Organization(s)
ABTCO Vinyl Siding
Publication Date
Description
Vinyl siding estimating and installation guide for vinyl siding products.
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 - 50 of 50
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Brochure about creating an air barrier by sealing drywall assemblies.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Brochure about creating an air barrier at tub, shower and fireplace walls.
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
Description
An article explaining how an airtight shell for the home helps to achieve a tight envelope that is energy efficient and cost effective.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Website article interviewing the inventor of the Larsen truss, a history of its use, and a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages.
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Case study about Artistic Homes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the first home builder in the United States to offer true net zero energy construction to the average home buyer on every home it builds.
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.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
A book about structurally insulated panels.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the hot and humid climate.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report describing findings from a multifamily test home focusing on the combination of energy measures that are feasible, affordable and suitable for multifamily construction in cold climates.
Chamberlain Heights Redevelopment: A Large Scale, Cold Climate Study of Affordable Housing Retrofits
Organization(s)
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report about City of Meriden Housing Authority's (MHA) collaboration with Jonathon Rose Companies to complete a gut renovation of 126 residential units in the Chamberlain Heights retrofit project.
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. The Guide is...
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
The Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 in. thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing in low...
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
The Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel sheathing (WSP) as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 inches thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing in low...
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. Walls with...
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Research report anayzing the results of a large retrofit project, turining an old school into near zero energy consumption apartments in Greenfield MA.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Report on how airtighness changes as houses age.
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
Forest Products Laboratory,
FPL,
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
Description
The objective of this research was to quantify the field performance of wood-frame walls clad with a variety of common claddings in a mixed-humid climate.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.
Organization(s)
PARR,
CNT Energy
Publication Date
Description
Report exploring feasibility of designing prescriptive retrofit measure packages for typical Chicago region multifamily buildings in order to achieve 25% source energy savings.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report about an expert meeting focused on issues surrounding cladding attachment and performance of walls with exterior insulating sheathing.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
FEMA report describing findings from an investigation of Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana and residential construction recommendations based on those findings.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report about development of effective strategies to reduce the overall building energy use in line with Building America goals in this modestly priced market rate project.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing the design and construction of 10 new houses under the Wyandotte Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article explaining installing cavity insulation.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Research study describing field testing performed in 32 two-story Florida homes to characterize wind washing failures of the house air and thermal boundary.
Organization(s)
Johns Manville
Publication Date
Description
The purpose for this document is to provide basic guidance on the use of proven installation techniques that can be used by installers to help ensure correct “dense pack” application of JM Spider® in drill & fill applications.
Organization(s)
PARR,
Indoor Climate Research and Training,
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Description
Report on the impact of air sealing between the foundation and the living space on radon transport reduction across the foundation and living space floor assembly at fifteen home.
Organization(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Publication Date
Description
Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center Industry Partnership,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Document providing renovators and retrofit contractors an overview of considerations when including wall air sealing and insulation in an energy retrofit project.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the work conducted for high performance hybrid assemblies.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report describing evaluation of several configurations of wall assemblies to determine the accuracy of moisture modeling and make recommendations to ensure durable, efficient assemblies.
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing guidance to air sealing multifamily homes.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report highlighting the evaluation methods used and extent of wind washing found in a study analyzing wind washing in thirty-two two-story homes.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting the results of a study evaluating retrofit solutions for addressing the effects of wind washing on homes.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Research study exploring a test method measuring air leakage between units through common surfaces and air infiltration across exterior, noncommon surfaces of the enclosure.
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about how to reduce thermal bridging in walls.
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Report describing a study using parametric computer simulations of 112 single-family and 63 multi-family residential building prototypes to quantify the contributions of building components such as roofs, walls, windows, infiltration, outside air, lighting, equipment, and people to the aggregate...
Organization(s)
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Publication Date
Description
High-density sidewall cavity insulation can be a major comfort and savings boost. It saves energy by slowing both conductive and convective losses, but only if the right things are done and done right. This always requires site-specific thinking.
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.
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report about a project with successful integration of numerous energy-conservation and renewable-energy features into a beautiful, comfortable, and very energy-efficient off-grid home.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the design and construction of a highly energy efficient community of ten duplexes in Greenfield, Massachusetts.