Welcome to the CalBEM Resource Hub, a space to share California-centric BEM tools and resources. Do you have a suggested document to join the Resource Hub? Click here to learn how to submit a resource.

  • Featured Resource!
    Research Report: Enhanced Energy Modeling Methods for Electric Battery
    Do PV batteries modeled for compliance align with real-world battery behavior? The 2019 California energy code adopted criteria for minimum energy allowances for on-site PV and batteries. This study investigates battery algorithms and methods used to represent battery controls, often called rulesets, and currently used in Title 24 compliance software to assess the accuracy of representation. The study seeks to identify and evaluate the feasible enhancements to these algorithms and rulesets.
  • The Impact of the California Utility Allowance Calculator and the Benefits of Standardization within California Title 24 Software
    The California Utility Allowance Calculator (CUAC) played a key role in creating the largest portfolio in North America of all-electric, 100% solar offset residences; designing at least 53% of California’s all-electric housing between 2014 and 2019; and providing an average of 5% more development budget when affordable housing is built all-electric and 100% offset. This paper details how moving the CUAC into Title 24 compliance software would provide benefits to many constituencies in the State, particularly affordable housing tenants, developers and affordable housing funding agencies, while also strongly incentivizing all-electric, solar powered housing to meet the State’s climate goals.
  • Building Design Case Study Books
    New volume released in 2022! This series is completely free to view online, highlighting what sustainable building results can be achieved with the aid of energy modeling. Over the course of the series the focus has shifted from zero net energy (ZNE) to all-electric designs, reflecting California’s goal of a carbon-free electrical grid by 2045.
  • CBECC-Com FAQ Series
    A new series of CBECC-Com technical aids produced by NORESCO. These explanatory documents aim to help you with modeling for California’s 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards: Title 24, Part 6.
  • Report: Recommendations for BEM Education in California
    At CalBEM 2019, Working Group 2 identified a need for an in-depth exploration of existing BEM educational resources in order to identify and remedy gaps. The project was approved by the CalBEM Steering Committee and funded by Southern California Edison, culminating in the release of this report in November 2021.
  • Software Efficiency Intake Form
    Do you have an idea for how a new technology or simulation functionality could expand energy modeling software and code compliance capabilities? Submit your idea here!
  • Ecosizer
    The Ecosizer is a free educational tool for sizing central water heating systems with heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) in multifamily buildings. The tool is designed to support the building industry adoption of HPWHs to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Ecosizer also provides educational information on central HPWH system designs to other stakeholders.
  • BEM Benchmarking
    This interactive benchmarking tool from Southern California Edison (SCE) serves up 6 categories of energy use and emissions data on 15 building types, 3 code vintages, 16 climate zones, 3 operation customizations, and 13 end uses. You can view the results in up to 12 different graphical configurations and export the hourly data as a CSV file.
  • California Technical Forum (Cal TF)
    The CalTF has expertise in incentive topics related to building energy modeling and interactions with the CPUC related to building energy modeling. 
    http://caltf.org
  • California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC)
    CABEC is a non-profit organization that provides up-to-date, reliable information about the California Title 24, Part 6 Energy Standards and related building energy efficiency topics.
    https://cabec.org/
    Check out CABEC’s BEM resource hub: https://cabec.org/sharesource/

  • Emerging Technologies Coordinating Council (ETCC)
    The ETCC is a collaborative of seven member organizations (CEC and IOUs) that research how emerging and underutilized technologies can help fulfill California’s legislative and policy objectives.
    https://www.etcc-ca.com/

  • International Building Performance Simulation Association – IBPSA-USA
    IBPSA-USA strives to advance and promote the science of building simulation in order to improve the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of new and existing buildings in the United States. IBPSA-USA is the United States regional affiliate of the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA).
    https://www.ibpsa.us/
    http://www.ibpsa.org/