✓ About Title 24

The California Energy Commission (CEC) was created in 1974 through the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act to construct and periodically modify energy efficiency standards for residential and non-residential buildings. In 1978, all building codes and standards were combined under one umbrella called Title 24 Building Standards Code, and Part 6 of this standard code has the requirements for energy efficiency, while Part 1 has the administrative requirements. For more information or to download a copy of Title 24, visit www.energy.ca.gov/title24/.

✓ Why Title 24 Now?

California has over 35 million people and, from 1960 to 1974, when the CEC was created, they saw their energy consumption rise over 50% per capita, which meant that not only was the population increasing, the amount of energy each person was using was also increasing dramatically. California's building efficiency standards (along with those for energy efficient appliances) have saved more than $56 billion in electricity and natural gas costs since 1978. The CEC’s forecast data shows that 1/3 of the energy (natural gas and electricity) consumed in California is consumed by buildings. Strengthening the requirements of Title 24 has been a very key element in the state’s climate change initiative.

✓ Why Cool Roofs?

Roof surface temperatures and attic temperatures can be reduced significantly. By lowering attic temperatures, air conditioning costs can be reduced by as much as 10% to 15% according to the Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program. Reductions in air conditioning use help to reduce the “peak energy demand” on the power grid, reducing the need for new power plant construction. Cool roofs can reduce the effects of “Urban Heat Islands,” where data shows that urban areas have higher ambient temperatures than surrounding rural areas because of their concentration of dark surfaces and the sparseness of vegetation (dark surfaces can be up to 70° F hotter on a warm summer day than reflective, “cool” surfaces.