Energy Code Calculations

The State of Florida Building Code Residential requires that each new building, most additions and renovations comply with the Florida Building Code Energy Chapter 4. Florida Energy Code calculations based upon 2020 Florida Building Code Energy are done using EnergyGauge software, The State of Florida provides two pathways to pass the code.

Performance Pathway

This is the most common used pathway. This method allows energy trade offs and estimates the buildings energy consumption based on heating – cooling - & hot water. The program builds a baseline building using code minimum energy factors. The building is the same size and has the same number of bedrooms as the proposed building but has a small percentage of floor area of glass and the glass is equally distributed throughout the building. The program then calculates what this baseline buildings energy profile is and compares it to the proposed buildings energy profile and if the proposed building meets the energy or exceeds the energy profile it passes the Florida code and a permit can be issued.

Prescriptive Pathway

The prescriptive method is used primarily when adding or renovating space. In this method the State of Florida has specific energy values assigned to building materials and these must be met when using this method.