Library

Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.

Article from Williams College on the key elements of passive solar design for homes.

Paper summarizing passive and low-energy cooling systems for buildings.

Report providing information on performance of mortars and concrete containing PCMs.

City of Plymouth webpage providing information on the Plymouth Community Center Project.

Fact sheet from Wisconsin Focus on Energy explaining how to prevent future ice dams on homes by learning about their formation and mitigation of contributing factors.

List of recommendations from IBHS on how to protect homes from ice dam formation.

An example of a form a building codes department created to ensure builders are fully aware and have taken steps to provide drainage so that water doesn’t accumulate behind siding. This example is from the city of Newberg, Oregon.

Article describing moisture and ice dam issues in attics and how to air seal the attic floor.

Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.

Fact sheet describing methods for flashing and air-sealing windows and doors.

Report from FEMA describing techniques for floodproofing structures.

Tool determining the most economical and efficient photovoltaic array location and position.

Document providing incident solar radiation data and window overhang sizing guidance for multiple locations across the U.S.

Handheld solar site analysis tool capturing whole-horizon images for a site and generating shading analysis reports.

Standard describing a simple, relatively cost-effective approach to evaluating the ability of a variety of materials to support microbial growth using a small chamber method. A preview of the standard is available at the link, with the full version available for purchase.

Specification describing criteria for manufactured polymeric materials used to provide a rainscreen function, a means for the drainage of liquid moisture and the ventilation of vapor moisture that enters an above-grade exterior wall assembly which was published in the year 2019, and is available for...

Article providing fundamental information and recommendations for shading windows for energy savings.

Fact sheet describing water management in a residential building.

Study on the effects of wind, radiation, and pressure on apparent temperature.

Study comparing the thermal performance of phase change materials to concrete construction during heat waves.

Webpage providing guidance on the use of thermal mass with passive heating and cooling strategies.

Technical research paper explaining how thermal mass influences heating and cooling energy needs.

Design guide providing technical information regarding building with thermal mass.

Article detailing a case study in which thermal mass was used as part of an overall Net Zero solution for a university building.

Article describing the evolution of the IRC to permit class 3 vapor retarders (latex paint) in walls coupled with exterior continuous insulation to allow drying and reduce condensation risk.

Technical conference paper discussing real world experience with Trombe walls.

Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.

A presentation about the need for rainscreens including the damage water and moisture ingress into a home’s siding and framing can cause, and ways to design a resilient wall that drains and ventilates well.

Resource that provides a checklist of program criteria for water-efficient new homes under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program.

An article written by Don Jackson of The Journal of Light Construction on how to detail brick veneer siding wall.

Technical fact sheet describing proper operation, sizing, and installation of whole-house fans.

Web article providing information on how to reduce solar gains through windows.