Local Energy Audits
NJ Energy Code Check

Compliance Pathways

The NJ UCC offers five distinct pathways for compliance to the energy provisions:

  1. Prescriptive Pathway
  2. UA Tradeoff - typically using REScheck software
  3. Total Building Performance - using approved software
  4. Energy Rating Index (ERI) via Energy Star Homes

Regardless of the pathway followed, there are also mandatory requirements that must be met, including:

Here are more details about each pathway:

Prescriptive Pathway

Both the 2021 IRC and 2021 IECC contain tables that prescribe minimum insulation and fenstration performance levels by geographic location.  This is the simplest compliance path.  Each component in the building envelope must meet the minimum requirement.  No further energy analysis is required.

Learn more about the specific requirements on the Envelope page of this website.

There is a major change from the 2018 codes: now, in order for builders to follow the prescriptive path, they must also agree to install one of a number of "Additional Efficiency Package" measures. There are four options to select from:

  1. Install enhanced performance envelope
    • UA 95% or less of UA attained from prescriptive table, AND
    • Area Weighted window SHGC 95% or less of SHGC from prescriptive table
  2. Install ALL high efficiency heating and cooling equipment:
    • 95+% AFUE gas furnace and 16+SEER AC, OR
    • 10+ HSPF / 16+ SEER air source heat pump, OR
    • 3.5+ COP ground source heat pump
  3. Install ALL high efficiency water heating equipment:
    • 0.82+ EF fossil fuel water heater, OR
    • 2.0+ EF electric water heater (i.e. hybrid/heat pump), OR
    • 0.4+ EF solar fraction solar water heating system
  4. Install more duct thermal distribution system:
    • ALL ducts and air handlers inside building thermal envelope, OR
    • ENTIRE ductless or hyrdronic distribution system inside building thermal envelope, OR
    • ENTIRE duct thermal distribution system located in conditioned space (per Section R403.3.2 or IECC)
  5. Improved air sealing and efficient ventilation system:
    • Measured air leakage 3.0 ACH or less, AND
    • HRV or ERV installed with
      •  75+% Sensible Recovery Efficiency
      • 1.1+ cfm/watt
      • No recirculation for defrost
      • ERV: 50+% Latent Recovery

Total UA Alternative

The 2021 IRC/IECC allows a builder to decrease the insulating value (higher U-factor) one component if it is equalized by increasing the insulating value (lower U-factor) of another component. As long as the total UA (U-factor x Surface Area) is equal to or lower than what it would have been if the house had been built to the prescriptive tables, the house is compliant. Utilizing this pathway requires evaluation of the building with approved software.

The software most commonly used for UA analysis is REScheck, which is available free from the federal government. Click the logo to go to the download site.

REScheck Logo

There is a major change from the 2018 codes: now, in order for builders to follow the Total UA Alternative path, they must also agree to install one of a number of "Additional Efficiency Package" measures. There are four options to select from:

  1. Install enhanced performance envelope
    • UA 95% or less of UA attained from prescriptive table, AND
    • Area Weighted window SHGC 95% or less of SHGC from prescriptive table
  2. Install ALL high efficiency heating and cooling equipment:
    • 95+% AFUE gas furnace and 16+SEER AC, OR
    • 10+ HSPF / 16+ SEER air source heat pump, OR
    • 3.5+ COP ground source heat pump
  3. Install ALL high efficiency water heating equipment:
    • 0.82+ EF fossil fuel water heater, OR
    • 2.0+ EF electric water heater (i.e. hybrid/heat pump), OR
    • 0.4+ EF solar fraction solar water heating system
  4. Install more duct thermal distribution system:
    • ALL ducts and air handlers inside building thermal envelope, OR
    • ENTIRE ductless or hyrdronic distribution system inside building thermal envelope, OR
    • ENTIRE duct thermal distribution system located in conditioned space (per Section R403.3.2 or IECC)
  5. Improved air sealing and efficient ventilation system:
    • Measured air leakage 3.0 ACH or less, AND
    • HRV or ERV installed with
      •  75+% Sensible Recovery Efficiency
      • 1.1+ cfm/watt
      • No recirculation for defrost
      • ERV: 50+% Latent Recovery

Total Building Performance Alternative

The 2021 IRC/IECC also allows a builder to decrease the insulation levels in the building by implementing equalizing improvements in heating, cooling, or water heating systems.  As long as the total projected energy cost is equal to or lower than what it would have been if the house had been built to the prescriptive tables and other assumptions detailed in the codes, the house is compliant.  Utilizing this pathway requires evaluation of the building with approved software.  (This pathway was also allowed in the 2018 IECC, though it was called "Simulated Performance Alternative".)

There are several software packages available to complete this analysis.  Here are some of the most common:

There is a major change from the 2018 codes: now, in order for builders to follow the Total Building Performance Alternative path, they must also agree to install one of a number of "Additional Efficiency Package" measures. There are five options to select from:

  1. Install enhanced performance envelope
    • UA 95% or less of UA attained from prescriptive table, AND
    • Area Weighted window SHGC 95% or less of SHGC from prescriptive table
  2. Install ALL high efficiency heating and cooling equipment:
    • 95+% AFUE gas furnace and 16+SEER AC, OR
    • 10+ HSPF / 16+ SEER air source heat pump, OR
    • 3.5+ COP ground source heat pump
  3. Install ALL high efficiency water heating equipment:
    • 0.82+ EF fossil fuel water heater, OR
    • 2.0+ EF electric water heater (i.e. hybrid/heat pump), OR
    • 0.4+ EF solar fraction solar water heating system
  4. Install more duct thermal distribution system:
    • ALL ducts and air handlers inside building thermal envelope, OR
    • ENTIRE ductless or hyrdronic distribution system inside building thermal envelope, OR
    • ENTIRE duct thermal distribution system located in conditioned space (per Section R403.3.2 or IECC)
  5. Improved air sealing and efficient ventilation system:
    • Measured air leakage 3.0 ACH or less, AND
    • HRV or ERV installed with
      •  75+% Sensible Recovery Efficiency
      • 1.1+ cfm/watt
      • No recirculation for defrost
      • ERV: 50+% Latent Recovery
  6. Design the building to have an annual energy cost of 95% or less of the reference design, as calculated by the software.

Energy Rating Index (ERI) Alternative

Another option allows a builder to incorporate lighting and appliances into the compliance calculations.  For example, a house could trade off a lower ceiling insulation value for a higher efficiency heater or a higher percentage of high efficacy lighting.  Utilizing this pathway requires evaluation of the building with approved software that estimates the total energy use with an Energy Rating Index (ERI). 

The ERI uses a 0-100 scale where a rating of 100 equates to a house built to the 2006 IECC prescriptive requirements. A rating of 0 would be applied to a house that generates just enough renewable energy to offset its annual consumption.  The most common ERI is the HERS Rating, which is generated using systems created and controlled by RESNET.

HERS Index Graphic

To be compliant, a home must have an ERI below a threshold listed in the IECC that is based on the climate zone. 

There are several software packages available to complete an ERI analysis.  Here are some of the most common:

An ERI must be generated by a certified rater. Certified raters can be found at:

RESNET Logo

NJ DCA Bulletin 22-1 encourages builders who want to use the ERI pathway to enroll in the "Clean Energy Program for Residential New Construction" (formerly "NJ Energy Star Homes), which also provided financial incentives. Program documents can be used to obtain and close permits.

NJCEP Logo

 

Pathway Graphic