Compliance Software - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Q: What is the name of the Compliance Software made available by the California Energy Commission?
A: The commonly referred name is CBECC-Com. This is the shortened name for California Building Energy Code Compliance for Nonresidential (or Commercial) Buildings.
A: The commonly referred name is CBECC-Com. This is the shortened name for California Building Energy Code Compliance for Nonresidential (or Commercial) Buildings.
Q: Can this software be used for 2008 Title-24 Standards Compliance purpose?
A: No this software is only certified for showing compliance with 2013 & 2016 Title-24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Please visit the following Web link for Compliance Software ( http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2008standards/2008_computer_prog_list.html ) certified for showing compliance with 2008 Standards.
A: No this software is only certified for showing compliance with 2013 & 2016 Title-24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Please visit the following Web link for Compliance Software ( http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2008standards/2008_computer_prog_list.html ) certified for showing compliance with 2008 Standards.
Q: Where do I find the list of Energy Commission certified compliance software for 2013 Standards?
A: Most up-to-date information about List of Approved Computer Programs for complying with the 2013 Standards is found at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/2013_computer_prog_list.html
A: Most up-to-date information about List of Approved Computer Programs for complying with the 2013 Standards is found at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/2013_computer_prog_list.html
Q: Where do I find the list of Energy Commission certified compliance software for 2016 Standards?
A: Most up-to-date information about List of Approved Computer Programs for complying with the 2016 Standards is found at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2016standards/2016_computer_prog_list.html
A: Most up-to-date information about List of Approved Computer Programs for complying with the 2016 Standards is found at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2016standards/2016_computer_prog_list.html
Q: What version of the CBECC-Com is certified for showing compliance with 2013 & 2016 Standards
A: Please visit the software download page for the most recent information at http://bees.archenergy.com/software.html for 2013 Standards and at http://bees.archenergy.com/software2016.html for 2016 Standards. This information is available at the top below the section 1 (Download/Install CBECC-Com). The current version number may change as we develop more features into the software. Please visit this web link and verify your software is certified (or not decertified) for use with 2013 or 2016 standards.
A: Please visit the software download page for the most recent information at http://bees.archenergy.com/software.html for 2013 Standards and at http://bees.archenergy.com/software2016.html for 2016 Standards. This information is available at the top below the section 1 (Download/Install CBECC-Com). The current version number may change as we develop more features into the software. Please visit this web link and verify your software is certified (or not decertified) for use with 2013 or 2016 standards.
Q: Is CBECC-Com available free?
A: Yes. The non-residential Compliance Software was developed as an Open Source Public Domain software and made available free for showing compliance with 2013 & 2016 Standards. This can be downloaded from the following web link http://bees.archenergy.com/software.html
A: Yes. The non-residential Compliance Software was developed as an Open Source Public Domain software and made available free for showing compliance with 2013 & 2016 Standards. This can be downloaded from the following web link http://bees.archenergy.com/software.html
Q: What operating systems or platform this software will work on: Windows, Apple or Linux based?
A: This is a windows based software currently verified to work on both 32-bit (X-32 architecture) and 64-bit (X-64 architecture) machines running Windows Vista, Windows 7 & and Windows 8 operating systems. CBECC-Com 2016 & CBECC-Com 2013 v3b and later are not compatible with Windows Operating System XP or earlier
A: This is a windows based software currently verified to work on both 32-bit (X-32 architecture) and 64-bit (X-64 architecture) machines running Windows Vista, Windows 7 & and Windows 8 operating systems. CBECC-Com 2016 & CBECC-Com 2013 v3b and later are not compatible with Windows Operating System XP or earlier
Q: Is this a stand-alone software or does it use a different simulation Engine? 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.
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-Com software. How do I use this to show compliance and create credit towards my building?
A: You can follow the Exceptional Design Compliance process as outlined in the 2013/2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards section 10-104 to document compliance.
A: You can follow the Exceptional Design Compliance process as outlined in the 2013/2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards section 10-104 to document compliance.
Q: I am working on a building with features that are not properly modeled by CBECC-Com or Energyplus 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. We will work with the industry to support compliance for such projects. Please contact us through the Energy Standards hotline at (Toll-Free in California: 800-772-3300 and Outside California: 916-654-5106)
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. We will work with the industry to support compliance for such projects. Please contact us through the Energy Standards hotline at (Toll-Free in California: 800-772-3300 and Outside California: 916-654-5106)
Q: Are there any plans for adding features to CBECC-Com beyond what is presented in the current version of CBECC-Com?
A: The Energy Commission has made a commitment to continue adding features to CBECC-Com. 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.
A: The Energy Commission has made a commitment to continue adding features to CBECC-Com. 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.
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