What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports?

A Title 24 report may look like a collection of forms and technical figures, but behind those pages is a detailed building model that must accurately represent the proposed construction. This leads many homeowners, contractors, architects, and developers to ask: What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports for California permit applications?

The direct answer is that performance-based Title 24 reports must be prepared with compliance software approved by the California Energy Commission for the applicable Energy Code cycle, building occupancy, and project scope. For projects governed by the 2025 Energy Code, approved programs include California Building Energy Code Compliance software, commonly called CBECC, along with approved third-party programs such as EnergyPro, IES VE, and Right-Energy.

These programs are not interchangeable in every situation. One application may be approved for single-family, multifamily, and nonresidential projects, while another may be limited to new single-family construction or new nonresidential buildings. The selected program and version must match the actual permit project.

Title24Energy.com removes the guesswork by reviewing your plans, identifying the applicable compliance pathway, and using appropriate California Energy Commission-approved software for the project. Call or text (626) 365-1518 to discuss your plans before permit submission instead of trying to figure out What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports.

What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports Under the 2025 Energy Code?

Permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, generally must use compliance software and forms approved for the 2025 Energy Code. The approved program must also support the building classification and construction scope being modeled.

The principal software choices currently include:

• CBECC: California’s public-domain compliance software for applicable single-family, multifamily, and nonresidential projects
• EnergyPro: Third-party compliance software approved for applicable single-family, multifamily, and nonresidential projects
• IES VE Title 24: Approved for qualifying new nonresidential construction
• Right-Energy Title 24: Approved for qualifying new single-family residential construction

Approved versions can change as programs are updated, replaced, corrected, or allowed to expire. A professional consultant should therefore confirm the current California Energy Commission approval list at the time the energy model is prepared rather than relying on the name of a program alone.

CBECC Compliance Software

CBECC stands for California Building Energy Code Compliance. It is the public-domain software developed for demonstrating performance compliance with California’s residential, multifamily, and nonresidential energy standards.

The current CBECC platform can be used for applicable:

• Single-family residential buildings
• Low-rise multifamily buildings
• Nonresidential buildings
• New construction
• Additions
• Alterations supported by the approved version

CBECC creates a proposed building model based on the project information entered by the energy consultant. It then evaluates that design under the applicable Energy Code rules and compares it with the standard design established for compliance purposes.

Because CBECC is publicly available, someone may assume that downloading the program is all that is needed to produce a permit-ready report. In reality, the quality of the result depends on the accuracy of the model. Floor area, orientation, glazing, insulation, mechanical systems, ventilation, water heating, solar features, battery systems, and project scope must all be entered and classified correctly.

EnergyPro

EnergyPro is third-party compliance software approved for applicable single-family, multifamily, and nonresidential performance modeling. It is widely used by energy consultants because it can support different building types and provide a professional workflow for preparing energy-compliance calculations and forms.

EnergyPro may be appropriate for:

• New homes and residential additions
• Accessory dwelling units
• Residential alterations
• Low-rise multifamily projects
• Commercial buildings
• Tenant improvements
• Mixed project scopes supported by the approved version

The program name by itself does not make every report valid. The installed version must be approved for the applicable code cycle and scope. The consultant must also model the project accurately and coordinate the output with the permit drawings.

IES VE Title 24

IES Virtual Environment Title 24 is an approved third-party option for qualifying new nonresidential construction under the 2025 Energy Code. It may be useful for advanced commercial building analysis where the project team is already working within a detailed whole-building simulation environment.

Its approval is limited to the occupancies and project scopes identified by the California Energy Commission. It should not be selected automatically for a residential addition, remodel, or other project outside its approved use.

Right-Energy Title 24

Right-Energy Title 24 is an approved third-party program for qualifying new single-family residential construction. Its approval does not automatically extend to every residential addition, alteration, multifamily development, or commercial project.

This is an important example of why the answer to What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports depends on more than personal preference. The selected program must be authorized for the exact project category being submitted.

What Happened to CBECC-Res and CBECC-Com?

Older Title 24 reports and online resources often refer to CBECC-Res for residential projects and CBECC-Com for commercial or nonresidential modeling. Those names remain relevant when discussing earlier Energy Code cycles, archived reports, and older permit applications.

For the 2025 Energy Code, the California Energy Commission’s current approved-software list uses the unified CBECC name for applicable single-family, multifamily, and nonresidential projects. A report created under an earlier code cycle may still display the older program name because it was prepared using the software approved when that permit was submitted.

