Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 51 - 100 of 364 results:

Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates, Volume 2

2005

Baechler Michael C,

et al.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.

Builders Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for all Climates

2015

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

A book about structurally insulated panels.

Building America Best Practices Case Study Whole-House Solutions for New Homes - Artistic Homes, Albuquerque, NM

2013

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

PNNL

Case study about Artistic Homes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the first home builder in the United States to offer true net zero energy construction to the average home buyer on every home it builds.

Building America Special Research Project - High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

2010

Straube John,

Grin Aaron

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report comparing a variety of roof insulating strategies to present their advantages and disadvantages according to several comparison criteria.

Building America Special Research Project - High-R Walls Case Study Analysis, RR-0903

2009

Straube John,

Smegal Jonathan

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

Building America Top Innovations 2013: Attic Air Sealing Guidelines

2013

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Fact sheet describing research sponsored by DOE's Building America program to research the importance of attic air-sealing and best practice attic air-sealing techniques for new and existing homes.

Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew In Florida - Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA 22

1992

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Document containing recommendations on how to brace roofs and gable end walls based on lessons learned from analyzing the destruction from hurricane Andrew.

Byggmeister Test Home: Cold Climate Multifamily Masonry Building Condition Assessment and Retrofit Analysis

2013

Gates Cathy

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report describing findings from a multifamily test home focusing on the combination of energy measures that are feasible, affordable and suitable for multifamily construction in cold climates.

Caulking

2025

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. DOE

Webpage describing how caulking is used, how to select the appropriate caulking, and how to apply caulking.

Caulks and Sealants Factsheet

2025

University of Alaska

University of Alaska Institute of Agriculture,

Natural Resources,

and Extension

Factsheet describing how caulking is used, how to select the appropriate caulking, and how to apply caulking.

Chamberlain Heights Redevelopment: A Large Scale, Cold Climate Study of Affordable Housing Retrofits

2012

Donnely K,

Mahale M

California Air Resources Board,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Report about City of Meriden Housing Authority's (MHA) collaboration with Jonathon Rose Companies to complete a gut renovation of 126 residential units in the Chamberlain Heights retrofit project.

Changes to the Wind Speed Maps and Wind Design – 2010 Florida Building Code

2012

Building a Safer Florida Inc.

Florida Building Code,

FBC,

International Code Council,

ICI,

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,

IBHS

Fact sheet describing changes made to the 2010 Florida Building Code with regards to wind design loads and requirements.

Characterization of Energy Savings and Thermal Comfort Improvements Derived from Using Interior Storm Windows

2013

Knox J R,

Widder Sarah H

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Report recording the results of a field study conducted in a single historic home in Seattle, Washington, to document the performance of Indow Windows' interior storm window inserts.

Chicagoland Single-Family Housing Characterization

2012

Brand Larry,

et al.

Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,

PARR,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

CNT Energy,

Gas Technology Institute,

GTI Energy

Report identifying housing characteristics and energy use for fifteen single-family housing types and specifies measure packages that provide an optimum level of energy savings based on a BEopt analysis.

Choosing High-Performance Caulks: A Guide to the Endless Array of Products on the Caulk Aisle

1997

Jackson Don

Journal of Light Construction

Document providing guidance about choosing the correct caulk for a project.

Coastal Building Success and Failures, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 1.1

2010

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet describing the characteristics that make for a successful coastal residential building, including design and construction recommendations; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Coastal Climate Resiliency - Retrofitting Buildings for Flood Risk

2014

Department of City Planning New York City

Report describing retrofitting options and methodology for architects, developers, and property owners to use when making decisions about retrofits for common building types in NY.

Coastal Community Resilience Indicators and Rating Systems

2015

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

Report providing tools and resources to help community planners to improve coastal resilience.

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

2011

Coulbourne William,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA,

Applied Technology Council,

ATC,

URS Group,

DK Low and Associates,

Atkins,

TLSmith Consulting

Volume II of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to design, construction, and renovation of homes located in coastal environments.

Coastal Hazards: The Importance of “Going Green and Building Strong”

2019

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Article summarizing the IBHS stance on building practices that can mitigate the impact of high winds and storm surge on structures.

Conditioned Crawl Space Construction, Performance and Codes, BA-0401

2004

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report outlining how conditioned crawlspaces perform better than vented crawlspaces in terms of safety, health, comfort, durability and energy consumption.

Construction of Low-Rise Buildings in Cyclone Prone Areas and Modification of Cyclone

2015

Keote Shreyas Ashok,

Kumar Dhanendra,

Singh Rishabh

Journal of Energy and Power Sources,

Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi,

IIT BHU

Article describing construction best practices to help reduce the wind-induced pressure loads on a low-rise building during a hurricane.

Cost Analysis of Roof-Only Air Sealing and Insulation Strategies on 1 1/2-Story Homes in Cold Climates

2014

Ojczyk Cindy

University of Minnesota,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE,

NothernSTAR

Report exploring alternative methods to find long-term solutions to energy loss in 1 ½-story homes to save energy, improve comfort, prevent frost buildup on the underside of the roof deck, and reduce the risk of ice dam formation/reformation.

Cost Analysis of Roof-Only Air Sealing and Insulation Strategies on 1-1/2 Story Homes in Cold Climates, Minneapolis, MN

2014

University of Minnesota,

NorthernSTAR

NSTAR,

UMN

This case study describes costs associated with the External Thermal and Moisture Management System developed by the NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership for retrofitting roofs with rigid foam over the roof deck, especially on one and a half-story homes.

