How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report?
Call (626) 365-1518 | Alternative Energy Systems
Beginning the energy-compliance process at the right stage can help prevent missing specifications and conflicting plan information from becoming last-minute permit problems. The question how do you get started with a Title 24 report has a straightforward answer: define the proposed work, contact an experienced energy consultant, submit the current plans, and provide the available building-system information.
Alternative Energy Systems reviews residential, multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial projects throughout California. AES can examine the available drawings, identify which energy details are missing, prepare the applicable calculations, and produce compliance forms that can be coordinated with the permit set.
You do not need to know every technical requirement before making the first call. You should, however, be prepared to explain the project clearly and provide the most current version of the plans.
Call (626) 365-1518 to describe the work, ask which documents are needed, request a project-specific quote, and discuss the anticipated schedule.
How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report Through AES?
The first step is to contact Alternative Energy Systems before the planned permit-submittal date. Explain what is being built, added, converted, remodeled, replaced, or altered.
AES will need to understand whether the project involves:
- New residential construction
- New commercial construction
- An attached or detached ADU
- A garage conversion
- A room or second-story addition
- A residential remodel
- A multifamily improvement
- A commercial tenant improvement
- An HVAC replacement
- A lighting or lighting-control project
- A response to plan-check corrections
- A revision to an existing Title 24 report
After the scope is introduced, AES can explain which plans, schedules, specifications, and supporting documents should be submitted.
The report is based on the actual project design. A property address, building type, and estimated square footage may help introduce the project, but those details alone are not enough to complete the energy analysis.
Step 1: Describe the Proposed Project
A clear project description gives AES the context needed to review the plans correctly.
Provide the following basic information:
- Project address
- Permit jurisdiction
- Residential or commercial property type
- New construction, addition, conversion, or alteration
- Approximate project size
- Current design stage
- Requested completion schedule
- Primary project contact
- Whether a previous energy report exists
- Whether the building department has issued corrections
Avoid relying on a broad description such as “remodel” when the plans include significant energy-related changes.
A more useful description would explain that the project includes a 500-square-foot addition, new windows, altered exterior walls, a replacement HVAC system, and a new water heater.
For commercial work, explain whether the project changes the tenant layout, building envelope, mechanical system, ventilation, lighting fixtures, controls, or service water heating.
Identify the Current Project Stage
Tell AES whether the plans are:
- Conceptual
- Under design
- Nearly permit-ready
- Already submitted to the building department
- Being revised after plan check
- Under construction with design changes
This information helps AES understand whether the project needs preliminary guidance, a new report, an updated report, or assistance with corrections.
Step 2: Contact Alternative Energy Systems
Call Alternative Energy Systems at (626) 365-1518 to introduce the project and discuss the next step.
You may also begin through the contact page or send an introductory message to info@title24energy.com.
The initial communication should include:
- Your name and contact information
- The project address
- A brief description of the work
- The current design stage
- The permit jurisdiction
- Your requested schedule
- A list of the documents currently available
Contact AES before sending unusually large files so the preferred transfer method can be confirmed.
Do not assume that an in-person visit is required. Project documents can generally be reviewed electronically after the submission process has been arranged.
Step 3: Submit the Current Architectural Plans
The current architectural plan set is usually the foundation of the report.
Submit one clearly identified PDF plan set whenever possible. A complete file is generally easier to review than numerous individual plan-sheet attachments.
The plan set may include:
- Cover sheet and project data
- Site plan
- Existing floor plans
- Proposed floor plans
- Exterior elevations
- Building sections
- Roof plan
- Wall, roof, ceiling, and floor details
- Window and exterior-door schedules
- Mechanical plans
- Electrical and lighting plans
- Relevant construction notes
Make sure the file is readable and represents the current design. Low-resolution photographs of printed plans may not provide enough detail for an accurate review.
Before submitting documents, review what AES will need from you.
Clearly Identify the Latest Plan Version
Include the plan date or revision date in the filename or submission message.