Do not attempt to update an old project simply by opening its files in a newer program. Changes between code cycles can affect modeling rules, mandatory measures, standard-design assumptions, forms, software inputs, and report output. The project should be reviewed under the code cycle that applies to its permit.

The Importance of CEC-Approved Software

The performance method allows a proposed building to be evaluated as an integrated energy system. Instead of checking only a fixed list of individual component values, approved software compares the proposed design with a standard design established by the Energy Code.

This flexibility can be valuable when a project includes architectural features that do not fit neatly within a basic prescriptive package. Improved performance in one qualifying area may help offset another design choice, subject to mandatory requirements and the modeling rules.

California regulates this process because different programs must produce consistent and dependable compliance results. The California Energy Commission establishes approval procedures, simulation rules, reporting requirements, and limits on the occupancies or scopes supported by each program.

Generic energy calculators, spreadsheets, load-calculation programs, architectural drafting software, and general building-simulation tools do not become approved Title 24 performance software merely because they can estimate energy use.

Approved Software Must Match the Code Cycle

A program approved for the 2022 Energy Code should not be used to demonstrate performance compliance for a permit governed by the 2025 Energy Code. Likewise, a newly approved version should not automatically be substituted into an older permitted project without confirming the enforcement agency’s requirements.

The permit application date is therefore one of the first details that should be established before modeling begins.

Approved Software Must Match the Occupancy

Single-family, low-rise multifamily, high-rise multifamily, hotel, motel, and nonresidential buildings can be subject to different compliance rules and documentation categories. The selected software must support the project’s correct classification.

Approved Software Must Match the Construction Scope

A program may be approved for new construction but not for additions or alterations. The energy consultant must verify whether the software is authorized for:

• Newly constructed buildings
• Additions to existing buildings
• Alterations to existing buildings
• The specific occupancy being modeled

Selecting a familiar program without confirming these limitations can lead to invalid output or a permit package that the building department cannot accept.

Prescriptive Forms Versus Performance Software

Not every project requires a full computer performance model. California permits can demonstrate compliance through either the prescriptive method or the performance method when the applicable standards permit that choice.

Prescriptive Compliance

The prescriptive method follows specified requirements for individual building components and systems. A project may demonstrate that its insulation, windows, HVAC equipment, water heating, lighting, controls, and other features satisfy the applicable prescriptive criteria.

Some prescriptive forms can be completed without creating a complete performance simulation. Online form tools and fillable compliance documents may assist with form preparation, but those resources should not be confused with approved performance-modeling software.

Performance Compliance

The performance method uses approved computer software to evaluate the proposed design against the standard design. It can provide greater design flexibility, but it requires careful building modeling and accurate project data.

Performance modeling may be useful when:

• The project does not fit a straightforward prescriptive package
• The design relies on efficiency trade-offs
• Window area or orientation affects compliance
• Several building systems must be evaluated together
• The project team wants to compare potential design options
• The applicable permit documents require a performance certificate

The choice between prescriptive and performance compliance should be made based on the actual plans, code requirements, and design objectives—not simply on which software appears easiest to operate.

What Information Is Entered Into Title 24 Software?

Approved software is only as reliable as the information entered into it. Preparing a professional model requires the consultant to study the drawings and translate the proposed construction into a technically accurate digital representation.

Project and Site Information

The model may include:

• Project address
• Permit scope
• Applicable Energy Code cycle
• Building occupancy
• California climate zone
• Building orientation
• Existing and proposed construction
• Conditioned and unconditioned areas

Building Geometry

The software may require detailed information about:

• Conditioned floor area
• Number of stories
• Ceiling heights
• Wall dimensions
• Roof and ceiling areas
• Floor and slab areas
• Window and exterior-door sizes
• Window orientation
• Adjacency to outdoor, ground, attic, garage, or other spaces

A small geometry error can affect wall area, glazing percentage, heating and cooling loads, and the calculated energy result.

