CBECC: California Building
Energy Code Compliance (for
Nonresidential and Multifamily buildings) software
CBECC (California Building Energy Code Compliance) is an open source
project that may be used by Code Agencies, Rating Authorities, or Utility
Programs in the development of energy codes, standards, or efficiency programs.
Architects, engineers, and energy consultants may also use these tools to
demonstrate compliance with energy codes or beyond-code programs.
The software's key components are:
- Graphical User Interface (GUI) - allows users to enter details about
a proposed building's design
- Ruleset - a computer-processable form of the building energy
code
- Compliance Manager - the core of CBECC. Uses the ruleset to assess
whether the building complies with the energy code.
- Connection to the U.S. Department of Energy's EnergyPlus Simulation
Engine - performs energy simulations to compare proposed building energy
consumption to the energy code "budget"
- Report Generator - generates forms and other reports to summarize
the building's compliance characteristics. Forms may be submitted for building
permits, or as documentation for other programs.
- Application Programmng Interface (API) Documentation - The purpose of this document is to provide information needed to develop software interfaces to the CEC Compliance engine DLL(s).
CBECC Version includes the Ruleset for California's 2022 Title 24
Energy Code. CBECC-Com Version includes the Ruleset for California's 2019 Title 24
Energy Code. The Title 24 Ruleset represents the performance approach for
compliance as described in the 2022/2019 Nonresidential Alternative Calculation Method
(NACM) Reference Manual. It also features an API to allow third party
software developers to utilize the functionality of the CBECC-Com Compliance
Manager.
CBECC 2025: CBECC GitHub | California Energy Commission’s 2025 Energy Code Compliance Software webpage
CBECC 2022: California Energy Commission’s 2022 Energy Code Compliance Software webpage
CBECC-Com 2019: California Energy Commission’s 2019 Energy Code Compliance Software webpage
CBECC CUAC: California Utility Allowance Calculator (CUAC)
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