Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 154 results:

2009 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2018

International Code Council

ICC

2009 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2012 International Plumbing Code - IPC

2018

International Code Council

ICC

2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2018 Long-term National Seismic Hazard Map

2018

U.S. Geological Survey,

Earthquake Hazards Program

USGS,

U.S. Department of the Interior,

USDI

A colored map showing seismic zones across the United States, ranging from lowest to highest seismic hazards.

2018 Rating the States - An Assessment of Residential Building Code and Enforcement Systems for Life Safety and Property Protection in Hurricane-Prone Regions

2018

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Report assessing and scoring code enforcement and administration and contractor licensing in the 18 states most vulnerable to catastrophic hurricanes along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

2018 Uniform Plumbing Code - UPC

2018

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

IAPMO

Code set from IAPMO explaining plumbing standards. 2018 publication.

A Bridge Too Far, BSI-005

2008

Lstiburek Joseph

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing thermal bridging, construction practices that encourage thermal bridging, and solutions.

ACCA Manual ZR – Residential Zoning Systems

2018

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

Technical manual from ACCA outlining correct methods for zoning of residential HVAC systems.

ACCA Standard 12 - Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement

2018

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

This Standard establishes the minimum requirements to evaluate a residence with regards to energy efficiency, water conservation, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality.

Advanced Framing: Using Wood Efficiently from Optimizing Design to Minimizing the Dumpster, BA-0201

2002

Baczek Steven,

Yost Peter,

Finegan Stephanie

Building Science Corporation

Report describing approaches to using less wood in home building that minimize waste.

Advanced Wall Framing

2002

Southface Energy Institute,

et al.

NAHB,

SEI,

ORNL,

NREL

Fact sheet describing advanced wall framing.

Air Leakage in Recessed Lighting

2002

Van der Meer Bill

Pennsylvania Housing Research/Resource Center,

PHRC

Article describing recessed lighting, which if installed incorrectly may contribute to air leakage and compromise building envelope efficiency.

Air Sealing That Works

2018

Bruton Jack,

Baczek Steven

Journal of Light Construction

Article describing how an airtight home shell helps achieve a tight envelope that is energy efficient and cost effective.

Alaska Residential Building Manual, 7th Edition

2008

Deer Charlie,

et al.

University of Alaska,

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation

Manual describing best practices or home construction in Alaska and northern climates.

Are We Sealing The Right Walls In Buildings?, BSI-108

2018

Lstiburek Joseph

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing air sealing and air barriers in buildings.

ASHRAE 90.2 - Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings

2018

American National Standards Institute

ASHRAE,

ANSI

Standard establishing the minimum whole-building energy performance requirements for energy efficient residential buildings.

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

2018

Mallay David,

Kochkin Vladimir

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE,

Home Innovation Research Labs,

HIRL

This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate the adoption of energy retrofits by remodeling contractors and roofing contractors using retrofit panels which applicable to many existing house designs in most climates and markets.

Avoiding Mass Failures, BSI-105

2018

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report covering interior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Avoiding Wet Roofs - Part I

2018

Yost Peter

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing the building science implications of insulating vented or unvented attics.

Avoiding Wet Roofs - Part II

2018

Yost Peter

Journal of Light Construction,

JLC

Article describing the research into insulating vented versus unvented attics.

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.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

2018

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Best Practices Manual

2018

Hammer & Hand

This Best Practices Manual is the product of Hammer & Hand’s ongoing work to document and internally codify our standard operating procedures for construction practice.

Boiler Inspections for Safety, Life and Efficiency

2008

Kleva Stephen

Contractor Magazine

Article explaining the importance of regular inspections of boiler systems in maintaining their safety, lifespan, and efficiency.

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

2008

Christian Jeffrey E,

Bonar Jacob

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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

Building a Wildfire-Resistant Home: Codes and Costs

2018

Quarles Stephen L,

Pohl Kelly

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire,

CPAW,

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety,

IBHS,

Headwaters Economics

Report examining the cost differences between a typical home and a home constructed using wildfire-resistant materials and design features.

Building America Research Benchmark Definition - Updated December 19, 2008

2008

Hendron Robert

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Document describing the Building America research benchmark for the residential building program.