A useful filename could be:
- 123-Main-Street-Current-Plans-2026-08-04.pdf
Avoid filenames such as:
- Final-Plans.pdf
- Final-Plans-2.pdf
- New-Plans.pdf
- Attachment.pdf
If more than one version is submitted, state which file AES should use.
Explain Existing and Proposed Construction
Additions, remodels, ADUs, and conversions should clearly distinguish:
- Existing conditioned space
- Existing unconditioned space
- New conditioned space
- Altered walls and openings
- New windows and doors
- Existing systems that will remain
- New or replaced equipment
The consultant should not have to guess which portions of the drawings represent the current building and which portions represent the proposed work.
Step 4: Provide Window and Door Information
Windows and glazed doors can have a significant effect on the energy analysis.
Provide a schedule or specifications showing the available information for:
- Window identification numbers
- Width and height
- Quantity
- Operation type
- Plan location or orientation
- U-factor
- Solar heat gain coefficient
- Frame type when relevant
- Glazing information
- Glazed exterior doors
The window schedule should agree with the floor plans and exterior elevations.
If the exact products have not been selected, tell AES that the specifications remain preliminary. The consultant can identify which performance values must be established before the report is finalized.
Review the Window Schedule Before Submission
Check for common inconsistencies, including:
- Different window sizes on separate sheets
- Windows shown on elevations but missing from the schedule
- Different window identification numbers
- Missing performance values
- Windows changed after the schedule was prepared
Correcting these issues before the analysis begins can reduce the need for revisions later.
Step 5: Provide Insulation and Envelope Details
The plans should identify how the proposed building envelope will be constructed.
Provide applicable information for:
- Exterior walls
- Roofs
- Ceilings
- Attics
- Vaulted or cathedral ceilings
- Floors over unconditioned space
- Raised floors
- Walls between conditioned and unconditioned areas
- Other special envelope conditions
The documents should identify the proposed insulation value and where it will be installed.
A general note stating “insulate per code” may not provide enough project-specific information to complete the analysis.
Clarify the Wall Assemblies
Helpful wall information may include:
- Stud size
- Stud spacing
- Cavity insulation
- Continuous insulation
- Existing or proposed construction
- Special wall conditions
Clarify the Roof and Ceiling Assemblies
The plans should show whether insulation is installed:
- At the ceiling plane
- Along the roof deck
- Within a vaulted ceiling
- Within another roof assembly
Roofing characteristics and cool-roof information may also be needed when applicable.
Step 6: Provide HVAC, Duct, and Ventilation Information
Heating, cooling, air distribution, and ventilation details may affect the calculations and compliance forms.
Provide the available HVAC information, including:
- Heating-system type
- Cooling-system type
- Manufacturer and model when selected
- Heating efficiency
- Cooling efficiency
- Heat-pump information
- Equipment capacity when available
- Equipment location
- Ducted or ductless configuration
- New, existing, or replacement system
If the equipment has not been selected, state that clearly. AES can explain which performance details are needed before completion.
Provide Duct Information
For a ducted system, identify:
- Duct location
- Whether ducts are inside conditioned space
- Duct insulation
- New or existing ductwork
- Whether existing ducts will be extended
- Which portions of the building each system serves
Duct location can influence the analysis and potential field-verification requirements.
Provide Ventilation Information
Ventilation details may include:
- Whole-building ventilation
- Local exhaust
- Outdoor-air systems
- Ventilation-equipment specifications
- Proposed airflow
- Controls or operating schedules
The information required will depend on the residential or commercial project scope.
Step 7: Provide Water-Heating Information
The report may need details about the proposed domestic or service water-heating system.
Provide:
- Water-heater type
- Fuel or energy source
- Manufacturer and model when selected
- Efficiency information
- Storage, tankless, or heat-pump configuration
- Equipment location
- New, existing, or replacement status
- Distribution information when relevant
For multifamily and commercial work, explain whether the system serves an individual unit, a tenant space, several units, or the entire building.
