Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are the most popular and Frequently Asked Questions submitted to Solargy. Questions are answered to provide you with the most accurate information available. If you need further information regarding on any of the questions below, please contact us.
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When do I need to show Title 24 compliance ... ?
Title 24 compliance documentation is required to be submitted prior to issuing building permits when you are building either a new home or adding new conditioned floor area to and existing home. New garages and other non-heated spaces do not need to have compliance documentation.
My residential addition is so small, Do I really need to show compliance ... ?
Yes. If you are adding even the smallest amount of square footage to your home you are required to show compliance.
Why is the building department asking for Title 24 when I am not adding any square footage ... ?
This is something that may happen when you are remodeling your home.
The reason is usually that there are windows being replaced. When windows are simply replaced with an identically sized window, its not really an issue. When windows are replaced and the opening is resized, this is where the building department asks for justification. They will either require you to make the new window or door dual pane, or ask you to have a Title 24 energy calculation done to show that making this window or door single pane will not exceed your allowed energy budget.
Why do I need to give you drawings of the existing house ... ?
This is a question we answer every day.
The simple answer is that we need to model the existing house first. But do we really? No.
We have a couple different ways to approach your energy compliance needs for a residential addition. We can simply take the drawing of your proposed addition and make a model of it and see if it complies "as-is". Most often, it will not comply. So how do we make it comply?
What we do is we model the existing residence first, we analyze it and establish a baseline which gives us something to compare the house to when the proposed addition is built.
After we have modeled the existing house we will model it again with the proposed addition and compare the two models.
By approaching it in this much more laborious and time consuming way we have found that gaining compliance is much easier and a lot more cost effective for the home owner. By being able to eliminate the need for dual glazing we have been able to save our clients a considerable amount of money on their construction.
We have been able to save a lot of money for our clients this way and It is always to the advantage of the home owner to have us use this approach (even when dual glazing will be used).
What is a package addition and why should I not show compliance that way ... ?
A package addition is basically an agreement between yourself and the building department. You are agreeing to meet or exceed high standards set forth by the California Energy Commission.
If your project meets certain requirements, you can show compliance with the package addition. You may go to your building department and get the forms (CF-1R & MF-1R) and fill them out. The problem with this approach is that it limits the amount of glazing, requires high performance dual pane glazing, R-30 insulation in the roof, radiant heat barrier to be installed, tight ducting and subsequent third party inspections to prove it. All of these things are unnecessary expenses.
Some building departments may entice you to use this approach by telling you that it is easier and cheaper than hiring an energy consultant, or that they will give you your permit faster.
While it is true that you may have your plans checked and approved a little faster in some cases, it is not true that it is easier and less expensive. Our job as your energy consultant is to know and show you all of your available options, offer competent advice, and expeditiously pursue the most cost effective end result to meet your needs.
The package addition method is not recommended in most cases.
When is the best time to submit my drawings for Title 24 analysis ... ?
The best time to submit your plans is when you have made all the decisions about your project.
If you are unsure of window sizes or locations, it is best to make those decisions first. If you have not decided which window and door manufacturer you would like to use, we can still do our calculations but we get the best results if you have already decided exactly which manufacturer you will use. The reason is that we can use specific data pertaining to the fenestration products you select.
If you have not decided how you intend to heat your home, whether it be by forced air or radiant floor, once again it is best to have made this decision before submitting plans for calculations.
Essentially, we cannot complete our calculations and provide you with accurate documentation if there are certain decisions that have not been made. Typically the Title 24 calculations are one of the very last things you should have done before submitting for a building permit.
What can be done for bootlegged additions ... ?
So you have a converted garage or enclosed patio?
Someone else did it before you bought the house and now the building department wants you to permit it.
What can you do?
We can help! We are not here to act as the energy police and we are not associated with any enforcement agencies. We are your energy consultants and we have the knowledge and expertise to address this very situation.
Since every bootlegged addition is very different and the circumstances surrounding it are always subjective, it is hard to say with certainty exactly what we would do in any given situation. We can say this though... Call us. We will help you correct the situation and find the most cost effective solution.
