 6 and EA credit High-Efficiency Appliances.

EA Credit Annual Energy Use

Projects are rewarded for reducing energy usage below that of the Title 24 Energy Design Rating (EDR) of Standard Efficiency, and points are awarded based on the percent savings over this Title 24 Standard Efficiency EDR. This scoring methodology is used instead of the HERS Index.

The Title 24 energy models must be performed by a CEA.

Table 1.

Plus, earn 1 point for every 4 percent decrease in conditioned floor area compared with the Energy Star for Homes, version 3, reference home (Table 2). Buildings that are larger than the reference home lose 1 point for every 4 percent increase in conditioned floor area.

Projects cannot exceed the maximum number of points in the credit, 27 points. Projects that earn more than 27 points may take credit for exemplary performance in IN c Innovation.

Table 2: Conditioned floor area of reference home, by number of bedrooms
(from the LEED v4 BD+C: Homes credit language)

In addition, Title 24-2016 Homes projects that are zero net energy, as defined by site energy, source energy or TDV, are granted maximum points and don’t need to complete the Home Size Adjuster.

For multifamily buildings, home size includes only in-unit space.

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