Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 52 results:

Actions for Flood Resilient Homes: Wet Floodproofing

2020

City of Edina

Report providing guidance on wet floodproofing crawlspaces, unfinished basements, and garages.

ASCE Ground Snow Loads

2017

Wilkerson

Medeek Design

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.

Basement Insulation Systems, BA-0202

2002

Building Science Corporation

BSC

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

2002

Southface Energy Institute

SEI,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Fact sheet describing basement insulation considerations.

Basement Insulation, Info 511

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.

Bay Area Seismic Retrofit

2020

Bay Area Retrofit

YouTube channel featuring 90+ videos to educate Bay Area homeowners and contractors about seismic retrofitting, including information for various home and construction types.

CARB Regulations Allow for the Use of Back-Up Generators During a Public Safety Power Shutoff

2019

California Air Resources Board

CARB

Web article describing utility customer’s right to use back-up generators during emergency events, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

2008

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.

Crawlspace Insulation

2009

Southface Energy Institute,

et al.

ORNL,

SEI,

DOE

Information sheet about crawlspace insulation, including installation details.

De-Icing Ice Dams, BSI-097

2018

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

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

2019

University of Minnesota Extension

University of Minnesota

Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

2014

Rudd Armin

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report analyzing results in crawlspace retrofits in multifamily buildings.

Even in Frigid Temperatures, Air-Source Heat Pumps Keep Homes Warm From Alaska Coast to U.S. Mass Market

2021

Rettig Molly

National Renewal Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Article describing a study of the potential to use heat pumps to heat and cool homes across the United States, including cold climate locations like Alaska.

Extreme Weather and Climate Vulnerabilities of the Electric Grid: A Summary of Environmental Sensitivity Quantification Methods

2019

Allen-Dumas Melissa R,

KC Binita,

Cunliff Colin I

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.

FEMA Continuous Load Path

2023

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Article explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.

FEMA How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

2017

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet providing an overview of how to properly prepare for a winter storm and how to protect yourself before, during, and after one.

Fixing Wet Basements and Crawlspaces

2012

Todd Jason

Home Energy Magazine

Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

Foundation Design Handbook

2013

Carmody John,

et al.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

University of Minnesota

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

2022

Williams Randy

Green Building Advisor,

GBA

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

2010

Holladay Martin

Fine Homebuilding

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.

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations Reduce Costs, Save Energy

2014

Hooker Kenneth A

Concrete Construction

Article describing frost-protected shallow foundations with construction drawing details.

Guidelines for Ventilating Attics and Cathedral Ceilings to Avoid Icings at Their Eaves

2001

Tobiasson Wayne N,

Buska James S,

Greatorex Alan R

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Report describing the use of fresh air ventilation systems to eliminate the formation of icicles and ice dams along the eaves of roofs.

Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting - Six Ways to Protect Your House From Flooding, FEMA I-235

2020

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Brochure describing FEMA documents and foundation tips for floodproofing homes.

How to Insulate a Basement Wall

2012

Holladay Martin

Green Building Advisor,

GBA

Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.

How to Insulate Your Basement

2022

Mathews Erin

This Old House

An article and video of a breakdown on the preparation and installation of basement insulation.

HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Top Tips for Making Your Home More Disaster Resistant

2024

Theresa Gilbride,

Kaltreider Christian E

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Factsheet describing tips for building or renovating with a focus on disaster resistance.

Hygrothermal Performance Study: A Field Study Comparison of the Energy and Moisture Performance Characteristics of Ventilated Versus Sealed Crawl Spaces in the South

2005

Davis Bruce,

Dastur Cyrus,

Warren William E

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

Advanced Energy,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report outlining results from a 2005 hygrothermal pilot study in the South.

Innovation in Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

2019

Green Home Institute

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

2019

Green Home Institute

Keeping The Heat In - Chapter 6: Basement Insulation Floors, Walls and Crawl Spaces

2016

Natural Resources Canada

Information sheet providing links and resources for insulating basements in cold climates.

Measure Guideline: Basement Insulation Basics

2012

Aldrich Robb,

Mantha Pallavi,

Puttagunta Srikanth

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Document describing good practices for insulating basements in new and existing homes.

Measure Guideline: Hybrid Foundation Insulation Retrofits

2012

Lstiburek Joseph W,

Ueno Kohta

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Document providing information on basement insulation, air sealing and water management retrofits.

NFIP Technical Bulletin 1: Requirements for Flood Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures - Below Elevated Buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas

2020

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Document describing guidance and requirements for flood openings in walls at and below grade.

Preparedness Webinars

2022

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Preparing for a Winter Storm

2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC

Webpage describing steps homeowners can take to prepare their home and car for winter storms.

Pump Day Procedures

2013

ICF Systems

Massachusetts Building Products

Information sheet including a checklist of steps to follow for pouring concrete.

Rats: Information for Tenants and Property Owners

2017

City of New York

Website providing information about how to keep the properties rat-free and address conditions that can lead to rats.

Reduce Ice Dam and Icicle Damage

2013

Hellevang Kenneth

North Dakota State University,

NDSU

Webpage explaining how to mitigate heat loss through roofs for ice dam prevention.

Revised Builder’s Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

2004

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing,

National Association of Home Builders

HUD,

PATH,

NAHB Research Center

Report describing how to construct a frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) as a practical alternative to a deeper, more-costly foundation in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave.

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

2016

Southface Energy Institute

SEI

Fact sheet describing building envelope performance measures applicable to residential and small commercial construction.

Snow Loads: Guide to the Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16

2017

O'Rourke Michael

American Society of Civil Engineers,

ASCE

Guide providing detailed explanations of the snow load provisions contained in Standard ASCE/SEI 7-16: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.

Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) and Snow Course Data and Products

2021

Natural Resources Conservation Service,

National Water and Climate Center,

Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

NRCS,

NWCC,

SSWSF

The website by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center tracks snowpack sensor stations at multiple sites across the country providing an interactive US map of snow loads.

Stop Pests in Housing

2018

Northeastern IPM Center

Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.

Suggested Emergency Food Supplies

2022

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USDHS

Article describing suggested food supplies, sanitation, safety, and cooking for during and after an emergency.

Sunnyvale Marine Climate Deep Retrofit

2014

German Alea,

Siddiqi Aqdus,

Dakin Bill

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,

ARBI,

Davis Energy Group,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

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.

Tornado Protection - Selecting Refuge Areas in Buildings, FEMA P-431

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report presenting information that aids qualified architects and engineers in the identification of the best available refuge areas in existing buildings for sheltering in place during a tornado.

Understanding Basements, BSD-103

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Information sheet with methods for constructing or retrofitting basements to reduce moisture issues.

Upgrading Below Grade Spaces - Residential Energy Efficiency Stakeholder

2012

Huelman Patrick H,

Breidenbach Sam,

Schirber Steve

NorthernSTAR,

University of Minnesota,

UMN,

NSTAR,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Presentation describing the challenges of insulating an existing basement, presented to the Building America residential energy-efficiency stakeholder meeting.

Ventilating Cathedral Ceilings to Prevent Problematic Icings at their Eaves

1998

Tobiasson Wayne N,

Tantillo Thomas,

Buska James S

Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory,

CRREL

Report describing the formation of icicles and ice dams along poorly ventilated roofs and how to mitigate ventilation issues with insulation and vents.

Venting of Attics & Cathedral Ceilings

2002

TenWolde Anton,

Rose William B

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Report describing the use of attic ventilation to control moisture in cathedral roofs and avoid the formation of ice dams.