2025 Energy Conservation Manual
Summary
SCH Number
2025060575
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
2025 Energy Conservation Manual
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/12/2025
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 2025 Energy Code that is comprised of several documents, including residential, multifamily, 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 2025 Energy Code, including forms, charts, and other data. As part of developing the Energy Conservation Manual, the CEC developed new content for the various manuals and forms. The CEC certified the Energy Conservation Manual at the June 11, 2025, CEC 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
Cross Streets
715 P Street
Zip
95814
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense (Sec. 15061(b)(3))
Reasons for Exemption
The Energy Conservation Manual (ECM) is not a project because it does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, section 15061(a).). The CEC certifies an ECM to assist interested persons with demonstrating compliance with the Energy Code, pursuant to Public Resources Code, section 25402.1(e). The ECM provides information regarding the 2025 Energy Code, which was previously adopted on September 11, 2024, and approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 17, 2024. The ECM 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 ECM does not meet the definition of a project under CEQA.
Further, even if the ECM was considered a “project,” it would not be subject to 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 action may have a significant effect on the environment. The ECM acts as a reference and instructional guide that reiterates the regulatory language already contained in the 2025 Energy Code. The ECM contains no new requirements to comply with the 2025 Energy Code. Thus, it can be seen with certainty that the ECM does not have the potential to have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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