Deep-Dish Retrofits, BSI-079

2014

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Design Guide For Improving Hospital Safety In Earthquakes Floods and High Winds: Providing Protection To People And Buildings, FEMA 577

2007

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA risk management series guide on hospital safety and resilience to natural disasters.

Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization

2015

Multihazard Mitigation Council and Council on Finance,

Insurance and Real Estate

National Institute of Building Sciences,

NIBS

Report providing information on ways to incentivize funding of hazard mitigation programs.

Digital Coast

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.

Disconnect or Redirect Your Downspout Brochure

2020

Mid-America Regional Council

MARC

A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.

Do it yourself: How to Remove and Replace Old Exterior Caulking

2025

RONA Inc.

Webpage providing a step-by-step guide for replacing the exterior caulking on your home.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes

2023

Gilbride Theresa L

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Fact sheet poster describing benefits and qualification of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) certified Zero Energy Ready Homes and providing eight examples of certified homes.

Don’t Try Building Hugel Swales

2015

Spirko Jack

Permaculture Research Institute

Article describing the difference between swales and hugels (berms used to create soil from woody debris).

Duct and HVAC Insulation

2010

North American Insulation Manufacturers Association

NAIMA

Information sheet with HVAC duct insulation, testing, maintenance and performance information.

Durability by Design: 2nd Edition: A Professional's Guide to Durable Home Design

2015

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD,

PD&R

Designer checklist covering hazards involving ground and surface water, rain and water vapor, HVAC and plumbing, sunlight, insects, decay, and natural hazards, and builder checklist covering all disaster resistance, sorted by building component.

Durable Airtightness in Single-Family Dwellings: Field Measurements and Analysis

2015

Chan Wanyu R,

Walker Iain S,

Sherman Max H

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report on how airtighness changes as houses age.

Durable Solutions for Balconies and Decks

2023

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Technical report describing design and construction methodologies for durable balconies and decks, focusing on proper sloping, flashing, drainage, and ventilation to mitigate moisture-related issues.

Earthquake Home Retrofit Handbook, How to Complete an Earthquake Retrofit Plan for Wood-Frame Residential Buildings.

2007

Seattle Project Impact

A book describing how to complete an earthquake retrofit plan for wood-frame residential buildings.

Effect on Wind Pressures by Variation of Roof Pitch of Low-Rise Hip-Roof Building

2015

Irtaza,

Javed,

Jameel

Asian Journal of Civil Engineering

Article presenting a numerical study of wind pressure on the low-rise hip-roof building by varying the roof pitch using computational fluid dynamics computer modeling and wind tunnel testing of hip roofs with different roof pitches: 15°, 20°, 30° and 40°.

Effects of Roof Slope and Wind Direction on Wind Pressure Distribution on the Roof of a Square Plan Pyramidal Low-Rise Building Using CFD Simulation

2019

Roy Amrit Kumar,

Singh Jagbir

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

Computer simulations comparing International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering wind pressure differences between a gable-ended roof versus a hip roof versus a pyramidal-shaped roof.

Energy Efficient New Homes and Apartments

2024

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

Website describing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR New Homes and Apartments program with links to builder and homeowner resources.

Energy Facts: Energy Tips - Selection and Comparison of Weatherstripping Materials

2024

Michigan State University Extension

Fact sheet describing weatherstripping materials, types, expected life expectancy, installation requirements, and pros and cons.

Energy Rated for Added Comfort: AERC-Certified Window Attachments

2023

Gilbride Theresa L

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Fact sheet poster describing the certification of window attachment products such as storm windows, roller shades, cellular shade, and solar screens by the Attachment Energy Rating Council (AERC).

Energy Resources: A Course on the Fundamentals of the World's Energy, its Source, Usage and Conservation

2025

Dallas Abbott

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Online textbook describing energy, including energy types, and energy use in homes.

Energy Retrofit Field Study and Best Practices in a Hot-Humid Climate

2013

Martin Eric,

Sutherland Karen,

McIlvaine Janet E R

Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,

BA-PIRC,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Research study examining efficiency retrofit opportunities, typical renovation practices, and pathways for achieving U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) goals for existing homes in Florida.

Energy Savings Measure Packages: Existing Homes

2011

Casey Sean,

Booten Chuck

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document presenting a simple starting point to determine the most cost-effective Energy Savings Measure Packages (ESMP) for existing homes to achieve 15% and 30% savings in 37 locations across the United States.

Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures, Third Edition, FEMA P-259

2012

Conrad David,

et al.

FEMA,

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

Atkins Global,

URS Group,

Dewberry

Comprehensive design guide describing the benefits and details of retrofit methods for buildings and equipment in flood-prone areas. Estimated costs are outdated due to publication date.

Enhancing Community Resilience through Energy Efficiency, ACEEE-U1508

2015

Ribeiro David,

et al.

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Report describing the research gap in the connection between resilience and energy efficiency.

Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook Volume I (General and Environmental)

2018

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

FDEP

Handbook to help property owners understand the rules, procedures, standards, and criteria that apply to the environmental resource permit (ERP) program under Part IV of Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes.

Erosion and Sediment Control On Your Construction Site

2008

Community Development and Insfrastructure County of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County CDI

Report describing construction site erosion and sediment control practices recommended and required by a county planning department.

Erosion Control for the Home Builder

2014

Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District

Jackson Township,

Ohio

Factsheet describing steps builders should take to reduce erosion and control sediment on construction sites during home construction.

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