Library | Building America Solution Center

Achieving Very High Efficiency & Net Zero Energy in an Existing Home in a Hot-Humid Climate: Long-Term Utility & Monitoring Data

Author(s)

Parker,

Sherwin

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

NREL

Publication Date

October, 2012

Research study summarizing the first full year of detailed data collected about a single-family home that experienced a series of retrofits targeting reductions in energy use.

Best Practices Series Volume 16: 40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Mixed-Humid Climate

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Adams Karen T,

Butner Ryan S,

Ortiz S J,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

September, 2011

Report describing measures that builders in mixed-humid climates can use to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Building a 40% Energy Savings House in the Mixed Humid Climate

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E,

Bonar Jacob

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

March, 2008

Presentation about building highly efficient, affordable homes that will achieve 40% whole-house energy savings in mixed-humid climates.

Byggmeister Test Home: Analysis and Initial Results of Cold Climate Wood-Framed Home Retrofit

Author(s)

Gates

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report describing a deep energy retrofit project for a two-family wood framed home located in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Chamberlain Heights Redevelopment: A Large Scale, Cold Climate Study of Affordable Housing Retrofits

Author(s)

Donnelly,

Mahle

Organization(s)

CARB,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

March, 2012

Report about City of Meriden Housing Authority's (MHA) collaboration with Jonathon Rose Companies to complete a gut renovation of 126 residential units in the Chamberlain Heights retrofit project.

Characterization of Framing Factors for Low-Rise Residential Building Envelopes in California

Author(s)

California Energy Commission,

Enermodal Engineering Limited

Organization(s)

CEC,

EEL

Publication Date

December, 2001

Document with information from a workshop addressing framing materials for residential buildings in California. A copy of the document can be requested at the resource link, and an online copy of the document can be found by searching for it on the California Energy Commission's Library Online...

Construction Guide to Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part I: 2x6 Walls

Author(s)

Kochkin,

Wiehagen

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

September, 2017

Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. The Guide is...

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part 2: 2x4 Walls with 1” to 1.5” Exterior Insulative Sheathing

Author(s)

Kochkin,

Wiehagen

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

January, 2016

The Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel sheathing (WSP) as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 inches thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing in low...

De-Icing Ice Dams, BSI-097

Author(s)

Joseph Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

October, 2018

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.

Effect of Cladding Systems on Moisture Performance of Wood Frame Walls in a Mixed-Humid Climate

Author(s)

Drumheller S Craig,

Carll Charles G

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center,

Home Innovation Research Labs,

Forest Products Laboratory,

FPL,

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,

USDA Forest Service

Publication Date

April, 2010

The objective of this research was to quantify the field performance of wood-frame walls clad with a variety of common claddings in a mixed-humid climate.

Evaluation of Savings in Energy-Efficient Public Housing in the Pacific Northwest

Author(s)

Gordon,

Lubliner,

Howard,

Kunkle

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

Washington State University Extension Energy Program

Publication Date

October, 2013

Research study documenting market-ready energy solutions to improve the efficiency of new affordable housing in the marine climate of Washington State.

External Insulation of Masonry Walls and Wood Framed Walls

Author(s)

Baker Peter

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2013

Research study developing baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2 in. to 8 in.) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls.

Extreme Heat—A Tale of Two Cities, BSI-032

Author(s)

Joseph Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

February, 2010

Article from Building Science Corporation on construction techniques for extreme heat conditions in Dubai and Las Vegas.

High-R Walls for Remodeling: Wall Cavity Moisture Monitoring

Author(s)

Wiehagen,

Kochkin

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

December, 2012

Research study presenting results of an existing home monitoring project designed to measure wall cavity moisture characteristics.

Home Energy Guide - Techniques, Tactics, & Tips: Ice Dams

Author(s)

Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Information Center

Organization(s)

Minnesota Department of Commerce

Publication Date

May, 2003

Article describing the causes that form ice dams, as well as solutions for preventing future ice dams on roofs, focusing on air sealing to prevent hot air leakage.

How to Prevent Roof Damage from Winter Ice Buildup

Author(s)

Dorsi Chris

Organization(s)

Montana State University Extension,

MSU Extension

Publication Date

January, 2019

Article from Montana State University Extension explaining how proper insulation techniques can greatly reduce the risks of ice dams on roofs in cold climate zones.

