Organization(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet providing links and resources for insulating basements in cold climates.
This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.
Showing results 1 - 50 of 75
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Report telling consumers the risks of radon, how radon gets into a home, and steps consumers can take to reduce radon exposure in their homes.
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Description
Standard providing minimum functionality requirements for earthquake-actuated automatic gas shutoff devices; applicable to systems carrying natural gas and propane, the devices are used in piping, equipment, and appliances typically found in structures of three stories or less.
Organization(s)
Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration News,
ACHR News
Publication Date
Description
Article describing benefits of ECM motors and how they can be installed as retrofit motors in HVAC equipment.
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide,
WBDG,
National Institute of Building Sciences,
NIBS
Publication Date
Description
Article outlining the key issues related to the protection of the building envelope against seismic forces.
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Technical report evaluating the effects of heat pump water heaters on heating and cooling energy usage in laboratory homes.
Organization(s)
ORF
Publication Date
Description
Bulletin describing the components of ECM motors and comparing their efficiency with PSC motors.
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide,
WBDG,
Applied Research Associates Inc.,
National Institute of Building Sciences,
NIBS
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the fundamentals and basics of glazing hazard mitigation practices for both new and existing buildings.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using interior cellular shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain in summer and reduce heat loss in winter.
Organization(s)
Simpson Strong Tie Structural Engineering Blog
Publication Date
Description
Article describing a steel connector product for jack rafter connections.
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide,
WBDG,
Gabor Lorant Architects,
Inc.,
Lorant Group
Publication Date
Description
Website providing an introduction to the concepts and principles of seismic design.
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
Acceptance criteria providing guidelines for demonstrating compliance with codes referenced in the criteria related to barriers to water migration in thin-set installations of ceramic tile and stone flooring and shower sub-pan linings.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing information from DOE about rules and standards for residential air conditioners and heat pumps.
Organization(s)
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing building envelope performance measures applicable to residential and small commercial construction.
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Description
Standard providing a universally accepted definition for quality installation for residential and commercial heating, ventilating, and air conditioning applications.
Organization(s)
MNDPS,
State Fire Marshal Division,
SFM
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing fire related terms such as noncombustible, fire resistant, fire retardant, flame spread, how they are applied, and related testing standards.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article outlining moisture accumulation in open cell spray polyurethane foam.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
University of Central Florida,
UCF
Publication Date
Description
Report describing a field investigation of failure rates of whole-house mechanical ventilation systems installed in Florida homes.
Evaluation of Mini-Split Heat Pumps as Supplemental and Full System Retrofits in a Hot Humid Climate
Organization(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Description
Technical report presenting the results of an evaluation of homes using high-efficiency mini-split heat pumps to supplement the primary heating and cooling systems.
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide
Publication Date
Description
Article providing fundamental information and recommendations for shading windows for energy savings.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Description
Conference paper describing how retrofits were used in a Florida home to change it from a high energy user to a near zero-energy home.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Repor ourlining testing results from a 53 home monitored sample, long-term energy use of electric resistance clothes dryers.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist providing specific information about the type of residential building eligible for designation consideration in the FORTIFIED Home program.
Organization(s)
Virginia Tech,
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
Description
Document describing the impacts of tree cover on property values.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Powerpoint on attic ventilation developed as training material for the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Organization(s)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Publication Date
Description
Webpage for home owners describing ways to prepare indoor and outdoor fuel tanks to avoid displacement during floods.
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
Guide for homeowners describing how to find and seal basement and attic air leaks, determine if attic insulation is adequate, make improvements safely, and reduce energy bills.
Organization(s)
New York Times
Publication Date
Description
Installation tips and product suggestions for mounting hardware.
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Practice providing a guide or standard to undertake seismic risk assessment of properties. The current version of the standard was published in the year 2016 and is available for preview and purchase at the link. Previous versions of the standard were published in the years 2016 and 2007, and are...
Organization(s)
NJARNG
Publication Date
Description
Newsletter providing news and information to members of the New Jersey National Guard.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist providing additional guidance and options for asphalt shingle installations at roof edges, intersections and valleys.
Organization(s)
FMA,
AAMA,
WDMA
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing the installation of windows in walls that have foam plastic insulating; guide provides several methods for attaching, supporting, and flashing windows in walls with rigid foam sheathing. (Note: The link only goes to the table of contents for the guide, the full guide can be...
Organization(s)
ABTCO Vinyl Siding
Publication Date
Description
Vinyl siding estimating and installation guide for vinyl siding products.
Organization(s)
National Roofing Contractors Association,
NRCA
Publication Date
Description
An article discussing how different metal roof materials and attachment methods affect the ability of the roof to thermally expand and contract and the durability of different solutions.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Guide providing information on controlling attic ductwork sweating.
Organization(s)
National Institute of Building Sciences,
NIBS
Publication Date
Description
Article describing key takeaways from two symposia held during Building Innovation 2016: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fourth Annual Conference and Expo, including that resilience can be affordable and cost-effective.
Organization(s)
San Diego County,
Country Fire Authority,
CFA
Publication Date
Description
A San Diego County standard highlighting the requirements for residential emergency vehicle turnarounds.
Organization(s)
Building Enclosure Moisture Management Institute
Publication Date
Description
Conference paper describing the use of engineered rainscreen products to provide air flow and water drainage space in wall assemblies in residential and commercial buildings.
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering the installation of fenestration products in new and existing construction which was published in the year 2007, and is available for preview and purchase at the referenced link.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with the Waste Reduction Model (WARM), designed to help solid waste planners and organizations track and voluntarily report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from several different waste management practices.
Organization(s)
NAIMA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing builders with information about meeting RESNET Grade 1 criteria when installing insulation.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A map describing the average temperature of shallow groundwater in Fahrenheit across the continental United States.
Organization(s)
USCPSC
Publication Date
Description
Updated detailed information about Formaldehyde.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing single retrofit measures applied to shallow retrofitted homes that could be used to refine the deep retrofit package.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing research on how to reduce energy used by residential homes by applying shallow and deep retrofits to an existing home.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing links to scalable guidance and tools about the importance of earthquake mitiation to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing guidance for choosing appropriate materials and using proper construction practices when rebuilding, repairing, or renovating a home to increase its resistance to fires.
Organization(s)
ICC,
RESNET,
ANSI
Publication Date
Description
This Standard provides a consistent, uniform methodology for evaluating the airtightness of building envelopes and heating and cooling air ducts and the air flows of mechanical ventilation systems.
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC
Publication Date
Description
This report discusses proposed updates to the pool pumps and motors, and portable electric spas standards in the Appliance Efficiency Regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601 to 1609). These proposed updates are part of the 2012 Appliance Efficiency Rulemaking, Phase I...
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article discussing flow-through assemblies of walls.