Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 20 of 20

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...

ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380-2016: Standard for testing Airtightness of Building Enclosures, Airtightness of Heating and Cooling Air Distribution Systems, and Airflow of Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Author(s)

RESNET

Organization(s)

International Code Council

Publication Date

February, 2016

This Standard provides a consistent, uniform methodology for evaluating the airtightness of building envelopes and heating and cooling air ducts and the air flows of mechanical ventilation systems.

Best Practices Case Study: Artistic Homes, Albuquerque, NM

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

September, 2009

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.

Best Practices Manual

Author(s)

Hammer & Hand

Organization(s)

Hammer & Hand

Publication Date

February, 2018

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.

Combustion Appliance Safety Inspection for Vented Appliances

Author(s)

Building Performance Institute

Organization(s)

BPI

Publication Date

January, 2016

Fact sheet that details the steps needed to perform a combustion appliance safety inspection to determine if fossil fuel-fired appliances are operating safely under a depressurized condition.

Combustion Safety Simplified Test Protocol Field Study

Author(s)

Brand Larry,

Cautley D,

Bohac D,

Francisco P,

Shen L,

Gloss S

Organization(s)

Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,

PARR,

NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,

NorthernSTAR,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

November, 2015

Report on a simplified test procedure for combustion safety that is easier to implement and should produce fewer false positives than the previous procedure.

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

November, 2014

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

November, 2015

Article describing strategies for reducing the risk of ice dam formation on roofs in winter.

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

May, 2014

Research report assessing the moisture and cooling load impacts of airtightness and mechanical ventilation in homes in hot-humid climates.

Indoor Air Quality in 24 California Residences Designed as High-Performance Homes

Author(s)

Less,

Mullen,

Singer,

Walker

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

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.

Novel, Simplified Air Delivery System Design Gets Commercialized

Author(s)

Burkett Lena,

Rapport Ari

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

August, 0020

Fact sheet describing a novel, simplified air delivery system using a plug-and-play model that features 3-inch diameter flexible ducts, efficient fittings, and a simplified installation process that resulted in successful market engagement through commercialization.

READ THIS: Before You Ventilate, GM-0604

Author(s)

Rudd Armin

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

December, 2006

Document reviewing ventilation strategies for different climate zones that also includes schematic drawings and photographs of various ventilation installations.

Reexamining Roof Ventilation

Author(s)

Tony Woods

Organization(s)

Home Energy

Publication Date

November, 2000

Article describing moisture and ice dam issues in attics and how to air seal the attic floor.

Sealed Crawl Spaces with Integrated Whole-House Ventilation in a Cold Climate

Author(s)

Zoeller,

Williamson,

Puttagunta

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Report on hybrid ventilation methods for insulated and sealed crawl spaces.

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

November, 2014

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.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Air Leakage and Air Transfer Between Garage and Living Space, Waldorf, Maryland

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

November, 2014

Case study examining the problem of unwanted air transfer from garage to living space and the effectiveness of garage exhaust ventilation or house supply ventilation to provide a solution to that.

Vented and Sealed Attics in Hot Climates

Author(s)

Rudd Armin,

Lstiburek Joseph

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

September, 1998

Building science report describing issues with vented attics in hot-humid climates and how sealed attic construction may be a solution.

Ventilating Your Home

Author(s)

Puttagunta

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

August, 2009

Information sheet about proper ventilation and air sealing.

Weatherstripping

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

May, 2012

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