Guides A-Z | Building America Solution Center

ECM Air Handler Fans

Guide describing the use of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) in HVAC central air handler fans to reduce power consumption compared to a single-stage fan motor.

Emergency Air Conditioning and Food Refrigeration

Guide describing methods for providing space cooling and refrigeration during extreme heat events and/or power outages.

Emergency Supplies Storage

Guide describing space planning for emergency supplies storage.

Encapsulated Ducts

Guide that illustrates how and when to encapsulate ductwork in unconditioned attics, increases the R-value of duct insulation, mitigating condensation issues and reducing air leakage.

Enclosure Leakage Test

Guide describing how to use a blower door test to determine building envelope air leakage.

Erosion Control for Slopes, Stream Banks, and Dunes

Guide describing methods for short-term control of erosion during construction and long-term measures for controlling erosion on sloped sites or sites with river banks or shore lines.

Evaporative Cooling Systems

This guide describes evaporative cooling technologies which can be used to cool homes in dry climates.

Existing HVAC System Upgrade or Expansion

Guide describing how to upgrade or expand an existing HVAC system.

Existing Skylights Repaired or Replaced and Fully Flashed

Guide describing how to repair or replace skylights in existing homes.

Exterior Doors Are Insulated, Impact Rated, and Fire Rated

Guide describing the use of doors that are insulated and are impact rated or have protective coverings for resistance to hurricane, high winds, wildfires and thermal losses.

Exterior Edge Insulation for Existing Foundation Slabs

Guide describing how to install slab edge insulation when retrofitting existing slab-on-grade foundations.

Exterior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide describing how to insulate a new foundation wall or an existing foundation wall by adding rigid insulation to the exterior side.

Extreme Heat Overview

Overview guide providing background information on extreme heat in the United States as it relates to homes and links to guides describing specific ways to make homes more resistant to extreme heat.

Final Grade Slopes Away from Foundation

Guide describing how to properly grade a site so water will flow away from the foundation.

Fire-Resistant Wall Assemblies

Guide describing wall assemblies and materials that are resistant to destruction from wildfires.

Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Have Proper Ventilation

Guide describing how to provide combustion air for fireplaces and how to test fireplaces for combustion safety.

Flashing at Bottom of Exterior Walls

Guide describing how to apply flashing to the bottom of exterior walls to create a continuous drainage plane.

Flashing of Penetrations in Existing Roofs

Guide describing how to provide a continuous water control layer across the roof assembly by sealing all penetrations for pipes, vents, etc. in existing roofs.

Flashing of Roof-Wall Intersections in Existing Homes

Guide describing how to install and properly integrate flashing at the intersection of the wall and roof on an existing home.

Flashing of Wall Penetrations in Existing Homes

Guide describing how to install flashing that is integrated with air and water control layers around piping, vents, and other wall penetrations as part of an exterior wall retrofit.

Flood-Resistant Crawlspace Foundations

Guide describing how to design or retrofit a crawlspace to reduce the risk of damage during a flood event.

Flood-Resistant Pier, Pile, Post, and Column Foundations

Guide describing how to construct flood-resistant homes using pier, pile, post, or column foundations.

Flood-Resistant Raised-Slab Foundations

Guide describing ways to construct a raised-slab foundation to increase a home's resistance to floods.

Flooding Overview

Overview guide describing residential floodproofing steps.

Floor Above Garage

Guide describing how to create an air barrier between the garage and the conditioned space above it to prohibit pollutants from entering a home's interior.