Step 8: Provide Commercial Lighting Information When Applicable
Commercial projects may require lighting-power and lighting-control information.
Provide applicable documents for:
- Lighting floor plans
- Fixture schedules
- Fixture identification numbers
- Fixture wattage
- Fixture quantity
- Room or space use
- Occupancy sensors
- Automatic shutoff controls
- Daylighting controls
- Exterior lighting
- Control notes and diagrams
A reflected ceiling plan without fixture wattage or control information may not contain everything needed to complete the applicable analysis.
The lighting plans, fixture schedule, and control notes should describe the same design.
For related nonresidential support, review Title 24 compliance services and Title 24 energy analysis.
Step 9: Submit Previous Reports and Correction Notices
If a Title 24 report was previously prepared, submit it with the current plans.
Also provide:
- The plan set used for the previous report
- The current revised plans
- A written summary of design changes
- Updated window and insulation information
- Current HVAC specifications
- Updated water-heating information
- Revised commercial lighting documents when applicable
An old report should not automatically be assumed valid for a revised project.
Changes to conditioned floor area, windows, insulation, roofing, HVAC equipment, ducts, ventilation, water heating, lighting, or project scope may require updated calculations or forms.
Submit the Complete Plan-Check Notice
When the building department has issued corrections, send the complete notice rather than copying only one comment into an email.
The correction package should include:
- The complete building-department correction notice
- The latest architectural plan set
- Current mechanical and electrical plans
- The previously submitted Title 24 report
- Updated product and equipment specifications
- A written summary of revisions already made
TheUpdated product and equipment specifications
Step 10: Allow AES to Review the Submission
After receiving the project information, AES reviews the documents to determine whether enough detail is available to begin or complete the energy analysis.
The review may identify:
- Missing plan sheets
- Conflicting floor areas
- Incomplete window specifications
- Unclear insulation assemblies
- Undecided HVAC equipment
- Missing duct-location information
- Incomplete ventilation details
- Missing water-heating specifications
- Incomplete commercial lighting information
- Differences between revised plans and a previous report
Not every missing item prevents the review from starting. However, certain information may need to be resolved before the final calculations and forms can be completed.
Respond to document requests with updated plans or specifications rather than informal estimates whenever possible.
Receive the Project Quote
The project scope, building type, size, complexity, plan quality, requested schedule, and revision needs can affect pricing.
A meaningful quote generally requires more information than a short verbal description.
Review Title 24 report pricing in California or call (626) 365-1518 to discuss your project.
Confirm the Schedule
Turnaround depends on the project and the completeness of the submitted information.
Factors that can affect timing include:
- Project size and complexity
- Incomplete plans
- Missing product data
- Conflicting plan information
- Design changes made during the analysis
- Commercial lighting revisions
- Existing correction comments
- How quickly requested information is supplied
Do not assume a completion date until AES has reviewed the project and confirmed the schedule.
Step 11: Complete the Energy Analysis
Once the necessary project information is available, AES can complete the applicable energy analysis.
The review may address:
- Conditioned floor area
- Building orientation
- Wall, roof, ceiling, and floor assemblies
- Window area and performance
- Exterior-door characteristics
- Heating and cooling equipment
- Duct location
- Ventilation
- Water heating
- Residential lighting measures
- Commercial lighting power and controls
- Other applicable compliance measures
The completed analysis is used to prepare project-specific compliance forms.
A Title 24 report should reflect the current project rather than a generic building description or an outdated plan set.
Step 12: Coordinate the Report With the Plans
The energy report and construction drawings must describe the same project.
After the report is prepared, the project team should confirm that the plans reflect the energy measures used in the analysis.
Review the documents for consistency involving:
- Conditioned floor area
- Window sizes and performance values
- Insulation levels
- Roof characteristics
- HVAC equipment
- Duct location
- Ventilation systems
- Water-heating equipment
- Commercial lighting fixtures
- Lighting controls
A correct calculation based on an outdated design can still create a permitting problem when the forms do not match the current plans.