Envelope Assemblies

The consultant may enter:

• Wall construction
• Roof and ceiling assemblies
• Floor and slab assemblies
• Insulation type and value
• Framing characteristics
• Cool-roof information
• Window U-factor
• Window solar heat gain coefficient
• Exterior-door performance
• Air-sealing features

Mechanical and Ventilation Systems

The model may also include:

• Heating and cooling equipment type
• Equipment efficiency
• System capacity
• Heat-pump characteristics
• Duct location and insulation
• Duct leakage assumptions
• Thermostat and control features
• Whole-building ventilation
• Local exhaust systems
• Economizers for applicable nonresidential systems

Water Heating, Solar, and Battery Systems

Depending on the project, the report may evaluate:

• Water-heater type and efficiency
• Fuel source
• Distribution design
• Recirculation systems
• Solar photovoltaic capacity
• Battery-storage features
• Electric-ready measures

Lighting and Commercial Systems

Applicable nonresidential models may include lighting power, space use, control systems, daylighting zones, outdoor lighting, electrical distribution, mechanical controls, refrigeration, and other covered processes.

This is why a set of complete, coordinated plans produces a better report than an informal description of the project.

How Software Turns Plans Into a Title 24 Report

The software does not read a plan set and make every decision automatically. A trained user must review the documents, classify the construction correctly, select the appropriate inputs, and examine the results for conflicts or unreasonable assumptions.

Step 1: Review the Permit Scope

The consultant determines what is being built, added, converted, replaced, or altered. This establishes which portions of the building must be included and which code provisions are likely to apply.

Step 2: Confirm the Code Cycle and Building Type

The permit date, occupancy, number of stories, dwelling configuration, and proposed use help determine which forms and software options are appropriate.

Step 3: Build the Digital Model

The architectural geometry, envelope assemblies, glazing, mechanical equipment, ventilation, water heating, lighting, solar features, and other applicable systems are entered into the program.

Step 4: Run the Compliance Analysis

The software applies the approved modeling rules and compares the proposed design with the applicable standard design. The results help identify whether the project complies under the selected performance pathway.

Step 5: Resolve Design Conflicts

If the design does not comply, the project team can review potential adjustments. Depending on the project, these may involve insulation, windows, equipment efficiency, duct design, ventilation, water heating, lighting, solar features, or another regulated component.

Step 6: Generate the Compliance Documents

Once the model accurately represents a compliant design, the appropriate performance certificates and supporting output can be generated for coordination with the permit plans.

Step 7: Review the Forms Against the Drawings

The final step is critical. Floor area, window values, insulation, equipment, lighting, and other specifications should be checked against the latest plan revision before the report is submitted.

How the Correct Software Can Support Permit Approval

The right program does not guarantee approval by itself, but it gives the consultant an authorized platform for preparing the required performance analysis. Professional judgment is still needed to create a model that accurately reflects the proposed building.

Using suitable software can help the project team:

• Select the correct compliance pathway
• Evaluate building-envelope performance
• Compare window and insulation options
• Coordinate mechanical-system efficiency
• Identify required verification measures
• Document applicable solar and battery features
• Generate project-specific compliance certificates
• Respond to energy-related plan-check corrections

The goal is not merely to make the software display a passing result. The goal is to produce a defensible permit package that matches the construction documents and can be followed in the field. If you’re still trying to figure out What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports, then waste no more time. Simply give us a call and we’ll help you get started.

Common Software and Modeling Mistakes

Many report problems are caused by user input, project classification, or plan coordination rather than a defect in the approved software.

Using the Wrong Code Cycle

A report created under an earlier Energy Code may not be valid for a new permit application. The consultant should confirm the applicable cycle before beginning the model.

Using an Expired or Unapproved Version

Software versions can be updated or allowed to expire. The current approval status should be checked when the report is prepared and again if a project remains inactive for an extended period.

Selecting the Wrong Occupancy

Modeling a multifamily or nonresidential building as a single-family residence can apply the wrong assumptions, forms, and requirements.

Entering Incorrect Floor Area

Garages, covered patios, unconditioned storage areas, existing rooms, additions, and converted spaces must be classified correctly. An inaccurate conditioned floor area can materially affect the result.

Modeling Windows Incorrectly

Window quantity, size, orientation, U-factor, and solar heat gain coefficient should match the plans and product schedule.

Using Placeholder Equipment That Never Gets Updated

Preliminary equipment assumptions may become inconsistent with the final mechanical schedule. The report should be updated when the selected system differs from the modeled system.

Ignoring Plan Revisions

Changes to room dimensions, ceiling heights, windows, insulation, HVAC, water heating, lighting, or solar design can require revisions to the energy model.

Treating a Passing Result as the Only Quality Check

A model can produce a passing result and still describe the wrong building. The report must be reviewed for accuracy, internal consistency, and agreement with the drawings.

