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Explore this extensive library of building science guidance including research reports from DOE’s Building America program as well as hundreds of other articles, fact sheets, webpages, and reference documents related to constructing and renovating homes.

Showing 1 - 50 of 73 results:

A Bridge Too Far, BSI-005

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Article describing thermal bridging, construction practices that encourage thermal bridging, and solutions.

Alaska Residential Building Manual, 7th Edition

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Deer Charlie,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
University of Alaska,
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Description
Manual describing best practices or home construction in Alaska and northern climates.

ASCE Ground Snow Loads

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wilkerson
·
Organization(s)
Medeek Design
Description
Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

Attic Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Web page describing the benefits of attic fans, with rules for sizing fans and intake vents.

Attic Venting, Attic Moisture, and Ice Dams

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
·
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Government of Canada
Description
Article by the Canadian Government on attic ventilation and considerations for moisture and ice dams.

Avoiding Moisture Problems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Van der Meer Bill
·
Organization(s)
National Association for State Community Services Programs,
NASCSP,
Weatherization Training Center at Penn College,
Pennsylvania College of Technology,
PCT
Description
Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Builder's Guide to Cold Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Book presenting the best techniques for energy and resource efficient residential construction in the colder climates of North America.

Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hershfield Morrison
·
Organization(s)
B.C. Hydro
Description
Guide describing methodologies for assessing and mitigating thermal bridging in building envelopes, featuring detailed performance data, interface solutions, and assembly-specific strategies for energy-efficient construction.

Climate Consultant

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Milne Murray
·
Organization(s)
Society of Building Science Educators,
SBSE,
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Description
Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.

Climate Research

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
·
Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
Website providing weather data.

Coastal Construction Manual - Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, Fourth edition, Volume I, FEMA P-55

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Description
Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.

Concrete Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Portland Cement Association
·
Organization(s)
PCA
Description
Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.

Dealing with and preventing ice dams

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of Minnesota Extension
·
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wilson Alex
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Description
Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.

Double Wall: Staggered or In-Line Studs?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Steven Winter Associates
·
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Description
Information sheet providing information about investigating the thermal effect of staggering the inner and outer wall studs on double walls in new construction.

Ecosystems Research

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
A map describing the average temperature of shallow groundwater in Fahrenheit across the continental United States.

Energy Auditor - Single Family 2.0: Attic Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Weatherization Assistance Program
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Powerpoint on attic ventilation developed as training material for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Erosion Control Treatment Selection Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
·
Organization(s)
USDA,
USDA Forest Service
Description
A publication developed by the U.S. Forest Service for its employees and other federal agency staff describing erosion control methods.

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.

Fastening Furring Strips to a Foam-Sheathed Wall

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Description
Information sheet about what length screws should be used, and how closely to space the screws when fastening furring strips to a foam-sheathed wall.

FEMA Bioengineered Shoreline Stabilization

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Document discussing methods to bioengineer stabilization of shorelines using living and non-living plant materials in combination, known as the “Living Shorelines” concept.

FEMA National Risk Index

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Website providing maps for natural disaster risk in the United States.

Firebreak - Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
·
Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Description
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.

Flood Cleanup Infographic

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
This document includes tips for safely and effectively cleaning up a home after a flood. It is available in several languages.

Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Website providing series of short how-to videos, infographics and more resources on cleaning up a home after a flood.

Georgia Pulls the Attic-Ventilator Plug (Sort of)

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Defendorf Richard
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Description
Article describing issues with attic ventilation fans and why the state of Georgia residential code does not allow plug-in attic ventilation fans.

Geospatial Data Science

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
NREL,
DOE
Description
Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.

GIS Geography

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
GIS Geography
·
Organization(s)
GIS Geography
Description
A website providing free access to a variety of U.S. and international maps.

Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Center for Environmental Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
·
Organization(s)
NCEH,
CDC
Description
Web page describing how to identify heat-related illness and how to prevent it.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Neuhauser Ken,
Gates Cathy,
Pettit Betsy
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
·
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Description
A website issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and increasing the understanding of hazards.

New Light in Crawlspaces, BSI-009

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Building science insight into crawlspaces.

Prevent Home Roof Damage from Heavy Snow and Ice.

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
·
Organization(s)
IBHS
Description
Webpage providing guidance for homeowners on how much snow weight a typical roof can handle and when to consider removing snow from the roof.