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Library

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 1701 - 1750 of 2314

READ THIS: Before You Design, Build or Renovate, GM-0602

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph,
Brennan Terry
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Document with important building science considerations, designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing.

READ THIS: Before You Move In, GM-0606

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph,
Brennan Terry
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report describing steps homeowners can take to improve the indoor air quality in their home, including ventilating, preventing pests, and reducing pollutants in the home.

READ THIS: Before You Turn Over a Unit, GM-0603

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet designed for the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers working in affordable housing. This sheet presents building guidance for both new construction and rehabilitation, as well as practices that can be used by property maintenance...

READ THIS: Before You Ventilate, GM-0604

Author(s)
Rudd Armin
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Document reviewing ventilation strategies for different climate zones that also includes schematic drawings and photographs of various ventilation installations.

Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience

Author(s)
Enterprise Green Communities
Organization(s)
Enterprise Green Communities
Publication Date
Report providing strategies to support occupant behavior changes for enhancing resilience, and to reduce a building's vulnerability to extreme weather, climate change, and loss of power.

Ready: Winter Weather

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website providing consumers with general guidance on preparing for and surviving a winter storm.

Ready.Gov

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
Website serving as a national public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters.

Ready.gov: Build A Kit

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
A fact sheet providing tips on how to assemble a kit of food, water and other disaster supplies in the event of an emergency.

Realizing Resilience through Incentives: Results from the Institute’s 2016 Symposia

Author(s)
Tobias Leanne,
Blais Neil,
Schneider Philip J
Organization(s)
National Institute of Building Sciences
Publication Date
Article describing key takeaways from two symposia held during Building Innovation 2016: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fourth Annual Conference and Expo, including that resilience can be affordable and cost-effective.

Rebuild Healthy Homes App - (IOS)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
App developed by HUD to assist homeowners with lead paint and other hazards common to older homes.

Rebuilding After a Wildfire

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing conditions for wildfire, how a home catches fire, how to create a survivable space, the ideal fire resistant home.

Rebuilding Houston, BSI–101

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering the reconstruction of flood damaged homes.

Reduce Fire Losses

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website describing wildfire related research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety at the IBHS Research Center.

Reduce Ice Dam and Icicle Damage

Author(s)
Kenneth Hellevang
Organization(s)
NDSU
Publication Date
Webpage explaining how to mitigate heat loss through roofs for ice dam prevention.

Reduce Pest Intrusion

Author(s)
Building Energy Codes Program
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Fact sheet explaining code-compliant methods for dealing with pests.

Reexamining Roof Ventilation

Author(s)
Tony Woods
Organization(s)
Home Energy
Publication Date
Article describing moisture and ice dam issues in attics and how to air seal the attic floor.

Refrigerant Leak Prevention: Best Practices – Tech Tip

Author(s)
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Organization(s)
NYSERDA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing best practices in installing leak-free refrigerant systems, including specifics on creating flare joints and brazed joints, pressure testing, vacuum testing, and charging the system with refrigerant.

Regional Wildfire Retrofit Guides

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Webpage that provides regional guides to help home and business owners prioritize necessary retrofit projects for wildfire resistance.

Rehabbing Flooded Houses, A Guide for Builders and Contractors

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
Guide providing information for professional builders and contractors rehabbing flooded single-family houses with emphasis on safe practices and the most important activities in the rehab process.

Reinforced Masonry Pier Construction, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 3.4

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing an alternative to piles in V Zones and A Zones in coastal areas where soil properties preclude pile installation, but the need for an “open foundation system” still exists and recommendations for good masonry practices in coastal environments; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home...

Reinforcing gable overhang ladder to prevent sag

Author(s)
Mahan Mike
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
A user forum discussing ways to reinforce a gable overhand that was framed using the ladder method by Mike Mahan.

RELi Rating System

Author(s)
Geen Business Certification Inc.
Organization(s)
GBCI
Publication Date
Website describing the RELi rating system and leadership standard that takes a holistic approach to resilient design.

Remodeling Magazine

Author(s)
Remodeling Magazine
Organization(s)
Remodeling Magazine
Publication Date
Remodeling Magazine website.

Renewable Energy Annual

Author(s)
Energy Information Administration
Organization(s)
EIA
Publication Date
Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.

Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Photovoltaic Specification Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.

Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Site Assessment Tool

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website tool intended to guide home builders in assessing whether a new home has the proper physical orientation to support a future installation of a solar energy system.

Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Water Heating Specification Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.

Repairs, Remodeling, Additions, and Retrofitting - Flood, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 9.1

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing NFIP requirements for repairs, remodeling, and additions, and discussing opportunities for retrofitting in coastal flood hazard areas with recommendations for exceeding the minimum NFIP requirements; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction...

Repairs, Remodeling, Additions, and Retrofitting - Wind, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 9.2

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing requirements and opportunities for retrofitting, and making “best practice” recommendations for repairs, remodeling, and additions in coastal high wind areas; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Report: 56th & Walnut - A Philly Gut Rehab Development

Author(s)
Puttagunta,
Faakye,
Zoeller
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Report researching cost- effective solution packages for significant energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements masonry multifamily urban buildings.

Research and Development of a Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System

Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth,
Aldrich Robb,
Cleary Barnett
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Technical report describing the research and development of the Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System (VICS) which is a specifically designed, energy-efficient solution that seamlessly integrates with low-capacity, ducted heating, and cooling systems, offering controllable, balanced energy recovery...

Research Results from A Few Alternate Methods of Interior Duct Systems in Factory Built Housing Located In the Hot Humid Climate

Author(s)
Moyer Neil,
Stroer Dennis,
Hoak David,
McIlvaine Janet,
Chandra Subrato
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Calcs Plus
Publication Date
Document presenting results from testing prototype HVAC duct system designs that would locate the entire length of duct work within the air and thermal barriers of the building envelope. These include one that incorporated a high-side supply register, one that utilized a single soffit located within...

Reservoir Claddings

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet about reservoir claddings.

Residential Best Practices Criteria, Info-001

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Document containing some of the basic characteristics for energy performance, durability, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality that should be met in all high performance homes.