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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 451 - 500 of 937 results:

Hurricane Retrofit Guide - Wood Frame Walls

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Florida Disaster
·
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Description
Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.

Hurricane Shutter Types

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hurricane Research Division,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
·
Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.

Hurricanes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Description
Website detailing how to prepare for, stay safe during, and return home after hurricanes.

HVAC A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 14

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report providing information about energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment options to help homeowners cut their energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and increase their homes comfort, health, and safety.

HVAC System Pressure Relief

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Raymer Paul H,
Moyer Neil
·
Organization(s)
Tamarack Technologies,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Correcting pressure imbalances in your HVAC system can result in a healthier, more efficient home.

HVI Airflow Test Procedure

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Publication specifying HVI’s prescriptive procedures for testing and rating airflow of residential ventilation products in accordance with ANSI consensus standards.

HVI Certification Program Policies and Procedures

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Publication describing the requirements and procedures for the certified performance ratings program for residential ventilation products administered by the Home Ventilating Institute.

IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
·
Organization(s)
SMACNA
Description
Book providing project management guidance in maintaining satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) of occupied buildings undergoing renovation or construction.

ICC-ES Evaluation Report, ESR-1679

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
·
Organization(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
Description
ICC-ES Evaluation Report reviewing proprietary steel shear wall panels developed by Simpson Strong-Tie Company to resist vertical and lateral loads in walls resulting from wind or earthquakes.

Impact of Residential Mechanical Ventilation on Energy Cost and Humidity Control

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Martin Eric
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS
Description
The study described in this white paper is based on building energy modeling with an important focus on the indoor humidity impacts of ventilation.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bennett Richard M,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Canada Masonry Design Centre,
CMDC
Description
An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Improving Gas Furnace Performance: A Field and Laboratory Study at End of Life

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Brand Larry,
Baker Julie D,
Yee Shannon
·
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR
Description
Report examining the impacts that common installation practices and age- induced equipment degradation may have on the installed performance of natural gas furnaces, as measured by steady-state efficiency and AFUE.

Improving Recessed Lighting

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Report providing information about techniques and approaches to improve the efficiency of recessed lighting.

Indoor Air Quality Certification

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Scientific Certification Systems
·
Organization(s)
SCS
Description
Standard supporting indoor air quality performance by producers, purchasers and policy makers to improve the environmental performance of products and services.

Indoor Air Quality in 24 California Residences Designed as High-Performance Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Less Brennan,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
This research study used pollutant measurements, home inspections, diagnostic testing and occupant surveys to assess IAQ in 24 new or deeply retrofitted homes designed to be high performance green buildings in California.

Indoor Airflow – Perfect Balance vs. Door Undercut

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Guertin Mike
·
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Description
Central return designs require an open pathway between the room and the heart of the house where the return grill is located.

Indoor AirPlus

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Indoor airPLUS is a voluntary partnership and labeling program that helps new home builders improve the quality of indoor air by requiring construction practices and product specifications that minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.

Indoor AirPlus Construction Specifications, Version 1 (Rev. 04)

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Document outlining specifications that were developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognize new homes equipped with a comprehensive set of indoor air quality (IAQ) features.

Inspecting the Dryer Exhaust

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
·
Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
InterNACHI
Description
Article describing the correct installation of clothes dryer exhaust ducts.

Install Window Shutters

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Knowles III Hal S,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Description
This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.

Insulate Steam Distribution and Condensate Return Lines

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Fact sheet describing principles of insulating steam distribution and condensate return lines as an effective way to prevent energy loss.

Insulation: A Guide to Proper Installation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
North America Insulation Manufacturers Association,
Insulation Institute
·
Organization(s)
NAIMA
Description
Website providing builders with information about meeting RESNET Grade 1 criteria when installing insulation.

Insurance Difference Between a Hip and Gable Roof

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Colucci Robert
·
Organization(s)
RTC Insurance Advisors
Description
Article describing the insurance savings of a home with a hip roof versus a gable roof from the perspective of an insurance advisor.

Interference Effects on Wind Loads on Low-Rise Hip Roof Buildings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Ahmad Shakeel,
Kumar Krishen
·
Organization(s)
Aligarh Muslim University,
University of Roorkee
Description
Article describing how the configuration of surrounding buildings affects the wind loads on a hip roof in a low-rise building.

Introduction to the National Seismic Hazard Maps

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey,
Earthquake Hazards Program
·
Organization(s)
USGS
Description
Website providing a probabilistic map of the expected number of damaging earthquakes around the U.S.

Investigation of Potential Benefits of Revising Exception 1 under “FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, ENERGY CONSERVATION, Section 101.4.7.1.1 Duct Sealing upon Equipment Replacement.”

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Beal David
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report describing as-found interior platform return plenums, the magnitude of their contribution to the total amount of duct leakage, and techniques and results of retrofits executed by the HVAC trade during equipment replacement.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Report discussing how to create livable space in the attic that meets IRC code requirements by either creating a ventilated roof assembly, or and unvented attic assembly.

Is There a Downside to High-MERV Filters?

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Springer David
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Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Description
Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.

Is Your Home Ready for an Earthquake?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Yeats Robert
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Organization(s)
Oregon State University
Description
Article describing dozens of ideas on how to retrofit a home so it is more earthquake ready.

JM Spider® Drill & Fill Installation Guide

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Johns Manville
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Organization(s)
Johns Manville
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.