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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 51 - 100 of 117 results:

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations 1

Publication Date
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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.

Home Power

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sanchez
·
Organization(s)
Home Power
Description
Web article about solar site assessment.

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 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.

Ignition Resistant Construction Design Manual

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Colorado Springs Fire Department
·
Organization(s)
City of Colorado Springs,
State of Colorado
Description
Wildfire guidance for homes located in the wildland urban interface, focused on site design and individual pieces of the home.

Ignition Resistant Construction Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
FireSafe Montana
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Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Description
Ignition resistant residential construction and landscaping guidelines from FireSafe Montana.

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.

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.

Landscaping Tips

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Guide describing landscaping tips for healthy and regionally-based gardens, including maintenance, mulching, water efficiency, and plant resources.

Living with Fire: Homeowners' Firesafe Guide for Montana

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
FireSafe Montana
·
Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Description
Guide for homeowners describing actions they can take to modify their home and the surrounding site to create a survivable space to reduce the amount of damage a home would likely experience during a wildfire.

Maintain Defensible Space

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
·
Organization(s)
Cal Fire
Description
A webpage outlining CAL FIRE’s recommendations for creating defensible space.

Measure Guideline: Basement Insulation Basics

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Mantha Pallavi,
Puttagunta Srikanth
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Document describing good practices for insulating basements in new and 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.

Mulching to Improve Soil Health, E484A

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sabata,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA
Description
Article describing mulch requirements and benefits.

Mulching with Lawn Clippings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Garden City Harvest
·
Organization(s)
Garden City Harvest
Description
Article describing mulching with lawn clippings.

Mulching Your Trees and Landscapes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service
·
Organization(s)
University of Tennessee
Description
Pamphlet describing different types of mulches and their benefits.

National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

New National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Research Council Canada
·
Organization(s)
NRCC
Description
Report for local governments, planners, emergency managers, developers, insurers, and property owners describing ways to improve the wildfire resistance of buildings, infrastructure and communities in the wildland urban interface.

NFPA 1142 – Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
·
Organization(s)
NFPA
Description
An NFPA Standard that identifies a method for determining the minimum water supply necessary for structural fire-fighting purposes in areas where it has been determined that there is no water or inadequate water for fire fighting.

NFPA 22 – Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
·
Organization(s)
NFPA
Description
An NFPA standards document that provides minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of tanks and accessory equipment that supply water for private fire protection.

Peak Power and Cooling Energy Savings of Shade Trees

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Akbari Hashem,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
Paper describing a study on savings in peak power and cooling energy for homes with shade trees.

Permeable Pavement

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
City of Mercer Island
·
Organization(s)
City of Mercer Island
Description
Brochure describing what permeable pavement is, where to install it, and how to maintain it.

Proper Mulching

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Fayetteville NC
·
Organization(s)
Fayetteville NC
Description
Pamphlet describing proper mulching around trees and problems and benefits associated with mulching.

Pump Day Procedures

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ICF Systems
·
Organization(s)
Massachusetts Building Products
Description
Information sheet including a checklist of steps to follow for pouring concrete.

Rats: Information for Tenants and Property Owners

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
City of New York
·
Organization(s)
City of New York
Description
Website providing information about how to keep the properties rat-free and address conditions that can lead to rats.

Revised Builder’s Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing,
National Association of Home Builders
·
Organization(s)
HUD,
PATH,
NAHB Research Center
Description
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.

SelecTree: A Tree Selection Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute,
California Polytechnic State University
·
Organization(s)
UFEI,
Cal Poly
Description
Website tool that can search for trees by name or characteristics and retrieve data describing tree attributes including site preferences and general characteristics and considerations.

Stop Pests in Housing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
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Organization(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
Description
Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.

Storm Water Technology Fact Sheet - Vegetated Swales

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Document describing correct construction of swales, designed to trap particulate pollutants (suspended solids and trace metals), promote infiltration, and reduce the flow velocity of storm water runoff.

Sunnyvale Marine Climate Deep Retrofit

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
German Alea,
Siddiqi Aqdus,
Dakin Bill
·
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
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.