2025 ACM Reference Manual Update September 2026
Summary
SCH Number
2026090936
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
2025 ACM Reference Manual Update September 2026
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/22/2026
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 that is comprised of several documents, including alternative calculation method reference manuals, compliance manuals, a data registry requirements manual, and other compliance documents, all of which contain information to assist designers, builders, and contractors in meeting the 2025 Energy Code, including forms, charts, and other data.
The CEC developed updated content for the Alternative Calculation Method Reference Manual (ACM Reference Manual), which document the modeling methods used in the 2025 compliance software used to demonstrates performance compliance with the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
The CEC certified the ACM Reference Manual at the September 9, 2026, CEC Business Meeting.
Contact Information
Name
Will Vicent
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Deputy Director, Building Standards Branch
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Sacramento
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Statewide
Zip
95814
Other Location Info
715 p St
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The ACM Reference Manual 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 the ACM Reference Manual to assist interested persons with compliance software, pursuant to Public Resources Code, section 25402.1(e). The ACM Reference Manual document modeling methods used in the 2025 compliance software to demonstrate compliance with the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which were previously adopted on September 11, 2024, and approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 17, 2024. The ACM Reference 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 ACM Reference Manual does not meet the definition of a project under CEQA.
Further, even if the ACM Reference Manual 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 ACM Reference Manual acts as a reference and instructional guide for compliance software used to demonstrate compliance with the 2025 Energy Code. The ACM Reference Manual contains no new requirements to comply with the 2025 Energy Code. Thus, it can be seen with certainty that the ACM Reference Manual does not have the potential to have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.