HVAC Sizing Tool

Author(s)

BetterBuilt Northwest

Organization(s)

BetterBuiltNW,

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,

NEEA

Publication Date

January, 2022

Software tool available free online that can help calculate heating and cooling requirements to accurately size HVAC equipment in as little as 15 minutes.

IBHS provides consumer information to deal with winter storm power outages

Author(s)

jmaloni

Organization(s)

Niagara Frontier Publications

Publication Date

February, 2014

Recommendations from IBHS describing how to safely use generators during winter storm power outages.

Introduction to Buildings Systems Performance: Houses that Work II

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

April, 2004

Report that describes BSC's Houses That Work II (HTWII) climate-specific technical resource, beginning with an overall HTWII introduction and four sections explaining the four most important hygro-thermal climate regions: Hot-Humid, Mixed-Humid, Cold, and Hot-Dry/Mixed-Dry.

Long-Term Monitoring of Mini-Split Ductless Heat Pumps in the Northeast

Author(s)

Ueno,

Loomis

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Report on the long-term performance of mini-split heat pumps.

Measure Guideline: High Efficiency Natural Gas Furnaces

Author(s)

Brand Larry,

Rose W

Organization(s)

Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,

PARR,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Gas Technology Institute,

GTI Energy

Publication Date

October, 2012

Document covering installation of high efficiency gas furnaces, including when to install a high efficiency gas furnace as a retrofit measure, how to identify and address risks, and steps to follow for the selection and installation process.

Moisture Durability with Vapor-Permeable Insulating Sheathing

Author(s)

Lepage,

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

September, 2013

Report about exterior sheathing insulation and inward driven moisture issues.

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

Publication Date

May, 2013

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

Northwest Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Program Specification Development

Author(s)

Hewes,

Peeks

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

Northwest Energy Works

Publication Date

February, 2013

Research study conducted on new specifications that would improve on the energy requirements of a NEEM home.

Prevent Home Roof Damage from Heavy Snow and Ice.

Author(s)

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

November, 2019

Webpage providing guidance for homeowners on how much snow weight a typical roof can handle and when to consider removing snow from the roof.

Preventing Ice Dams

Author(s)

Paul Fisette

Organization(s)

UMass Amherst Department of Environmental Conservation

Publication Date

January, 2011

Article describing how ice dams form on residential roofs, how they damage homes, and solutions to prevent future dams.

Preventing Ice Dams Fact Sheet

Author(s)

Wisconsin Focus on Energy

Organization(s)

Wisconsin Focus on Energy

Publication Date

January, 2007

Ice dam fact sheet from Wisconsin Focus on Energy explaining how to prevent future ice dams on homes by learning about their formation and mitigation of contributing factors.

Protect Your Home from Ice Dams

Author(s)

IBHS DisasterSafety

Organization(s)

IBHS

Publication Date

September, 2021

List of recommendations from IBHS on how to protect homes from ice dam formation.

Reduce Ice Dam and Icicle Damage

Author(s)

Kenneth Hellevang

Organization(s)

NDSU

Publication Date

February, 2013

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

Retrofitting Air Conditioning and Duct Systems in Hot, Dry Climates

Author(s)

Shapiro Carl,

Aldrich Robb,

Arena Lois

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

July, 2012

Report describing procedures for increasing sensible efficiencies through increased flow rates across the air handling unit and increased indoor coil sizes.

Strategies for Energy Efficient Remodeling: SEER 2003 Case Study Report

Author(s)

Drumheller,

Wiehagen

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

November, 2004

Report providing information based on research and case studies, to remodelers and consumers about opportunities to increase home energy performance.

When should I worry about snow accumulation on the roof?

Author(s)

Cold Climate Housing Research Center

Organization(s)

CCHRC

Publication Date

March, 2021

Webpage describing how different amounts and types of snow loads affect the structural integrity of roofs and homes.

Zelonedom Case Study Report: "Approaching" Zero Energy in the Pacific Northwest Marine Climate

Author(s)

Lubliner,

Fuess,

Gordon,

Kingrey

Organization(s)

BAIHP,

ORNL

Publication Date

February, 2009

Report about a building project in the marine climate.