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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 312 results:

How Many Hours-of-Safety Do Our Homes Have in Extreme Weather?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Corvidae Jacob,
Ayyagari Sheha
·
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI
Description
Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.

How to Create a Naturally Cool Building

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Williams Jeremy
·
Organization(s)
The Earthbound Report
Description
Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.

How to Seal Up to Prevent Rodent Infestations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
·
Organization(s)
CDC
Description
A website providing a checklist of important areas to check when sealing holes inside and outside of the home to prevent entry by rodents and other outside pests.

HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Window Attachments Keep out the Heat

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Katherine Cort,
Theresa Gilbride
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Description
Factsheet outlining how window attachments like cellular shades, roller shades, storm windows with low-emissivity coatings, and solar screens are low-cost steps that can be implemented to keep homes cool in the summer.

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.

Indirect/Passive Air-Flow Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Kang Bhujon,
Lutz-Carillo Sky
·
Organization(s)
University of Texas
Description
Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.

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.

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.

Installing and Maintaining Evaporative Coolers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Otterbein Roy
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Article describing what evaporative coolers are, how they work, different types, performance, where they are appropriate, and how to install and maintain them.

JM Spider® Drill & Fill Installation Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Johns Manville
·
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.

Just Right and Airtight, BSI-053

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
BSC,
Building Science Corporation
Description
Article describing air leakage in buildings.

Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Center for Environmental Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
·
Organization(s)
NCEH,
CDC
Description
Web page describing how to identify heat-related illness and how to prevent it.

Keeping Homes and Cities Cool in Extreme Heat

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Kyle Mittan
·
Organization(s)
University of Arizona
Description
Article from University of Arizona on keeping homes cool during extreme heat, both personal and system changes.

Laboratory Testing of Aerosol for Enclosure Air Sealing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Modera Mark,
Harrington Curtis
·
Organization(s)
Western Cooling Efficiency Center - UC Davis,
Building Industry Research Alliance,
BIRA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Research study to help development of an application protocol for aerosol sealing of building shells that will eventually be demonstrated on buildings in retrofit and new construction.

Long-Term Results: New Construction Occupied Test House, Urbana, Illinois

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stecher Dave,
Allison Katherine
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report about a two-year study intended to document the energy performance of a house in each sub-metered area and compare the performance to modeled predictions and to assess the thermal comfort performance of the single point mini-split heat pump.

Low-Cost Radon Reduction Pilot Study

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Francisco Paul W.,
Rose William B,
Merrin Zachary
·
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Indoor Climate Research and Training,
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report on the impact of air sealing between the foundation and the living space on radon transport reduction across the foundation and living space floor assembly at fifteen home.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Neuhauser Ken,
Gates Cathy,
Pettit Betsy
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
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

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

Mea Culpa Roofs, BSI-083

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

Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Attics in Multifamily Buildings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Maxwell Sean,
Otis Casey
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Guideline describing the importance of the different types of multifamily building attics and their unique challenges, and outlines strategies and materials used in air-sealing them.

Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Mechanical Closets in Slab-on-Grade Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Dickson Bruce
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Document covering two fundamental retrofit strategies for air sealing around air handling systems that are located within the living space in an enclosed closet.

Measure Guideline: Guide to Attic Air Sealing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Description
Guideline describing information and specifications relevant to air-seal existing attics.

Measure Guideline: Sealing and Insulating Ducts in Existing Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Puttagunta Srikanth
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Report describing the sealing and insulating of HVAC duct systems in existing homes.

Measured Impacts of Air Conditioner Condenser Shading

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Parker Danny S,
Barkaszi Stephen F
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Paper describing energy savings in space cooling from shading condenser units.

Measurement of the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and U Value of Windows with Insect Screens

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Brunger Alfred,
Harrison Stephen,
Dubrous Francois M
·
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating,
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Description
Technical article presenting the results of an analysis on the effect of insect screens on window solar heat gain coefficients and U-values.

Minnesota Power New Construction Energy Efficiency Program

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Minnesota Power
·
Organization(s)
Minnesota Power
Description
Website describing Minnesota Power’s New Construction Energy Efficiency program that promotes building practices and technologies that enhance new residential construction.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

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

Moisture Management for High R-Value Walls

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
LePage Robert,
Schumacher Christopher,
Lukachko Alex
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.

Moisture Research - Optimizing Wall Assemblies

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Arena Lois,
Mantha Pallavi
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report describing evaluation of several configurations of wall assemblies to determine the accuracy of moisture modeling and make recommendations to ensure durable, efficient assemblies.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lubliner Michael,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Program,
Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
Description
Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.