How Katerra is Building Smarter to Exceed New Residential Energy Codes-PDF

The 2019 update to California’s Energy Code requires greater than 50 percent improvement in residential housing energy efficiency, making it the most stringent building energy code in the country. California is leading the charge towards higher efficiency standards as the only state to increase standards from the 2018 IECC. The new code requires energy-efficient construction and building operations, but it also presents challenges to developers working to deliver financially viable housing.

How is Katerra Responding?

At Katerra, we’re applying thoughtful planning, building science best practices, and our unique end-to-end control of building design, manufacturing, construction, and operations to meet aggressive energy targets at a lower cost. Katerra is developing and curating all relevant building products – from HVAC to water heating and envelope systems – to maximize occupant comfort while driving down cost and energy use.

• Integrated Energy Systems: Katerra chooses the smartest combination of technologies that meet both Katerra’s high standards and California’s code requirements. We have run hundreds of simulations to determine the most costeffective design configurations across California (and beyond).

• Site Design: Optimizing building orientation to aid energy code compliance and avoid additional costs.

• Building Envelope: Katerra’s high-performance triple-pane windows in our multifamily buildings within warmer California climates is a cost-effective way to manage thermal heat transfer and meet energy code requirements.

• Intelligent HVAC: Up to 40 per cent more efficient than typically packaged HVAC units, KOVA Intelligent HVAC uses behavioural, environmental, and unit-specific occupancy inputs to adapt, personalize and maximize comfort.