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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 - 20 of 20

Preparing for the Worst: DOE’s Building America Solution Center Disaster Resistance Tool

Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Fact sheet poster describing an online tool offered within the Building America Solution Center which provides construction guidance for builders and contractors in building and renovating homes to be more resistant to natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and wildfires, etc.

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

Author(s)
Mallay,
Kochkin
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate the adoption of energy retrofits by remodeling contractors and roofing contractors using retrofit panels. The results of this research will be applicable to many existing house designs in most climates and markets. The...

Building America Best Practices Series Volume 17: Insulation, A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners

Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Adams Karen T,
Hefty Marye G,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Building America Residential System Research Results: Achieving 30% Whole House Energy Savings Level in Marine Climates; January 2006 - December 2006

Author(s)
Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership,
Building Industry Research Alliance,
Building Science Consortium,
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Davis Energy Group,
IBACOS,
National Association of Home Builders Research Center,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
BAIHP,
BIRA,
BSC,
CARB,
DEG,
NAHBRC,
NREL
Publication Date
Report summarizing research results for the 30% energy savings level and demonstrates that lead builders can successfully provide 30% homes in the Marine Climate Region on a cost-neutral basis.

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part 2: 2x4 Walls with 1” to 1.5” Exterior Insulative Sheathing

Author(s)
Kochkin,
Wiehagen
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
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...

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part I: 2x6 Walls

Author(s)
Kochkin,
Wiehagen
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
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...

Construction Instruction

Organization(s)
Construction Instruction
Publication Date
Website providing building science based guidance for residential construction.

Crawlspace Insulation

Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Organization(s)
Southface,
ORNL
Publication Date
Information sheet about crawlspace insulation, including installation details.

Deep Energy Retrofits - Lessons learned

Author(s)
Less,
Walker
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Lessons Learned chapter focuses on successful deep energy retrofit projects throughout the U.S.

Exterior Insulation Implications on Heating and Cooling in Cold Climates

Author(s)
Herk,
Poerschke
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is interested in finding cost-effective solutions for deep energy retrofits (DERs) related to exterior wall insulation in a cold climate, with targets of 50% peak load reduction and 50% space conditioning energy savings.

Needs of Non-Energy Focused Contractors

Author(s)
Liaukus
Organization(s)
BARA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Building Media
Publication Date
Report investigating what motivates remodelers to become energy-focused and what technical knowledge that need to be energy-focused.

Water Management of Noninsulating and Insulating Sheathings

Author(s)
Smegal,
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Report summarizing current research, summarizes issues that have been experienced with current best practices, and recommends ways in which the best practices can be improved for water managing sheathings.

Which Spray Foam is Right For You?

Author(s)
Zoeller
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Information sheet about insulation materials.