Compliance Software

Jump to bottom

Nikhil Kapur edited this page May 7, 2026 · 1 revision

Compliance Software

Q: What is the name of the 2025 Compliance Software made available by the California Energy Commission?
- A: The commonly referred name is CBECC. This is the shortened name for California Building Energy Code Compliance. The 2025 CBECC software can be used to show compliance using the performance path for single family, multifamily and nonresidential projects. CBECC is available for free for users to show compliance with the Title-24 Standards.
Q: Where do I find the list of Energy Commission certified compliance software for the various Title-24 Standards?
- A: Most up-to-date information about List of Approved Computer Programs for complying with the various Title-24 Standards are listed below:
Q: What operating systems or platform will the CBECC compliance software will work on: Windows, Apple or Linux based?
- A: This is a Microsoft Windows based software currently verified to work on 64-bit (X-64 architecture) machines. Support for Apple and Linux based systems is not supported.
Q: Is this a stand-alone software or does it use a different simulation Engine(s)? If so what is that? How do I download that?
- A: California Building Energy Code compliance is a complex process with primarily two paths: A Prescriptive Compliance or Performance Compliance. There is no software needed for showing compliance with 2013 & 2016 Standards by prescriptive compliance. All the necessary information is provided in the document 2013/2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential buildings. The software (CBECC-Com) provides the necessary Alternate Calculation Methods set-forth in the 2013/2016 Nonresidential Alternate Calculation Method Reference Manual (ACMRM) through a simple Graphics User Interface (GUI). However, the necessary energy calculations are performed using the Energyplus calculation engine. Energyplus has been developed and distributed by the US Department of Energy. CBECC-Com comes bundled with EnergyPlus and users do not need to install EnergyPlus separately.
Q: I am working on a building design that several advanced features that are not yet available in CBECC software. How do I use this to show compliance and create credit towards my building?
- A: For questions regarding modeling of advanced features that are not yet supported by CBECC please reach out to CBECC support:
  - For nonresidential and multifamily email cbecc@energy.ca.gov
  - For single family email cbecc.res@energy.ca.gov
Q: I am working on a building with features that are not properly modeled by CBECC or Energyplus/CSE now. How do I show compliance for my building?
- A: There is a provision under the California Building Code for submitting a building that cannot be analyzed using certified compliance software. This process is called Exceptional Methods and found in the Part 1. as well as in Part 6 under section 10-109 (e). The submittal requirements are given in section 10-110. Please contact us through the Energy Code Hotline..
Q: Are there any plans for adding features to CBECC beyond what is presented in the current version of CBECC?
- A: The Energy Commission has made a commitment to continue adding features to CBECC. While we'd like to be able to meet everyone's needs we know that this will not be possible. There may be a subset of projects that cannot use the performance approach to document compliance with the Standards. For these projects, the prescriptive compliance approach will be required.