Can Homeowners or Contractors Use Title 24 Software?

Some compliance programs are publicly available, and a homeowner, contractor, or designer may be able to download and operate them. Access to the software, however, does not replace knowledge of the Energy Code or experience interpreting construction plans.

A first-time user must learn how to:

• Determine the correct project classification
• Select the applicable code cycle
• Model building geometry
• Define envelope assemblies
• Enter mechanical and ventilation systems
• Interpret compliance results
• Recognize unreasonable default assumptions
• Generate the appropriate documents
• Coordinate the forms with the plans
• Respond to plan-check corrections

A project with incomplete drawings or unusual design conditions can be especially difficult to model. Paying for professional preparation may cost less than losing time to rejected forms, incorrect product selections, repeated revisions, or a permit package that does not match the intended construction.

Software Does Not Replace Professional Plan Review

Energy-compliance software performs calculations based on the information supplied by the user. It does not independently verify that the window schedule matches the elevations, that the mechanical equipment is available, or that the proposed assemblies can be constructed as drawn.

A professional report should include a reasoned review of:

• The permit scope
• The latest plan revision
• Existing versus proposed construction
• Conditioned versus unconditioned space
• Architectural dimensions
• Window specifications
• Envelope details
• Mechanical equipment
• Ventilation requirements
• Water-heating systems
• Lighting and controls when applicable
• Required installation and verification documents

For more information about who may prepare the calculations and documents, review who can legally prepare a Title 24 report in California.

How Title24Energy.com Selects the Appropriate Software

Title24Energy.com begins with the project rather than forcing every design into the same modeling program. The online remote process allows plans to be reviewed digitally for projects throughout California.

We Identify the Applicable Project Category

The building occupancy, permit scope, number of stories, conditioned floor area, and proposed use are reviewed to determine whether the project is single-family, multifamily, nonresidential, or another applicable category.

We Confirm the Energy Code Cycle

The permit application date and available project information are used to identify the likely code cycle. This helps prevent calculations from being started in software intended for the wrong standards.

We Review the Compliance Pathway

The project is evaluated to determine whether prescriptive documentation may be sufficient or whether performance modeling offers the appropriate path.

We Select Approved Software for the Scope

When performance modeling is required, the selected program must be approved for the project’s occupancy, construction scope, and Energy Code cycle.

We Coordinate the Output With the Plans

The resulting forms are reviewed against the available project information so discrepancies can be addressed before permit submission.

We Support Necessary Revisions

If the plans change or the building department issues energy-related corrections, the affected model inputs and documents can be reviewed using the latest information.

What to Submit for a Software-Based Title 24 Report

A complete plan set allows the energy consultant to model the project with fewer assumptions. Send the following items when available:

• Project address
• Permit application date or intended submission date
• Detailed scope of work
• Dimensioned floor plans
• Elevations
• Building sections
• Door and window schedules
• Wall, roof, ceiling, floor, and slab details
• Insulation specifications
• Mechanical plans or equipment information
• Ventilation information
• Water-heating specifications
• Lighting plans for applicable nonresidential projects
• Solar and battery information when applicable
• Existing plan-check corrections

Applicants who need a broader explanation of the forms generated during the process can review the Title 24 Compliance Documentation Requirements Guide.

Wondering What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports? Get the Right Software and the Right Report

Knowing What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports is valuable, but selecting a program is only the beginning. The software must be approved for the correct Energy Code cycle, occupancy, and scope. The model must accurately represent the building, and the final documents must agree with the permit plans.

Title24Energy.com handles that technical process for you. Whether your project involves a new home, accessory dwelling unit, room addition, garage conversion, multifamily development, commercial building, or tenant improvement, we can review the plans and identify the appropriate path forward.

Call or text (626) 365-1518 to request a project review. You can also submit the latest plans through the Title24Energy.com contact page.

Still trying to figure out What Software Is Used to Create Title 24 Reports? Do not spend valuable permit time experimenting with the wrong software or outdated forms. Put the project in experienced hands and move forward with coordinated, permit-focused energy documentation.

About California’s Energy Standards

The regulations commonly called Title 24 are part of the California Energy Code. The standards establish energy-efficiency requirements for applicable residential and nonresidential construction throughout the state.

Because software approvals and technical requirements can change between code cycles, every new report should be prepared using current project information and the tools authorized for that permit.