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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 151 - 200 of 952 results:

Coastal Construction Manual - Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, Fourth edition, Volume I, FEMA P-55

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Description
Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.

Coastal Construction Manual - Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, Fourth Edition, Volume II, FEMA P-55

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Description
Volume II of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to design, construction, and renovation of homes located in coastal environments.

Collapsible Soils

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Colorado Geological Survey
·
Organization(s)
CGS
Description
Website discussing building foundation problems caused by settling soil in Colorado.

Construction & Design Considerations in Warmer Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Zero Energy Project
·
Organization(s)
Zero Energy Project
Description
Guidance from Zero Energy Project on construction techniques for warmer climates, such as home orientation, and insulation requirements.

Consumer Tips for a Post-Disaster Home Restoration

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
·
Organization(s)
HUD
Description
Brochure helping homeowners identify hazards, work with contractors to remove the hazards, help ensure the work is done properly, and educate when they can return safely to the home.

Cool Colored Materials for Roofs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Akbari Hashem,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Public Interest Energy Research Program,
PIER,
Laboratory Directed Research and Development,
LDRD,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.

Cool Hand Luke Meets Attics, BSI-077

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Article describing the difference between conditioned or unvented attics and unconditioned or vented attics.

Cool Neighborhoods: The Measurement of Small Scale Heat Islands

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Vieira Robin K
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ECEEE
Description
Paper describing the effects of tree canopies on residential climates indicating tree cover to be beneficial to climate conditions

Cool Roofs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
ENERGY STAR webpage discussing the costs and benefits of cool roofs.

Cool Roofs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing 'cool roofs' and their usage for passive home cooling.

Cool Roofs Help Reduce Energy Costs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Web page providing information on the types of cool roofs and their benefits to consumers.

Cool Surfaces Savings Explorer

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
LBNL
Description
Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.

Cooling Related Performance of Finished and Unfinished Metal Roofing Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Sherwin John S
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of finished and unfinished metal roofing systems on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

Cooling with a Whole-House Fan

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
DOE Energy Saver webpage summarizing the use of whole-house fans for cooling.

Cooling with Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Chandra Subrato,
Houston Michael M,
Fairey Philip W
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report providing recommendations to builders regarding how to reduce cooling loads, use air-circulation fans, natural ventilation, window and building design for natural ventilation, and whole-house fans.

Cost Effectiveness of Home Energy Retrofits in Pre-Code Vintage Homes in the United States

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Fairey Philip W,
Parker Danny S
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report describing the analytical study of renewable energy retrofits to homes built before 1980 and whether it is cost efficient or not.

Create a Fire Smart Yard

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
FIRESafe Marin
·
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Description
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the different landscaping strategies near homes to lower the risk of a home's ignition from wildfire.

Creating a Fire Adapted Home

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
·
Organization(s)
IBHS
Description
Fact sheet describing guidance for choosing appropriate materials and using proper construction practices when rebuilding, repairing, or renovating a home to increase its resistance to fires.

De-Icing Ice Dams, BSI-097

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Article describing the importance of air sealing, insulation, and roof ventilation in reducing the likelihood of ice dam formation on roofs in cold snowy climates.

Dealing with and preventing ice dams

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of Minnesota Extension
·
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Decks - Fire Safe or Not?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stephen L. Quarles
·
Organization(s)
University of California
Description
Article from Stephen L. Quarles on fire resistant decking design and materials recommendations.

Decks in the Line of Fire

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bolton Bill
·
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Description
Article describing codes and test methods related to fire-resistant construction of decks.

Deep-Dish Retrofits, BSI-079

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Designing Energy Efficient New Homes for a Warm Climate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
EXtension Home Energy - Cooperative Extension
·
Organization(s)
EXtension Home Energy - Cooperative Extension
Description
Article from The Home Energy Community of Practice on designing energy efficient homes in hot climate zones, including home orientation, window location, and roof design considerations.

Designing for Floods, BSI-128

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report providing guidance on designing buildings to be flood resistant.

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wilson Alex
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Description
Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.

Designing Your Home to Survive Wildfires

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Milne Murray
·
Organization(s)
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Description
Wildfire resistant home checklist from Murray Milne, a professor of architecture at UCLA, who outlines seven steps to take to improve a home's chance of survival during a wildfire.

Digital Coast

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
·
Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.

Disconnect or Redirect Your Downspout Brochure

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Mid-America Regional Council
·
Organization(s)
MARC
Description
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.

Discover how to stay safe during a flood

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
·
Organization(s)
PG&E
Description
Guidelines from PG&E outlining how to stay safe during a flood event by shutting off natural gas and electric service to the home.

Discussion of Strategies for Mounting Photovoltaic Arrays on Rooftops

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.