Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 72 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.

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, 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).

Designing for Earthquakes - A Manual for Architects, FEMA P-454

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report explaining the principles of seismic design to architects.

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.

Erosion Control Treatment Selection Guide

2006

U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA,

USDA Forest Service

A publication developed by the U.S. Forest Service for its employees and other federal agency staff describing erosion control methods.

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.

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

2006

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.

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.

Flood and Hurricane Resistant Buildings, BSD-111

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Guide from Building Science Corporation on how to construct a flood and hurricane resistant home.

Fold-Form

2006

Owens Corning Insulation

Information sheet with manufacturer specifications about insulated concrete forms.

Food and Water in an Emergency, FEMA 477

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA,

American Red Cross

A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.

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.

Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses

2006

Building Component Safety Information

BCSI,

Wood Truss Council of America,

WTCA,

Truss Plate Institute,

TPI

IRC guide referencing wood truss bracing best practices and requirements.

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-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.

Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction, FEMA 232

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Report presenting seismic design and construction guidance for one- and two-family houses for homebuilders, knowledgeable homeowners, and other non-engineers.

How to Build a Zero Electric Utility Cost House

2006

Christian Jeffrey E

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Report presenting construction methods, building products, appliances and equipment of four single-family houses that achieve dramatic energy reductions and approach “net zero energy” use.

Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 549

2006

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Guide discussing observations, recommendations, and technical guidance as a result of Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site-Built Single-Family Residential Structures

2006

Florida Building Code

Code describing the requirements for existing site-built single-family homes to receive roof-to-wall retrofits when re-roofing.

HVAC in Multifamily Buildings

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation

Paper providing a comprehensive overview of HVAC system design considerations and challenges specific to multifamily residential buildings, focusing on optimizing performance and addressing common issues.

HVAC System Pressure Relief

2006

Raymer Paul H,

Moyer Neil

Tamarack Technologies,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Correcting pressure imbalances in your HVAC system can result in a healthier, more efficient home.

Ice Dams, BSD-135

2006

Straube John

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article outlining the casuses and solutions for ice dam problems.

Increasing the Durability of Building Constructions, BSD-144

2006

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSD

Report discussing the importance of durability and energy efficiency in building construction.

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.

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.

Modeling and Test-and-Rate Methods for Innovative Thermosiphon Solar Water Heaters

2006

Burch Jay,

et al.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

University of Colorado,

CU,

University of Colorado-Boulder,

CU Boulder

This paper discusses model validation using data from three thermosiphon systems.

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.

Rain Control in Buildings, BSD-013

2006

Straube John

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Document covering basic moisture control principles in the design of above-grade building enclosures; driving rain as a moisture load on walls; a classification system of the various rain control strategies available for walls; and good design practises for walls.

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.

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.

Small House with Construction Cost of $100K, Total Energy Cost of $0.88 a Day

2006

Christian Jeffrey E,

et al.

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Paper describing the development and testing of an affordable net-zero energy house in Lenoir City, Tennessee.