Library

Article describing products that can enhance the efficiency and safety of clothes dryer vents.

Report providing builders in marine climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Report describing advanced framing techniques, including discussion of cost and energy savings.

Technical fact sheet describing ways to construct asphalt shingle roofs to be more resistant to high winds and hurricanes; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.

Fact sheet describing recommended practices for installing brick veneer that will enhance wind resistance in high wind regions and examples of proper installations and brick veneer tie spacings; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Document providing background and approach for the prep work necessary prior to adding attic insulation - focusing on combustion safety, ventilation for indoor air quality, and attic ventilation for durability.

Article describing different kinds of water-resistant backer boards.

Brochure intended to provide readers with a working knowledge of residential heating and cooling duct systems.

Report describing the recommended best practices to achieve energy savings without compromising health or safety.

Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the hot and humid climate.

Document providing guidance to U.S. home builders who want to accept the challenge.

Report summarizing the guidelines for developing and reporting analytical results in a consistent and meaningful manner for all home energy uses.

Document illustrating some analysis concepts that are proven to be effective and reliable in analyzing the transient energy usage of advanced energy systems as well as of entire houses.

Report investigating implementation of advanced framing in both production and prototype built homes built in a variety of climate regions across the USA.

Research study describing a number of promising foundation and basement insulation strategies that can meet the requirement for better thermal control in colder climates while enhancing moisture control, health, and comfort.

Report comparing a variety of roof insulating strategies to present their advantages and disadvantages according to several comparison criteria.

Document providing an example procedure for establishing acceptance-range criteria to assess results from software undergoing BESTEST-EX.

Article describing the control layers (air, thermal, and vapor barriers) needed to build homes successfully in very cold locations.

Report describing ventilation system design, including a central fan integrated supply (CFIS) system, made up of a 6-inch outdoor air intake duct connected to the return side of the air handler with a fan cycling control to make sure the fan runs a programmed minimum amount of time.

Part 2 of an article discussing how to maximize two-pipe steam systems for resident space heating.

Fact sheet providing guidance and best practices on the selection of building materials used for coastal construction, and discussing flood, wind, corrosion, decay resistance, and protection recommendations; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact...

Fact sheet describing the characteristics that make for a successful coastal residential building, including design and construction recommendations; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”

Report investigating the nature, strength, and durability of connections between high performance dwellings and developments.

Installation manual describing proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.

Report outlining how conditioned crawlspaces perform better than vented crawlspaces in terms of safety, health, comfort, durability and energy consumption.

Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.

Fact sheet summarizing NFIP requirements, general guidelines, and recommendations concerning the construction and installation of decks, access stairs and elevators, swimming pools, and accessory buildings under or near coastal residential buildings; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s...

Fact sheet describing design and construction practices that reduce the likelihood of flood damage in the event that flood levels exceed the BFE, including illustrations of appropriate construction practices; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact...

Document providing design guidance and software tool information for forced-air HVAC systems.

Information about dense pack, cellulose insulation.

Information sheet with HVAC duct insulation, testing, maintenance and performance information.

Report providing an introduction to the NEHRP recommended seismic provisions for new buildings and other structures.

Presentation describing the history of ECM motors, an overview of ECM motor technology, and a lesson on the installation of ECM motors.

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.

Fact sheet describing requirements and recommendations for enclosures and breakaway walls for their use below the BFE, including a diagram of a compliant wall system and examples of systems that have either resulted in increased damages or increased flood insurance premiums; also published in FEMA P...

Paper describing the effects of tree shade on residential electricity consumption and energy savings in summer and winter.

A standard providing minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings that are not low-rise residential buildings.

Report evaluating the accuracy of the regression technique used in 2006 by using the same least-squares regression analysis on data created from hourly energy simulation software.

Document providing an example procedure for establishing acceptance-range criteria to assess results from software undergoing BESTEST-EX.

Report on the performance of range hood exhaust fans.

Report presenting the process of a residential retrofit project for houses in the states of Florida and Alabama, including findings at the time of reporting and highlights of the first home to meet the target HERS Index of 70.

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

Information sheet about what length screws should be used, and how closely to space the screws when fastening furring strips to a foam-sheathed wall.

Report providing guidelines and procedures to determine whether damaged or potentially damaged buildings are safe for use after wind storms or floods, or if entry should be restricted or prohibited.

Map of the wind-borne debris region of Florida

Article describing five fundamental changes to building construction from the last 50 years and their modern construction consequences.

Standard providing a comprehensive approach to evaluating, selecting, specifying and installing flexible duct in HVAC systems.

Article describing the effective R-values of various subslab insulation products, including foil bubble pack.