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Library

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 1 - 50 of 89 results:

ASCE Ground Snow Loads

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wilkerson
·
Organization(s)
Medeek Design
Description
Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

Attic Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Web page describing the benefits of attic fans, with rules for sizing fans and intake vents.

Attic Venting, Attic Moisture, and Ice Dams

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
·
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Government of Canada
Description
Article by the Canadian Government on attic ventilation and considerations for moisture and ice dams.

Avoiding Moisture Problems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Van der Meer Bill
·
Organization(s)
National Association for State Community Services Programs,
NASCSP,
Weatherization Training Center at Penn College,
Pennsylvania College of Technology,
PCT
Description
Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.

Basement Insulation Systems, BA-0202

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Report describing approaches to insulating basements in homes built to meet Energy Star levels of performance of heat loss reduction.

Basement Insulation Technology Fact Sheet

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute
·
Organization(s)
SEI,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Fact sheet describing basement insulation considerations.

Basement Insulation, Info 511

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.

Bay Area Seismic Retrofit

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bay Area Retrofit
Description
YouTube channel featuring 90+ videos to educate Bay Area homeowners and contractors about seismic retrofitting, including information for various home and construction types.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Builder's Guide to Cold Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Book presenting the best techniques for energy and resource efficient residential construction in the colder climates of North America.

Climate Consultant

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Milne Murray
·
Organization(s)
Society of Building Science Educators,
SBSE,
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Description
Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.

Climate Research

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
·
Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
Website providing weather data.

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.

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.

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.

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.

Ecosystems Research

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
A map describing the average temperature of shallow groundwater in Fahrenheit across the continental United States.

Energy Auditor - Single Family 2.0: Attic Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Weatherization Assistance Program
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Powerpoint on attic ventilation developed as training material for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Erosion Control Treatment Selection Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
·
Organization(s)
USDA,
USDA Forest Service
Description
A publication developed by the U.S. Forest Service for its employees and other federal agency staff describing erosion control methods.

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.

FEMA Bioengineered Shoreline Stabilization

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Document discussing methods to bioengineer stabilization of shorelines using living and non-living plant materials in combination, known as the “Living Shorelines” concept.

FEMA Continuous Load Path

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Article explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.

FEMA National Risk Index

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Website providing maps for natural disaster risk in the United States.

Firebreak - Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
·
Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Description
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.

Fixing Wet Basements and Crawlspaces

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Todd Jason
·
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Description
Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

Flood Cleanup Infographic

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
This document includes tips for safely and effectively cleaning up a home after a flood. It is available in several languages.

Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Website providing series of short how-to videos, infographics and more resources on cleaning up a home after a flood.

Foundation Design Handbook

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Carmody John,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
University of Minnesota
Description
Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Williams Randy
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Description
Article describing what the building codes say about frost-protected shallow foundations as a cost-saving alternative to conventional concrete foundations.

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations 1

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
·
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding
Description
Guides describing frost-protected shallow foundations as an alternative method for building an energy-efficient foundation for a house in a cold climate that uses less concrete and saves on labor.

Georgia Pulls the Attic-Ventilator Plug (Sort of)

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Defendorf Richard
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Description
Article describing issues with attic ventilation fans and why the state of Georgia residential code does not allow plug-in attic ventilation fans.

Geospatial Data Science

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
NREL,
DOE
Description
Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.

GIS Geography

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
GIS Geography
·
Organization(s)
GIS Geography
Description
A website providing free access to a variety of U.S. and international maps.

How to Insulate a Basement Wall

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Description
Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.

How to Insulate Your Basement

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Mathews Erin
·
Organization(s)
This Old House
Description
An article and video of a breakdown on the preparation and installation of basement insulation.

Innovation in Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Green Home Institute
·
Organization(s)
Green Home Institute
Description
Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.

Innovation in Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Green Home Institute
·
Organization(s)
Green Home Institute
Description
Video describing how a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is constructed and including use of a stay-in-place EPS (expanded polystyrene) footing form that provides insulation and simplifies the installation of frost-protected monolithic concrete slab foundations.