Library

Research study estimating potential energy savings relative to conventional ducted air distribution, and identifying equipment requirements, costs, and barriers.

Standard covering updates to the expected leakage rates for ductwork constructed to the SMACNA HVAC Duct Construction Standards—Metal & Flexible, duct leakage test procedures; includes recommendations on use of leakage testing, types of test apparatus, and test setup and sample leakage analysis.

The exhaust from residential combustion appliances contains air pollutants and high levels of moisture that must be conveyed to the outdoors to maintain acceptable indoor quality.

Article describing earthship homes.

Broschure detailing water control strategies for building openings (e.g., vents and drainpipes).

Document reviewing four cold-climate northern Illinois energy efficiency retrofit programs to identify practices, tools, and approaches to streamline and reduce costs of comprehensive retrofits, and to improve the consistency of audit and retrofit delivery practices across different programs.

Expert Meeting about interior insulation retrofit of mass masonry wall assemblies held on July 30, 2011.

Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

Research study presenting results of an existing home monitoring project designed to measure wall cavity moisture characteristics.

Report covering control of hydrostatic pressure in wall assemblies.

Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.

Report focusing on managing the driving forces that move air and water vapor across the building envelope.

Document describing good practices for insulating basements in new and existing homes.

Document providing information on basement insulation, air sealing and water management retrofits.

Report summarizing the importance of properly insulating and air sealing masonry walls, providing step by step instructions and approaches.

Guide describing proper application, design, and installation of mechanical ventilation cooling systems for homes located in hot-dry and cold-dry climates, as well as a means of understanding the benefits, costs, and tradeoffs of these systems.

Report describing the work conducted for high performance hybrid assemblies.

Research study examining the performance of existing multifamily ventilation central systems and explored alternative solutions in retrofit situations.

Report covering wind loading on roofing assemblies.

IECC code note explaining new fan efficacy requirements, along with how to determine which fans are affected by the new fan requirements.

How hard can it be to insulate a flat sheet of concrete? I mean you only have three choices – on the top, on the bottom, or on the edge. OK, you might have some combination of the three as well.

Presentation describing the challenges of insulating an existing basement, presented to the Building America residential energy-efficiency stakeholder meeting.

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.

Fact sheet describing how weatherstripping can be an easy and cost-effective way to save money on energy costs and improve comfort by reducing drafts.

Manual showing how to properly use grass swales to manage excess water runoff.