The architect, designer, contractor, or responsible project professional should incorporate the applicable energy measures into the permit set.
How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report for Residential Projects?
For a residential project, begin by sending AES the current architectural plans and available specifications for the building envelope, windows, HVAC system, ventilation, and water heating.
Residential projects may include:
- New single-family homes
- New multifamily buildings
- Detached ADUs
- Attached ADUs
- Garage conversions
- Room additions
- Second-story additions
- Major residential remodels
- Window or envelope alterations
- HVAC replacements
A useful residential starting package includes:
- Complete architectural plans
- Existing and proposed floor plans
- Exterior elevations
- Building sections
- Roof plan and details
- Window and door schedule
- Insulation notes
- HVAC specifications
- Duct-location information
- Ventilation details
- Water-heating information
Getting Started With an ADU Report
For an ADU, submit:
- ADU floor plan
- Exterior elevations
- Building sections
- Roof plan
- Window and door schedule
- Insulation details
- HVAC information
- Ventilation specifications
- Water-heating information
For an attached ADU or garage conversion, the plans should clearly distinguish existing construction from the new conditioned living area.
Visit the ADU Title 24 page for related information.
Getting Started With an Addition Report
Addition plans should show:
- The existing residence
- The new conditioned floor area
- Removed or altered walls
- New exterior walls
- New windows and doors
- Roof and ceiling assemblies
- HVAC extensions or new equipment
- Water-heating changes when applicable
Explain whether the existing HVAC system will serve the addition or whether new equipment is proposed.
Getting Started With a Remodel Report
Identify the energy-related portions of the remodel, including:
- Replacement windows
- Altered exterior walls
- New insulation
- Roofing changes
- HVAC replacement
- Ventilation changes
- Water-heating replacement
- Expanded conditioned space
How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report for Commercial Projects?
Commercial projects may require coordinated architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting, and control documents.
Begin by providing:
- Architectural plan set
- Tenant-improvement scope
- Building-envelope details
- Mechanical plans
- HVAC equipment schedules
- Ventilation information
- Service water-heating details
- Electrical plans
- Lighting fixture schedules
- Lighting-control plans
- Existing correction comments
Commercial projects may include:
- New nonresidential buildings
- Office tenant improvements
- Retail build-outs
- Restaurant improvements
- Warehouse alterations
- Mixed-use projects
- Commercial HVAC replacements
- Interior lighting alterations
- Exterior lighting projects
- Multifamily common-area improvements
Identify the design professional responsible for each discipline so questions can be directed to the correct person.
Can You Start Before the Plans Are Complete?
You can contact AES while the project is still under design.
Preliminary review may identify missing decisions before the plans are finalized. This can be useful when the project team is still evaluating:
- Window products
- Insulation assemblies
- Roofing characteristics
- HVAC equipment
- Duct locations
- Ventilation systems
- Water-heating equipment
- Commercial lighting fixtures
- Lighting controls
The final report still requires enough information to represent the proposed design accurately.
Starting early does not mean unsupported assumptions should be used. It gives the project team time to identify and resolve the information needed for completion.
Common Problems That Can Delay the Start
The process may be delayed when AES cannot determine which plans or specifications represent the current project.
Common problems include:
- No clear project description
- Missing floor plans
- Several unlabeled plan versions
- Conflicting conditioned floor areas
- Window schedules that do not match the elevations
- Missing window performance values
- No defined insulation assemblies
- Unclear roof construction
- Undecided HVAC equipment
- No duct-location information
- Missing ventilation details
- No water-heating specifications
- Incomplete commercial lighting schedules
- Missing lighting-control information
- Correction comments without the current plans
- Revised plans without a change summary
A clean and clearly labeled submission can reduce unnecessary back-and-forth before the analysis begins.
