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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 - 50 of 54

A simplified model for estimating population-scale energy impacts of building envelope air-tightening and mechanical ventilation retrofits

Author(s)
Logue,
Turner,
Walker,
Singer
Organization(s)
LBNL,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Report describing how changing the air exchange rate of a home (the sum of the infiltration and mechanical ventilation airflow rates) affects the annual thermal conditioning energy. Large-scale changes to air exchange rates of the housing stock can significantly alter the residential sectors energy...

ABAA Section 072713: Self-Adhered Sheet Air Barrier

Author(s)
Air Barrier Association of America
Organization(s)
ABAA
Publication Date
Standard providing information about self-adhered sheet air barriers located in the non-accessible part of the wall and materials to bridge and seal air leakage pathways and gaps.

ABTCO Estimating and Installation Guide

Author(s)
ABTCO Vinyl Siding
Organization(s)
ABTCO Vinyl Siding
Publication Date
Vinyl siding estimating and installation guide for vinyl siding products.

Aeroseal: Our Process

Author(s)
Aeroseal
Organization(s)
Aeroseal
Publication Date
A website explaining the process of sealing a home with Aeroseal & how the technology is used to seal holes in the air ducts and vents of the home.

Aerosol Envelope Sealing of New Residences

Author(s)
Bohac Dave,
Harrington Curtis
Organization(s)
EERE,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
Center for Energy and Environment
Publication Date
Technical report describing the research behind a new aerosol-based sealing method, utilizing pressurization and a dispersed sealant fog, facilitated by a standard blower door, to automatically measure, locate, and seal air leaks in new homes in the United States, providing an efficient solution to...

Aerosol-Based Method Seals the Deal for Tighter New Homes

Author(s)
NREL
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet outlining an innovative aerosol-based sealing technique for tightening building envelopes in new homes, involving pressurizing the structure and dispersing an aerosol sealant "fog" to autonomously identify and seal leaks, with real-time feedback through a standard blower door and laptop...

Air Infiltration from Attached Garages in Canadian Houses

Author(s)
Health Canada,
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Environment Canada
Publication Date
Document reporting results from a study done to evaluate effects of automotive emissions from attached garages on the indoor environment.

Air Sealing That Works

Author(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
An article explaining how an airtight shell for the home helps to achieve a tight envelope that is energy efficient and cost effective.

Air-Seal Windows and Doors

Author(s)
Sloggatt Mike
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
Article providing steps to stop air leaks around the windows and doors of the home.

All About Larsen Trusses

Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Website article interviewing the inventor of the Larsen truss, a history of its use, and a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages.

Best Practices Manual

Author(s)
Hammer & Hand
Organization(s)
Hammer & Hand
Publication Date
This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.

Builder's Guide to Hot-Humid Climates

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
The Builder's Guide provides the building industry with the latest and best practical information on how to apply building science principles to structures as systems in hot-humid climate regions.

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.

Construction Guide to Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part II: 2x4 Walls with 1” - 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 (WSP) sheathing as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 in. 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 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...

Controlling Cold-Weather Condensation Using Insulation, BSD-163

Author(s)
Straube
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Article describing research encouraging use of exterior insulation to warm interior sheathing surfaces in walls and roof assemblies to reduce the likelihood of condensation during cold weather

Conway Street Apartments: A Multifamily Deep Energy Retrofit

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Williamson Jim
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Research report anayzing the results of a large retrofit project, turining an old school into near zero energy consumption apartments in Greenfield MA.

Dam Ice Dam, BSI-046

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Article describing strategies for reducing the risk of ice dam formation on roofs in winter.

Effect of Cladding Systems on Moisture Performance of Wood Frame Walls in a Mixed-Humid Climate

Author(s)
Drumheller S Craig,
Carll Charles G
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
Forest Products Laboratory,
FPL,
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
The objective of this research was to quantify the field performance of wood-frame walls clad with a variety of common claddings in a mixed-humid climate.

Field Trial of an Aerosol-Based Enclosure Sealing Technology

Author(s)
Harrington,
Springer
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Report presenting the results from several demonstrations of a new method for sealing building envelop air leaks.

Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact of Infiltration and Ventilation on Measured Cooling Season Energy and Moisture Levels

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Kono Jamie E,
Vieira Robin K,
Fairey Philip W,
Sherwin John S,
Withers Charles,
Hoak David,
Beal David
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Research report assessing the moisture and cooling load impacts of airtightness and mechanical ventilation in homes in hot-humid climates.

Foam Shrinks, and Other Lessons, PA-1201

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Journal article describing lessons learned from updating a 16-year-old deep-energy retrofit.

Garage Performance Testing

Author(s)
Health Canada,
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Environment Canada
Publication Date
Results from a research program testing airtightness, implications of air leakage and contaminant reduction over the garage-to-house interface.

High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

Author(s)
Straube,
Grin
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

IBHS Fortified Home – Roofers

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS Fortified Home
Publication Date
Website providing resources for roofers to construct high-wind, hurricane, and hail-resistant roofs from IBHS Fortified program.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
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.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)
Pettit,
Neuhauser,
Gates
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
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.

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Author(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Organization(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Publication Date
Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Mea Culpa Roofs, BSI-083

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Article describing methods for insulating and air sealing vented and unvented roofs in various climates zones.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Joseph Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

Moisture Performance of High-R Wall Systems

Author(s)
Shah,
Kochkin
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...

New Light in Crawlspaces, BSI-009

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

Sunnyvale Marine Climate Deep Retrofit

Author(s)
German Alea,
Siddiqi Aqdus,
Dakin Bill
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Research project evaluating the pre-and post-retrofit energy consumption of a marine climate retrofit, compare actual energy use to original predictions, and identify opportunities for cost savings in other similar retrofits in this climate.