GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

What is the largest category of heat loss in a standard California Title-24 house located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin valley?

bonnie matheson | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

What is the smallest category?
Air Infiltration, Windows, Slab Edge, Wall, Ducts, or Ceilings?

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Perhaps someone familiar with "typical" new house construction in this area can respond.

    I think it's important to point out, however, that there is no single answer to this question. Many different styles of house can be Title-24-compliant. It's possible for a house with many windows to comply with Title 24, and it's also possible for a house with very few windows to comply with Title 24. Each house style will have a different answer.

  2. sheeschen | | #2

    The answer to such a question is always "it depends". As Martin points out, Title-24 compliance can be achieved in many different ways. I do have a rough datapoint, however. I'm entering my remodeled house into PHPP (a passive house spreadsheet) to figure out if I need to spend extra money on getting fancy, super-energy-efficient windows or not. I'm still learning about the program, but so far have realized that I lose about the same amount of heat through my windows as through my (walls+ceiling). Energy lost through ventilation, air infiltration, and that ilk is about 1/10 of the heat lost through (walls+ceiling+windows). I'm in the San Jose area, and my walls and ceiling are going beyond the standard title-24 requirements, but not hugely so (R-24 walls, R-35 ceiling). Most of the windows are kind of standard, but some are expected to be highly-efficient (R7 or so). The Title-24 report had me passing with about a 40-50% margin, but I believe the ratios of where the heat is lost would remain about the same. Anyways, it's a datapoint.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |