Before a Title 24 Report, or an architectural plan is drawn up, we must examine the best energy strategy for your project. First, we must assess and record existing conditions.

Pre-HERS is an investment in your project, and clients typically save thousands overall. After reporting the existing conditions to authorities, we’ll help you to assess your budget and consult you about which upgrades will benefit you the most.

This preliminary measure will prevent any time delays further down the road, and make sure your entire Title 24 process runs smoothly.

Then, we will translate your plans into a Title 24 Report, which shows an overview of all energy-consuming features. The Title 24 Report is also known as the CF1R (Alt-01 or Alt-02).

BarrierEnergy will take care of the paperwork and data entry for your project, from beginning to end!

We will offer consultation to help you stay on schedule, on budget, and compliant with energy standards. The advice we offer includes Q&A, compliance measures, brand selection, and referrals.

Currently, all new or altered buildings in the state of California must have solar panels or sufficient space for solar panel installation. A solar-ready area is a large, relatively flat, empty space on the roof.

Tesla was created as a precursor for PV solar requirements. Most new buildings will need to have solar panels installed unless they make certain exemptions. Read more about solar-ready areas and solar panel requirements here.

We will ensure energy guidelines have been met for the project, as outlined by the CF1R. At the end of this stage, you will receive the certificate of installation.

The inspector will obtain information on the project through the building’s ‘plan set’, or title 24 report. This report is an energy calculation file with all information relevant to that job site including square footage, number of rooms, etc. The title 24 report is an all-encompassing document listing the features on a building, including all systems.

As HERS Raters, this test is our specialty! For more information, visit our duct leakage testing page.

So, the goal is to deisgn an efficient, yet cost effective Power Distribution System. We are the experts that will help you do just that, while adhering to California State efficiency requirements.

This stage is to verify that the plan-set for lighting matches the installation. Learn more about Title 24 Lighting.

When a building is at “rough”, before the drywall has been installed, it’s important to assure the insulation is installed properly. Firstly, a pre-insulation inspection will help determine the parameters of the installation.

Then after installation, another inspection will certify the quality. This visual inspection involved making sure there are no gaps, the proper type of insulation is being used, etc. 

QII HERS inspections require much attention to detail. Let us make sure that insulation does not hold up your construction process, by communicating with the installer, builder, and contractor throughout the process. Learn more about insulation requirements here.

Factors of thermal transmission include placement, reflectiveness, tinting, and more. Therefore, different kinds of windows and doors are required depending on the setting. Learn more about the codes for windows and doors here.

Indoor air quality is a series of tests that verify systems of exhaust, intake air, and filtration. There must be adequate airflow based on how many occupants the building can hold and its size. This will control the levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Learn more on our page about Indoor Air Quality Inspections.

If your home has a cooling component, i.e. a condenser, this test is required. The technician will determine if there are proper levels of coolant in the condenser itself. If there is less refrigerant than recommended at factory set level, the system is known as undercharged. Conversely, if there is too much refrigerant, the system is known as overcharged. The correct amount of coolant will assure that the cooling unit is functioning properly.

Condensers are legally required to be tested. Using an aerometer, and a mass airflow meter, the technician will measure the humidity, pressure, and temperature of the cooling unit. They will measure the volume of air being transferred in cubic feet per minute (CFMs) in order to determine how efficiently the AC unit is working. 

Most single-family residential homes that are altered must have solar panels installed. In this case, PV solar certificate of installation will need to be issued. For more details on exemptions, requirements, or output equations, visit the Energy Code Ace reference tool (2022).

An EXC form may be required to get your building plans to pass. It’s technically a 3R because only a HERS Rater is allowed to sign off on this form. However, its role is to verify the conditions on-site before any alterations are made. This is to satisfy the Building Department by showing the percentage of improvement. To learn more visit our blog post on Existing Conditions Reports.

Our technicians will verify the duct leakage test results when the construction project is at final. This will ensure that all the information in the CF3R is correct. For more information, visit our duct leakage testing page.

Airflow will be double-checked once the construction project has reached it’s final stages. Once the walls and permanent fixtures have been installed, we want to verify the results of the first airflow test.

HERS Raters sign-off on insulation at final. Learn more about insulation requirements here.

Our technicians will test IAQ at the beginning stages of a project, and once again at the end.

Through LEED you can also aquire points and credits for your project. We will help you choose which credits to pursue for the most payback. The amount of points obtained will determine which level of certification you are rewarded: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

Buildings with the Energy Star stamp have higher market value while saving time and resources in the long run. It’s a great return on investment.

We are licensed by CalCERTS to perform energy efficiency audits. A licensed technician will analyze all features of the building for efficiency. An energy audit provides an opportunity to assess what improvements could be made to make the building more efficient.

Not only will money and resources be saved, but creature comfort will improve. We recommend this test be performed every year. This will identify and prevent major expenses, such as overworked HVAC systems that cause system collapse. To learn more, visit our post about Home Energy Ratings.

Energy Efficient Mortgages can also be used for upgrading new homes. In this instance, HERS Raters would be conducting a home energy assessment to help determine the cost effectiveness of upgrades. The expected savings from installing efficiency upgrades will offset the cost of the improvements. Based on these findings, the FHA approves an allocated amount towards energy efficient upgrades. Therefore, the FHA can guarantee an energy package loan to cover initial installation fees by lumping it in with the mortgage. Reach out to our experts for more information about this service.

We know which programs will work best for you. Reach out to our experts today.

For example, 45L is a tax credit that encourages the construction of energy efficient residential properties. Contractors may be eligible for a $2,000 tax credit per energy efficient unit. In order to qualify, a certified field technician must verify the efficiency of the dwelling unit(s) meets the programs standards.

To learn more about the special programs and savings you could qualify for, reach out to our expert team today.