Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 60 results:

2009 Supplement to the 2007 Florida Building Code

2009

International Code Council

ICC

Building code for the state of Florida.

ACCA Manual T - Air Distribution Basics

2009

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

Standard providing guidance on how to select, size, and locate the supply air diffusers, grilles and registers, and the return grilles.

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.

An Experimental Analysis of the Impact of Tree Shade on Electricity Consumption

2009

Laband David N,

Sophocleus John P

International Society of Arboriculture

Paper describing an experiment to quantify shade tree impacts on cooling-related electricity consumption, finding that there may be sizable benefits in hot regions.

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.

Basement Insulation, Info 511

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.

Benefits of Demand-Controlled Pumping

2009

Acker Larry,

Klein Gary

Home Energy Magazine,

Taco Comfort

Article describing how demand plumbing systems send cold water back to the water heater until hot water arrives at the sink, shower or other fixture where it is needed.

Builder's Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

2009

Lukachko Alex

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Presentation describing details for installing structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Cantilevers, Technical Bulletin F2

2002

Advanced Energy

Information sheet containing images and descriptions of cantilevers.

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.

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.

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.

Double Wall: Staggered or In-Line Studs?

2009

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

Steven Winter Associates

CARB,

SWA

Information sheet providing information about investigating the thermal effect of staggering the inner and outer wall studs on double walls in new construction.

Drainage Plane/Water Resistive Barrier, Info-301

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Brochure describing drainage planes, also referred to as water resistive barriers.

EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2009

2009

U.S. Energy Information Administration

EIA

Federal statistics about national energy consumption in residential homes.

Energy Flow Across Enclosures, BSI-028

2009

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Discussion of structural thermal resistance.

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.

ETW: Building Profile: New - Albuquerque New Mexico

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Information sheet with details on a building enclosure designed for Albuquerque, NM, as an example for building enclosures built for hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.

FEMA Engineering With Nature - Alternative Techniques to Riprap Bank Stabilization

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Document explores alternatives to riprap on banks and waterways to mitigate bankside erosion in the Pacific Northwest.

Fire Network: Windows Vulnerabilities

2009

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

UCANR,

University of California Cooperative Extension

A report showing what happens when windows break as a result of temperature differences between the inside and outside of the home, as well as code standards for the State of California regarding window exposure to wildfires.

Flexible Roofing Facility: 2001 Summer Test Results

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 various roof types on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

GREENGUARD Certification for Paints and Coatings

2009

GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

Standard describing GREENGUARD Emission Criteria for use with GREENGUARD Certification Program for Low Emitting Products.

Guide to Good Leak Testing

2009

Institute of Refrigeration

IOR,

Carbon Trust

Guide describing refrigeration leaks, including common leak points, how to fix them, and how to prevent them.

Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades

2009

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

National Service Center for Environmental Publications

EPA,

NSCEP

Guidance for achieving safe and healthy indoor environments during home energy retrofits.

High Hats, Swiss Cheese, and Fluorescent Lighting?

2002

McCullough Jeff J,

Gordon Kelly L

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Report discussing the potential energy savings of new high-efficiency downlights, and the results of product testing to date.

High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

2009

Straube John,

Grin Aaron

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

Indirect/Passive Air-Flow Systems

2009

Kang Bhujon,

Lutz-Carillo Sky

University of Texas

Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Report discussing how to create livable space in the attic that meets IRC code requirements by either creating a ventilated roof assembly, or and unvented attic assembly.

Is There a Downside to High-MERV Filters?

2009

Springer David

Home Energy Magazine

Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

2002

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

Kickout Flashing: How to Flash Troublesome Roof-to-Wall Intersections

2009

Guertin Mike

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Article showing steps for kick out flashing at roof-wall intersection.

Leak-Free Skylights: A Peel-And-Stick Membrane Under The Flashing Guarantees That The Skylight Won’t Leak—Ever

2009

Guertin Mike

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Article describing a technique for installing a skylight and avoiding potential water leaks with the use of a peel-and-stick (or self-adhesive) membrane under the flashing.

Living with Fire: Homeowners' Firesafe Guide for Montana

2009

FireSafe Montana

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.

Manual B - Balancing and Testing Air and Hydronic Systems

2009

Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA

Standard technical manual with information about HVAC balancing, testing air and hydronic systems.

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

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

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).

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana, FEMA P-757

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

FEMA report describing findings from an investigation of Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana and residential construction recommendations based on those findings.

Predrywall Standard - Auxiliary Standards of Professional Practice for Residential Predrywall Inspections

2009

America Society of Home Inspectors

ASHI

Article describing how to properly manage condensing HVAC equipment.

Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and other Hazards: A Multi-Hazard Foundation and Installation Guide, FEMA P-85

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report addressing flood, wind and seismic hazards and recommends several multi-hazard resistant foundation designs of manufactured homes.

PV Primer, BA-0212

2002

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Report aiming to "de-mystify" technology and economic considerations of residential PV systems.

Recommended Residential Construction for Coastal Areas: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations, FEMA P-550

2009

Coulbourne Bill,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA,

URS Corporation,

DK Low and Associates,

Greenhorne and O'Mara,

Dewberry and Davis

Report providing recommended designs and guidance for rebuilding homes destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.

Residential Air Cleaners - A Summary of Available Information, Second Edition

2009

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Report providing information on mechanical air-cleaning devices for ventilation when conventional methods are not warranted.

Seismic Retrofit Training For Building Contractors and Inspectors Participant Handbook

2002

McCormick Timothy P

Woodward Clyde Federal Services and the Hazard Mitigation Technical Assistance Partnership,

City of Los Angeles,

Structural Engineers Association of Southern California,

SEAOSC

Report seeking to teach building contractors and building inspectors the correct methods for doing typical seismic retrofits that have been designed by an engineer or architect or described in a prescriptive standard.

Servicing High Efficiency Boilers Part 2

2009

Eatherton Mark

Contractor Magazine

Second part of an article series focusing on servicing high efficiency modcon boilers. This part focuses on paperwork and follow-up communication with the homeowner for scheduling annual maintenance.

Servicing High Efficiency Modcon Boilers

2009

Eatherton Mark

Contractor Magazine

Article describing the author's experiences in owning and servicing a modcon boiler.

Solar Ready Buildings Planning Guide

2009

Lisell Lars,

Tetreault Tim,

Watson Andrea

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Report identifying the important aspects of building design and construction to enable installation of solar photovoltaic and heating systems at some time after the building is constructed.

The value of shade: Estimating the effect of urban trees on summertime electricity use

2009

Donovan Geoffrey H,

Butry David T

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA,

USDA Forest Service,

National Institute of Standards and Technology,

NIST

Paper describing the effects of shade trees and their location on residential summertime electricity usage.

Tornado Protection - Selecting Refuge Areas in Buildings, FEMA P-431

2009

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report presenting information that aids qualified architects and engineers in the identification of the best available refuge areas in existing buildings for sheltering in place during a tornado.