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You still have to, yes.
One thing I wish more designers and builders understood is that there are many paths to energy code compliance. Often in articles and blogs and on forums like this, what is discussed is the prescriptive path. I guess that's because it is the one approach that can be read in the written codes and applied. So, it is easily discussed.
But when someone says, "code for attic insulation in Climate Zone 6 is R-60," not only is it an oversimplification based only on the table of R-value minimums found in the IRC - if you read what the code has to say about ceiling and attic insulation, the prescriptive R-value may be R-49 in zone 6, depending on your ability to insulate the entire attic floor - but there are also a number of performance paths that allow tons of flexibility in how a designer or builder meets energy code requirements.
Check out these two FHB articles:
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2024/03/06/the-prescriptive-paths-to-the-energy-codes
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2024/04/16/the-performance-paths-to-the-energy-codes
This is a troll account using AI.
Hmmm... One thing I wish AI understood is that there are many paths to energy code compliance.
Brian,
I for one welcome our new machine-learning overlords
Our building code here in British Columbia has given up on prescriptive energy requirements in favour of mandating energy modelling of each project. I don't want to sound like that old man shouting at clouds, but a new house where I am can often require:
- A designer
- A structural engineer for seismic
- A geo-technical engineer for designated steep slope areas
- An ecologist for riparian zones
- And now an energy modeller
I used to have to coordinate less consultants when I did high-rises.