Container Home Energy Code Calculator
Building a container home in Florida? Get a head start on understanding potential energy code requirements with this easy-to-use tool!
This calculator provides a preliminary check of your planned design choices – including insulation levels, window specifications, estimated air tightness, and basic HVAC efficiency – against the prescriptive requirements found in the Florida Building Code (FBC) 2023, 8th Edition for Climate Zones 1A and 2A.
Input your values below to get instant feedback on whether your components meet these baseline code minimums and receive a custom Oasis Container Homes Green Score™ to help gauge potential performance relative to the code.
IMPORTANT: This tool is for informational and initial planning purposes ONLY. It is NOT an official code compliance verification, it does NOT generate an official HERS® Index score, and it does NOT perform HVAC sizing calculations (Manual J/S/D). Always consult with qualified professionals for final design and verification.
Preliminary Energy Check Results
FBC 2023 Prescriptive Comparison (Zone )
Ceiling Insulation
Wall Insulation
Floor Insulation
Window U-Factor
Window SHGC
Air Leakage (ACH50)
HVAC Cooling (SEER2)
HVAC Heating (HSPF2)
Oasis Container Homes Green Score™ (Preliminary)
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FBC Prescriptive Comparison
This section shows the values you entered compared directly against the minimum requirements (R-Value, U-Factor, SHGC, ACH50, SEER2, HSPF2) specified in the FBC 2023 prescriptive path (Table R402.1.2 & R403.3.2) for your selected climate zone.
- PASS: Indicates your input meets or exceeds the minimum requirement.
- FAIL: Indicates your input falls short of the minimum requirement. Note that under the prescriptive path, *all* requirements must be met. Failing even one item means the design does not comply via this path and would require using an alternative method (Performance or ERI path) involving professional analysis.
- N/R: Indicates "Not Required" by the prescriptive code for that specific item in the selected zone (e.g., Window U-Factor in Zone 1A).
- Exception Applied: Indicates a code exception (like for impact windows) was used for the comparison.
Oasis Container Homes Green Score™
This proprietary score (typically ranging from 0 to 150) provides a relative indication of how your home's specified components perform compared to the FBC minimums. It rewards exceeding code minimums but penalizes falling short.
- A score around the baseline (70-80) suggests generally meeting basic code requirements across the board.
- Higher scores indicate exceeding minimums in multiple areas, suggesting better potential energy performance.
- Scores below the baseline likely indicate one or more components fail to meet the prescriptive minimums.
Note: This score is NOT comparable to an official HERS® Index score and does not guarantee code compliance if any individual requirement is marked as FAIL.
Visual Gauge
The color-coded bar provides a quick visual summary of your Oasis Score:
- Red: Needs Improvement (Likely fails one or more code minimums)
- Yellow: Fair/Good (Generally meets or slightly exceeds minimums)
- Green: Excellent (Significantly exceeds minimums in multiple areas)
Important Notes
- Ventilation: If your Air Leakage input is below 3.0 ACH50, the home is considered very tight. FBC R402.4.1.2 generally requires mechanical ventilation for homes tighter than 3 ACH50 to ensure adequate fresh air and indoor air quality.
- Code Exceptions: This tool includes a common exception for impact window U-factor in Zone 2A. Other exceptions (like for attic insulation R-value) may exist but require detailed verification beyond this tool's scope.
Disclaimer & Next Steps
This calculator provides a simplified, preliminary overview. Achieving true energy efficiency and code compliance involves many details not captured here, including:
- Proper installation quality & thermal bridging.
- Accurate HVAC system sizing (Manual J/S/D calculations).
- Duct leakage testing (if ducts are used).
- Specific component interactions & whole-building performance.
Use these results as a starting point for discussions with your builder, architect, energy rater, or HVAC contractor.
For official code compliance, HERS® Ratings, or ENERGY STAR® certification, you must work with certified professionals using accredited tools and procedures.
General Disclaimer: The Oasis Container Homes Green Score™ is a proprietary, preliminary estimate based on user-provided inputs compared against selected Florida Building Code (FBC) 2023 prescriptive requirements (including minimum equipment efficiencies). It is intended for informational and comparative purposes only and is NOT an official HERS® Index score, ENERGY STAR® certification, guarantee of code compliance, or prediction of actual energy savings. It does not verify correct HVAC sizing (Manual J/S). Actual energy performance depends significantly on construction quality, specific component choices, system sizing, occupant behavior, and local climate variations. This tool does not substitute for professional design, analysis by certified individuals (e.g., HERS Raters using accredited software), or official code verification by local building departments. Code references based on FBC 2023, 8th Ed. Verify current code for official use.