COMcheck Report: Your Essential Guide to Commercial Building Energy Compliance
What is COMcheck?
COMcheck is a powerful software tool developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to ensure that new commercial buildings, high-rise residential buildings, and commercial building additions or alterations adhere to strict energy efficiency standards. By evaluating building components like the envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems, COMcheck determines compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
Key Components of a COMcheck Report:
- Envelope, Lighting, and Mechanical Compliance Certificates: These documents verify that each individual component meets code requirements.
- Plan Review Checklist: A comprehensive evaluation of the building’s design and construction plans.
COMcheck Flexibility and Limitations:
COMcheck allows for trade-offs within specific building components, such as lighting, envelope, or HVAC systems. This flexibility enables architects and builders to explore different design options and optimize energy efficiency. However, it’s important to note that trade-offs cannot be made across multiple assemblies.
Comchecks residential construction cousin is the Rescheck report, find out more about Rescheck reporting below:
REScheck Report: Ensuring Residential Energy Efficiency
REScheck: A Simple Approach to Compliance
REScheck is another U.S. Department of Energy software tool designed for residential energy code compliance. By calculating the U-factor x Area (UA) for each building assembly, REScheck determines the overall heat loss of a home. If the heat loss is less than or equal to the baseline home, the residence meets the prescriptive energy code requirements.
Key Benefits of REScheck:
- Easy-to-use interface: REScheck provides a straightforward approach to energy code compliance.
- Accurate calculations: The software ensures precise heat loss calculations.
- Compliance verification: REScheck helps determine if a home meets local energy code standards.