Building Science Corporation (BSC) Building America Quality Control Checklist, GM-0802

2008

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Document with the Quality Control Checklist developed as both a guide to assist in the transition to high performance home building, and as a simplified tool to be used as part of any builder's on-site quality control procedures.

Cantilevers, Technical Bulletin F2

2002

Advanced Energy

Information sheet containing images and descriptions of cantilevers.

Ceiling Fans - Tips for Maximizing Energy Savings

2008

Calwell Chris,

Horowitz Noah

Massachusetts Department of Energy,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

Home Energy Magazine,

State of Massachusetts

Article describing customer tip sheet and how ceiling fans are one of the most popular and generally well regarded of all home energy efficiency features.

Choosing, Installing, and Operating an Efficient Swimming Pool Pump

2018

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

You can save energy and maintain a comfortable swimming pool temperature by using a smaller, higher efficiency pump and by operating it less.

Closed Crawl Space Performance: Proof of Concept in the Production Builder Marketplace

2008

Dastur Cyrus,

Mauceri Maria,

Hannas Benjamin

Advanced Energy

Report aimed to quantify the impact of closed crawlspaces in new homes, and investigate modeling software to ensure accuracy of energy consumption predictions in these homes.

Comparative Evaluation of the Impact of Roofing Systems on Residential Cooling Energy Demand in Florida

2002

Parker Danny S,

Sonne Jeffrey K,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Study investigating measured cooling energy performance in side-by-side identical homes with varying roof types, including cool roof technologies.

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

2008

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

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

Concrete Floors and Moisture, 2nd Edition

2008

Kanare Howard M

Portland Cement Association

Document discussing moisture considerations and testing techniques for concrete floors.

Cool Solutions: The Whole House Fan

2018

Mott-Smith John

City of Davis,

State of California

Article describing the use of whole-house fans to provide cooling in the region surrounding Sacramento, CA.

Cool Surfaces Savings Explorer

2018

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

LBNL

Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.

Cooling Related Performance of Finished and Unfinished Metal Roofing Systems

2002

Parker Danny S,

Sonne Jeffrey K,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of finished and unfinished metal roofing systems on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

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.

Defensible Space - Home Builder’s Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones, FEMA 4

2008

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Technical fact sheet proving information on creating defensible space to reduce the risk of damage from fires to property.

Design and Construction of Interior Duct System

2002

McIlvaine Janet E R,

Beal David,

Fairey Philip W

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

This study focuses on the design, construction, and performance of the interior chase approach as implemented by five different builders in Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.

Dryer Safety Tips

2018

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA

Information sheet with safety tips for home owners on proper maintenance of clothes dryers.

DSA Gas Shut off Valves Certification Program

2018

California Division of the State Architect,

California Department of General Services

DSA,

DGS

A quick guide from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) explaining the three types of gas shutoff devices to stop the flow of natural gas into buildings in the event of an earthquake or rupture of the gas line.

El Dorado County Fire District - Defensible Space

2018

El Dorado County Fire District

Document explaining requirements and recommendations for defensible space, with a focus on sloped vegetation.

Electric Vehicle Charger Selection Guide

2018

California Energy Commission

Report describing guidance for selecting an electric vehicle charger

Energy Retrofitting Advanced Technologies in a Hot Climate, Henderson Nevada

2002

National Association of Home Builders

NAHB,

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

HUD,

Office of Policy Development and Research,

PDR

Article from NAHB research center describing home building techniques for homes in hot climate zones.

Energy Saver

2018

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Website from the U.S. Department of Energy providing consumers with information on saving energy and using renewable energy technologies.

Environmental Resource Permit Applicant’s Handbook Volume I (General and Environmental)

2018

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

FDEP

Handbook to help property owners understand the rules, procedures, standards, and criteria that apply to the environmental resource permit (ERP) program under Part IV of Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes.

Erosion and Sediment Control On Your Construction Site

2008

Community Development and Insfrastructure County of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County CDI

Report describing construction site erosion and sediment control practices recommended and required by a county planning department.

Evaluating Moisture Control of Variable-Capacity Heat Pumps in Mechanically Ventilated, Low-Load Homes in Climate Zone 2A

2018

Martin Eric,

et al.

Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,

BA-PIRC,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

This report evaluates the performance of variable-capacity comfort systems, with a focus on inverter-driven, variable-capacity systems, as well as proposed system enhancements.