As California’s energy codes become more rigorous, solar water heating has become a powerful tool for Title 24 compliance. SunEarth’s ICC-SRCC & IAPMO certified systems help commercial and industrial projects meet the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) while delivering long-term energy and cost savings.
Whether you’re designing a new hotel, multi-family complex, university campus, industrial facility, pool, or just a single-family home, SunEarth supports your path to compliance, with systems engineered for both prescriptive and performance pathways under Title 24.
Key Changes in Heating Systems
Pool & Spa Heating
New or newly heated pools and spas must adopt low-emission systems as gas-only heaters will no longer comply with the code.
- Acceptable Systems Include:
- Solar thermal collectors covering 65% of pool surface area
- Heat pump pool heaters meeting new sizing standards
- Renewable or hybrid systems providing ≥60% of annual heat
- Solar and heat pump combinations without gas backup
Residential Water Heating
The code strongly favors heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) with new single-family homes being “electric ready” for future HPWH installations. Gas tankless heaters are being phased out in several compliance paths.
- Solar thermal remains valuable for projects using gas backup, particularly in multifamily developments.
Electric-Readiness and Solar-Readiness
New buildings must include dedicated circuits for heat pump water heaters and allocate space for solar and battery systems. This future-proofs buildings for easier solar and electric transitions.
Impacts on Stakeholders
- Pools & Spas: Plan for code-compliant heating strategies during the design phase to avoid compliance issues.
- Domestic Hot Water: Plan for HPWHs and integrate solar thermal if relying on gas backup.
The Bottom Line: Gas-only designs will face increased permitting challenges. Transitioning to solar-assisted or all-electric solutions is crucial.
How SunEarth Systems Comply with Title 24
SunEarth has long supported compliance with evolving codes through performance-driven solar thermal systems. Our team provides support with early-stage design, equipment guidance, and permitting strategy, helping stakeholders align with the 2026 standards.
Prescriptive Path Compliance
- Solar water heating is a recognized prescriptive measure for single-family and multi-family buildings for domestic water heating, space heating and pool heating
- No energy modeling required, simply install a qualifying system.
Performance Path Compliance
- Performance data for SunEarth products is built into Title 24 compliance assessment software like CBECC, making it easy to see the impact of solar water heating on whole-building energy models.
- Designers can use solar thermal to offset energy loads in other areas and improve overall energy scores for the building, especially where PV alone may not suffice. The energy credits from solar water heating can provide added design flexibility elsewhere in the building, while using a fraction of the roof area of a PV array.
- Solar thermal systems have thermal energy storage capability built in. No need to add expensive battery systems like PV, or worry about net-metering rates.
Note: While solar PV is required under Title 24 for most new residential construction, solar thermal systems are not a substitute, but they are an effective complement, particularly for water heating load reduction.
Built for Code. Backed by Certification.
SunEarth delivers fully documented systems, including:
- OG-100 Certified Collectors
- OG-300 Certified Systems
- ENERGY STAR Certified
- Supported in Title 24 energy modeling software
- California-compliant documentation packages
Support for Designers & Builders
From early-stage schematic design to final submittals, we help project teams:
- Select appropriate systems for climate and project type
- Integrate solar thermal into hybrid energy strategies
- Provide submittals, drawings, and third-party data
- Maximize efficiency and identify options for grants and tax credits under state programs
Important Considerations
- Project Timing and Deadlines: Design projects now to align with the 2026 standards to avoid delays.
- Coordinate with Suppliers: Engage with partners like SunEarth to secure compliant equipment.
- Budgeting: Update bids to reflect the costs of solar thermal or heat pump systems and emphasize their long-term value to clients.
Need assistance with Title 24 documentation or design?
SunEarth stands ready to assist with compliance, from designing to bidding on new projects, helping turn regulation into opportunity. Our technical sales team is here to help. Consult with us today to get ahead of the 2026 code and lead the future of clean heating solutions.