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Library

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 1351 - 1400 of 2217

Metal Roof Systems in High-Wind Regions - Hurricane Ike Recovery Advisory

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
A Recovery Advisory guide reccomending practices for designing and installing metal roof systems that will enhance wind resistance in high-wind regions (i.e., greater than 90-miles per hour [mph] gust design wind speed).

Method for Determining Optimal Residential Energy Efficiency Packages

Author(s)
Polly Benjamin,
Gestwick Mike,
Bianchi Marcus V A,
Anderson Ren,
Horowitz Scott,
Christensen Craig B,
Judkoff Ron
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report describing an analysis method for determining optimal residential energy efficiency retrofit packages and applies the analysis method to a 1960s-era home in eight U.S. cities.

Method of Test for Determining the Design and Seasonal Efficiencies of Residential Thermal Distribution Systems, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 152-2014

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
American National Standards Institute
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard that prescribes a testing method to determine the efficiency of space heating and/or cooling thermal distribution systems under seasonal and design conditions. This version of the standard was published in the year 2014, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. The...

Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2017

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
ANSI
Publication Date
Standard establishing a test procedure for evaluating the performance of air-cleaning devices as a function of particle size. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the year 2017, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. The ASHRAE bookstore also...

Mind the Gap, Eh!, BSI-038

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Discussion of building sheathing.

Mini-Split Heat Pumps Multifamily Retrofit Feasibility Study

Author(s)
Dentz Jordan,
Henderson Hugh,
Podorson David
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions,
ARIES,
Levy Partnership,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
This report investigates whether mini-split heat pumps can live up to their potential for one market segment: multifamily retrofits.

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI 7-16

Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
SEI
Publication Date
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, wind, and fire loads, and their combinations for general structural design. This version of the standard was published in the year 2016 and is available in both digital...

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI 7-22

Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
SEI
Publication Date
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, seismic, and wind loads, and their combinations for general structural design. The current version of this standard was published in the year 2022 and is available in both digital...

Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE/SEI 7-10

Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE,
SEI
Publication Date
Standard using performance-based principles to determine dead, live, soil, flood, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, and wind loads, and their combinations for general structural design. This version of the standard was published in the year 2010 and is available in both digital and print...

Minnesota Power New Construction Energy Efficiency Program

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

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report providing a resource that communities can use to identify and evaluate a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters.

Moisture Barrier Systems, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 1.9

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing how typical wall moisture barrier systems work, the moisture barrier system and common problems associated with them; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
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

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

Moisture Performance of High-R Wall Systems

Author(s)
Kochkin Vladimir,
Shah Nay B
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...

Moisture Performance of Unvented Attics with Vapor Diffusion Ports and Buried Ducts in Hot, Humid Climates

Author(s)
Kaufman Zoe,
Fontanini Anthony,
Withers Charles R,
Marden Craig,
Ueno Kohta,
Philip Ross,
Barker Greg M,
Hancock Ed,
Earle Lieko,
Garber-Slaght Robbin,
Meleika Sam
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report on the use of vapor diffusion ports to reduce moisture issues with buried ductwork in unvented attics in hot-humid climates.

Moisture Research - Optimizing Wall Assemblies

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
Publication Date
Report describing evaluation of several configurations of wall assemblies to determine the accuracy of moisture modeling and make recommendations to ensure durable, efficient assemblies.

Moisture-Safe Unvented Wood Roof Systems, RR-1001

Author(s)
Smith John,
Smegal Jonathan,
Straube John
Organization(s)
University of Waterloo,
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Document describing a hygrothermal modeling study, including all of the US climate zones, a range of interior humidity levels and numerous arrangements and types of insulation.

Moisture, Mold and Construction Practices

Author(s)
U.S. Gypsum Company
Organization(s)
U.S. Gypsum Company
Publication Date
Brochure discussing specific practices for mitigating moisture and mold during the construction process.

Mold

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website providing guidance about mold and moisture for homes, schools, multifamily and commercial buildings.

Mold

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Online course describing mold and mold remediation for environmental and public health professionals.

Mold Course

Author(s)
Brennan Terry
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Online course providing an overview of mold prevention and mold remediation.

Mold, Housing & Wood

Author(s)
Robbins Coreen,
Morrell Jeff
Organization(s)
Western Wood Products Association,
WWPA
Publication Date
Document describing common questions about moisture, mold, and wood.

Mold: Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Information sheet about mold mitigation.

Mold: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Organization(s)
EPA,
HUD,
NIH,
OSHA
Publication Date
Worker guidance from EPA, HUD, NIH, and OSHA on how to deal with mold in homes following natural disasters.

Monitoring of Unvented Roofs with Fibrous Insulation, Diffusion Vents, and Interior Vapor Control in a Cold Climate

Author(s)
Ueno Kohta,
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report detailing a three-winter study on unvented roof assemblies in a cold climate, assessing insulation material, ridge diffusion vent presence, vapor control membranes, relative humidity, and interstitial airflow. Results indicate that utilizing air-permeable fibrous fill insulations in unvented...

Monitoring of Unvented Roofs with Fibrous Insulation, Diffusion Vents, and Interior Vapor Control in a Cold Climate

Author(s)
Ueno Kohta,
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report detailing a three-winter study on unvented roof assemblies in a cold climate, assessing insulation material, ridge diffusion vent presence, vapor control membranes, relative humidity, and interstitial airflow; results indicate that utilizing air-permeable fibrous fill insulations in unvented...

Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards

Author(s)
RESNET
Organization(s)
RESNET
Publication Date
RESNET standards aimed to ensure that accurate and consistent home energy ratings are performed by accredited home energy rating providers through their raters nationwide.

Mounting Systems, Mounting Devices, Clamping/Retention Devices, and Ground Lugs for Use with Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels, UL 2703

Author(s)
Underwriters Laboratories LLC
Organization(s)
UL
Publication Date
Standard covering overs mounting systems, including mounting devices, clamping devices and ground lugs for use with photovoltaic modules and panels and contains requirements for ground-mounted and roof systems as part of a nonstructural building component.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

Author(s)
Lubliner Michael,
Kerr Ryan,
Gordon Andrew,
Murray Chuck
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Program,
Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
Publication Date
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.

MPI Green Performance Standard

Author(s)
Master Painters Institute
Organization(s)
MPI
Publication Date
List of products approved by the Master Painters Institute.

Mulching to Improve Soil Health, E484A

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

Mulching with Lawn Clippings

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

Mulching Your Trees and Landscapes

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

Multifamily Heat Pump Water Heater Evaluation

Author(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
ARBI,
NREL
Publication Date
Study in which a central heat pump water heater system was monitored in detail and used to create a model for assessing similar systems in various climates.