Library

Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.

Article describing how omission of two small but critical wall details, a kick-out flashing and a weep screed, lead to extensive water damage to a wall.

Website that explains and provides diagrams for covering up above-grade rigid foam insulation.

FTC website explaining the usefulness of the EnergyGuide label when shopping for home appliances.

Checklist for verifying FORTIFIED levels and documentation needed.

Fact Sheet describing the need for supplemental dehumidification, dehumidifier configuration options, and design considerations.

A document aimed at reducing the vulnerability of a gable end roof to wind damage in a hurricane.

Publication describing the requirements and procedures for the certified performance ratings program for residential ventilation products administered by the Home Ventilating Institute.

Website providing an online directory of more than 3,600 residential ventilation products lisiting flowrates, sones, watts, and other performance metrics; all listed products have been tested by the Home Ventilating Institute.

Article describing issues with condensation in unvented attics insulated with open-cell spray foam.

A news article documenting the milestone of the FORTIFED homes program surpassing 18,000 homes.

Wildfire guidance for homes located in the wildland urban interface, focused on site design and individual pieces of the home.

Journal article detailing laboratory and simulation studies quantifying the impact that heat pump and air conditioner installation faults have on system capacity and efficiency.

Case study describing Alachua County, Florida’s, green infrastructure strategy for land use development that incorporates rain gardens, ponds, swales, and native vegetation to manage stormwater.

Article describing ways home owners can improve ventilation in their kitchens.

Indoor airPLUS is a voluntary partnership and labeling program that helps new home builders improve the quality of indoor air by requiring construction practices and product specifications that minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.

Website helping builders, designers, and home energy raters find products that are compliant with the EPA Indoor airPLUS Construction Specification requirements for low-emission materials.

Article from Samuel L. Manzello and Sayaka Suzuki on tests undertaken to find the ideal amount of board spacing to resist deck ignition during fires.

Webpage that provides information on federal requirements for the renovation and demolition of buildings that contain asbestos.

Article from Building Science Corporation explaining 'wash and wear buildings' that are designed to be flooded and washed out afterwards.

Report providing general guidelines for the installation of rolled erosion control products.

Article describing how to counterflash a chimney by tucking the upper pieces of counterflashing into the chimney mortar joints and overlapping them over the various pieces of base flashing, which are nailed to the roof deck.

Report describing the objective evaluation of space conditioning interactions between heat pump water heaters and home heating systems during winter 2016-2017, revealing a smaller than anticipated impact on space conditioning loads.

Article outlining the use of spray polyurethane foam in residential buildings.

Report covering reservoir claddings, back ventilation and vapor throttles.

Article explaining how to use integrated pest management to choose methods of pest control that are safe and effective.

Website describing the wildland-urban interface code and providing links to resources.

EPA webpage on lead in homes.

The light-emitting diode (LED) is one of today's most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing lighting technologies.

Website explaining the LEED v4.1 program and providing a portal for those who want to investigate or start a LEED project.

ENERGY STAR lightbulb criteria.

American Lighting Association website homepage.

Webpage describing high-efficiency lighting choices for homeowners including LEDs, CFLs, and halogen bulbs.

Webpage published by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) that lists more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

Article describing lessons for builders and changes to local building code in Colorado Springs in response to regional wildfires.

Factsheet with information on energy efficient pool pumps.

The purpose of this map is to assist national, state and local organizations to target their resources and to implement radon-resistant building codes.

Report describing the installation and operation of forced-air heating and domestic hot water combi systems in residential homes.

Report describing the most cost-effective ventilation and indoor air quality solutions for multifamily homes that meet ASHRAE 62.2-2016.

Study investigating measured cooling energy savings from the installation of wall finishes with higher solar reflectance.

Web resource that lays out the pre-work considerations, methods and finishes for installing mechanical insulation.

An installation training manual discussing the installation of metal roofing materials and related accessories, for both new construction and retrofit projects.

Standard establishing a test procedure for evaluating the performance of air-cleaning devices as a function of particle size. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the year 2017, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. The ASHRAE bookstore also...

FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Report describing damages from Hurricane Michael in Florida in Oct. 2018 and recommendations for future hurricane preparedness.

This report requires all elements of rooftop PV panel systems to be designed for component and cladding pressures per ASCE 7-10.

Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

Website providing guidance about mold and moisture for homes, schools, multifamily and commercial buildings.

Document describing common questions about moisture, mold, and wood.