Revised 2022 Alternative Calculation Method (ACM) Reference Manuals
Summary
SCH Number
2025011037
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Revised 2022 Alternative Calculation Method (ACM) Reference Manuals
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/30/2025
Document Description
Public Resources Code, section 25402.1(e) directs the California Energy Commission (CEC) to certify an energy conservation manual for use by designers, builders, and contractors of residential and nonresidential buildings no later than 180 days after approval of the updates to Part 6 and Part 1 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (Energy Code). To implement the requirement of section 25402.1(e), CEC staff developed an energy conservation manual for the 2022 Energy Code that is comprised of several documents, including residential and nonresidential compliance manuals, residential and nonresidential alternative compliance method reference manuals, a data registry requirements manual, and other compliance forms, all of which contain information to assist designers, builders, and contractors in meeting the 2022 Energy Code, including forms, charts, and other data. As part of developing the energy conservation manual, the CEC developed new content for the Single-Family Residential Alternative Calculation Method Reference Manual and the Nonresidential and Multifamily Alternative Calculation Method Reference Manual (ACM Reference Manuals), which document the modeling methods used in the 2022 compliance software to demonstrate performance compliance with the 2022 Energy Code. The CEC certified the ACM Reference Manuals at the June 8, 2022, CEC Business Meeting. To maintain the 2022 ACM Reference Manuals as required by section 25402.1(e), CEC staff develop updates to the manuals. Updates include language to cover new compliance software modeling features, corrections and clarifications to previous language to better match intended compliance software behavior, and revisions to account for compliance software bug fixes. The CEC certified the revised 2022 ACM Reference Manuals at the January 21, 2025, Business Meeting
Contact Information
Name
Will Vicent
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Deputy Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Sacramento
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Northern California
Zip
95814
Other Location Info
715 P Street
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense (SEC. 15061(b)(3))
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA does not apply to an action where the “activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, section 15060(c)(2).). The CEC certifies an energy conservation manual to assist interested persons with complying with the Energy Code, pursuant to Public Resources Code, section 25402.1(e). The energy conservation manual provides information regarding the 2022 Energy Code, which was previously adopted on August 11, 2021, and approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 14, 2021. The energy conservation manual does not impose any new requirements and therefore has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Accordingly, the energy conservation manual, including the ACM Reference Manuals do not meet the definition of a project under CEQA.
Further, even if the ACM Reference Manuals were considered a “project,” they would not be subject to the CEQA under the "common sense" exemption (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, section 15061(b)(3)) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ACM Reference Manuals may have a significant effect on the environment. The ACM Reference Manuals act as a reference and instructional guide that reiterates the language and requirements already contained in the 2022 Energy Code. The ACM Reference Manuals contain no new requirements to comply with the 2022 Energy Code. Thus, the ACM Reference Manuals do not have the potential to have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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