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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 1 - 36 of 36

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
EPA's website about asbestos.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing approaches to insulating basements in homes built to meet Energy Star levels of performance of heat loss reduction.
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Publication dates are shown for formal documents. Dates are not shown for non-dated media. Access dates for referenced, non-dated media, such as web sites, are shown in the measure guide text.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.
Author(s)
Hammer & Hand
Organization(s)
Hammer & Hand
Publication Date
Description
This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Short article from FEMA explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Organization(s)
Southface,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about crawlspace insulation, including installation details.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting information that aids qualified architects and engineers in the identification of the best available refuge areas in existing buildings for sheltering in place during a tornado.
Author(s)
Todd
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.
Author(s)
Carmody John,
Mosiman Garrett,
Handeen Daniel,
Huelman Patrick H,
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding
Publication Date
Description
Article describing frost-protected shallow foundations as an alternative method for building an energy-efficient foundation for a house in a cold climate that uses less concrete and saves on labor.
Author(s)
Williams Randy
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Article describing what the building codes say about frost-protected shallow foundations as a cost-saving alternative to conventional concrete foundations.
Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.
Author(s)
Mathews
Organization(s)
This Old House
Publication Date
Description
An article and video of a breakdown on the preparation and installation of basement insulation.
Author(s)
Green Home Institute
Organization(s)
Green Home Institute
Description
Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.
Author(s)
Green Home Institute
Organization(s)
Green Home Institute
Description
Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.
Author(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Organization(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet providing links and resources for insulating basements in cold climates.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Mantha Pallavi,
Puttagunta Srikanth
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Document describing good practices for insulating basements in new and existing homes.
Author(s)
ICF Systems
Organization(s)
Massachusetts Building Products
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet including a checklist of steps to follow for pouring concrete.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Home Innovations Research Center
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Report describing how to construct a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) as a practical alternative to a deeper, more-costly foundation in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave.
Author(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
Organization(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.
Author(s)
German Alea,
Siddiqi Aqdus,
Dakin Bill
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Research project evaluating the pre-and post-retrofit energy consumption of a marine climate retrofit, compare actual energy use to original predictions, and identify opportunities for cost savings in other similar retrofits in this climate.
Author(s)
Joseph Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with methods for constructing or retrofitting basements to reduce moisture issues.
Author(s)
Huelman Patrick H,
Breidenbach Sam,
Schirber Steve
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
NSTAR
Publication Date
Description
Presentation describing the challenges of insulating an existing basement, presented to the Building America residential energy-efficiency stakeholder meeting.
Author(s)
Marilou Cheple,
Patrick H. Huelman
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota,
ASHRAE,
ORNL,
NorthernSTAR,
NSTAR,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Conference paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings describing moisture from basements and crawlspaces as a source of indoor humidity and providing recommendations for finishing below-grade spaces to limit potential indoor...