Guides A-Z | Building America Solution Center

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Post-Disaster Home and Site Hazards

An information guide on the best practices of ensuring the safety of those returning to a home after a disaster.

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Ventilation Systems

Guide describing how to evaluate existing ventilations systems before performing home upgrades.

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Walls, Windows, and Doors

Pressure Balancing Supply and Return Ducts in Existing Homes

Information guide describing how to balance pressure in supply and return ducts.

Proper Clothes Dryer Venting

Guide describing how to correctly vent a clothes dryer.

Proper Installation of Furnace and Air-Handler Filters

This guide describes proper installation of high-MERV furnace and air-handler filters.

Radon Fan

Guide describing how to install a radon mitigation fan with various types of house foundations.

Reduce Pest Intrusion

Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Refrigerators

Guide describing how to install energy efficient refrigerators in new and exisitng homes.

Removing Construction Debris from Ducts

Guide describing removal of construction debris from flex ducts and protection of ducts and HVAC equipment during construction to keep them free of dust and debris.

Rigid Foam Board Insulation for Existing Band Joists

Guide describing principles of insulating band joists as a stand alone energy upgrade, or as part of creating a closed crawlspace.

Rigid Foam Board Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide describing how to insulate closed crawlspace walls and band joist areas with rigid foam board insulation.

Rigid Foam Insulation for Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to apply an air control layer directly over existing wall sheathing and cover with two layers of insulating sheathing held in place by vertical furring strips.

Rigid Foam Insulation Installed Between Existing House and Garage Walls

Guide describing how to upgrade walls that separate the garage from the house by providing a continuous air control layer on the garage side of the wall and adding rigid foam insulation.

Rigid Foam Insulation Installed over Existing Foundation Slabs

Guide describing how to insulate an existing slab floor by adding rigid foam insulation over the slab then installing a floating subfloor.

Roof Anchor System for Solar Panels

A guide for choosing, installing, and flashing roof anchoring systems for solar panels.

Roof Eaves Sealed with Self-Adhering Membrane in Cold Climates

Guide describing how to apply heavy membranes at eaves in cold climates to help guard against ice dams.

Roof/Attic to Exterior Wall Air Control Upgrade

Guide outlining how to retrofit an exterior wall and/or attic to provide continuous air sealing.

Screens and Other Deterrents for Birds, Rodents, and Other Pests

Guide describing steps to keep birds, rodents, and other pests out of vent openings and other locations in new and existing homes.

Sealed and Insulated Fiber Board Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate fiber board ducts.

Sealed and Insulated Flex Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate flex ducts.

Sealed and Insulated Metal Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate metal ducts.

Sealing Duct Boots to Floor or Drywall

Guide describing how to air seal around duct shafts and flues installed through ceilings, walls and flooring in new and existing homes.

Seismic and Insulation Retrofits of Solid Masonry Walls

Guide describing how to retrofit older solid masonry homes to withstand seismic activity while including energy efficient retrofits.

Service Water Pressure

Guide describing service water pressure requirements for EPA's WaterSense Program.

Showerheads

Guide describing how to install WaterSense® labeled showerheads.

Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Slab Edge Insulation

Guide describing how to insulate slabs on grade in climate zones 3 and higher.

Smart Power Strips

Guide describing use of smart power strips (i.e., Tier 1, master-slave, load-sensing advanced power strips) for miscellaneous electric loads such as entertainment centers and computer stations.

Solar Hot Water Heater Thermosiphon

This measure guide describes basic steps for designing a thermosiphon solar hot water system.

Solar Orientation For Solar Arrays and Panels

This guide describes procedures for assessing feasibility of solar resources, and designating location of propolsed PV arrays and solar thermal panels.

Solar Plumbing and Wiring Chase

This measure guide describes the need to install a plumbing and wiring chase for a future solar hot water installation.

Solar Thermal Bypass Valve

This information guide describes the need to install a solar bypass valve on the existing hot water tank for a future solar hot water system installation.

Spray Foam Insulation Applied over the Siding of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to install spray foam on the exterior of the existing home after framing over the existing siding.

Spray Foam Insulation Applied to Existing Attic Floor

Guide describing how to apply spray foam insulation to ceilings in existing homes.

Spray Foam Insulation for Cavities of Existing Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to insulate the walls of an existing home with spray foam insulation.

Spray Foam Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide describing how to insulate an existing foundation wall by adding spray foam insulation to the interior side of the wall.

Sprinkler Irrigation

Guide describing sprinkler irrigation landscape watering practices for water efficiency.

Steam System Balancing for Multifamily Existing Buildings

Guide describing best practice venting strategies for existing steam heating systems in multifamily buildings.

Step and Kick-Out Flashing at Roof-Wall Intersections

Guide describing how to install step and kick-out flashing on roofs.

Stucco Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Guide describing how to install stucco over rigid foam insulation in new and existing homes.

Sufficient Cavity Space for Flex Ducts

This measure guide describes how to correctly install ducts, ensuring enough cavity space to avoid compression.

Sump Pump Cover Gasket

Guide describing the need for covers on sump pumps in the basement or crawlspace of a home.

Support at Intervals for Flex Ducts

Guide describing how to hang ducts with supporting straps or saddles to adequately support ducts so they do not sag and are not pinched or compressed in a manner that would cause damage to the ducts, the duct insulation, or the duct air barrier covering.