Why Choose Alternative Energy Systems?
Alternative Energy Systems provides experienced energy-compliance support for homeowners, contractors, architects, designers, developers, property managers, and commercial clients throughout California.
AES brings more than 30 years of experience to:
- New residential construction
- New commercial construction
- ADUs and garage conversions
- Additions and remodels
- Multifamily improvements
- Commercial tenant improvements
- HVAC and lighting projects
- Plan-check corrections
- Revisions to existing reports
AES reviews the actual project information, identifies missing details, prepares the applicable analysis, and helps coordinate the resulting forms with the current permit plans.
Learn more about the company on the About Us page or review its professional background on the clients page.
Start Your Title 24 Report With AES
Call (626) 365-1518 | Alternative Energy Systems
Understanding how do you get started with a Title 24 report gives you a clear path forward. Begin by defining the project, contacting AES, and submitting one clearly identified current plan set with the available specifications.
Alternative Energy Systems can review the documents, identify missing information, provide a project-specific quote, prepare the applicable energy analysis, and assist when the plans require revision or the building department issues corrections.
Call (626) 365-1518 to:
- Describe your residential or commercial project
- Ask which documents should be submitted
- Confirm the preferred document-transfer method
- Request a project-specific quote
- Discuss the anticipated turnaround
- Request help with plan-check corrections
- Update an existing report after design changes
You may also begin through the contact page.
- Phone: (626) 365-1518
- Email: info@title24energy.com
- Payment: AES Payment
Do not wait until the planned permit-submittal date to begin organizing the energy documentation. Instead of wondering How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report, simply call Alternative Energy Systems at (626) 365-1518 and start the Title 24 report process with a professional review of your project.
Frequently Asked Questions: How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report?
How Do You Get Started With a Title 24 Report?
Start by contacting Alternative Energy Systems, describing the proposed work, and submitting the current plans with the available window, insulation, HVAC, ventilation, water-heating, and lighting information.
Who can request a Title 24 report?
A homeowner, contractor, architect, designer, developer, property manager, business owner, or authorized project representative can request a report.
What should I send first?
Send a project summary and the current architectural plans. Include supporting specifications and correction documents when available.
Do the plans need to be finished?
No. AES can review preliminary plans and identify missing information. Enough detail must be available before the final calculations and forms can be completed.
Can I submit the plans electronically?
Project documents can generally be reviewed electronically after the transfer method has been arranged with AES.
What should the project summary include?
Include the project address, jurisdiction, property type, proposed scope, design stage, requested schedule, primary contact, and whether a previous report or correction notice exists.
What window information is needed?
Provide window sizes, quantities, locations, U-factors, solar heat gain coefficients, and other available performance information.
What HVAC information should I provide?
Provide the system type, efficiency, equipment specifications, location, duct information, and ventilation details when available.
What should I submit for an ADU?
Submit the ADU plans, elevations, sections, roof details, window schedule, insulation notes, HVAC information, ventilation details, and water-heating specifications.
What is needed for a commercial project?
Commercial projects may require architectural, mechanical, electrical, lighting, control, ventilation, and service water-heating documents.
Should I submit an old Title 24 report?
Yes. Also submit the plans used for the old report, the current plans, and a written summary of all design changes.
What should I send after receiving plan-check corrections?
Send the complete correction notice, latest plans, previous report, updated specifications, and a summary of revisions already made.
How much does it cost to get started?
Pricing depends on the building type, project size, complexity, plan completeness, requested turnaround, and whether corrections or revisions are involved.
How long will the report take?
Timing depends on project complexity and the completeness of the submitted information. Call (626) 365-1518 to discuss the schedule.
Does a Title 24 report guarantee permit approval?
No. The report supports the energy-compliance portion of the application, but the complete project remains subject to review by the applicable building department.
How do I contact AES?
Call Alternative Energy Systems at (626) 365-1518, email info@title24energy.com, or use the contact page.
