Guides A-Z

Guide describing how to help drain water away from the perimeter footing.

Guide describing construction of gable roof overhangs to resist uplift pressures in high winds.

Guide describing fuel tank anchoring practices for disaster resistance.

Guide describing garage doors that are pressure-rated to withstand wind pressures from hurricanes, high winds, and tornados.

Guide describing the air sealing of rim joists on walls connecting homes and attached garages.

Guide describing gas-fired boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Guide describing how to install a tankless hot water heater in a new or existing home to provide domestic hot water that is heated on demand without the standby losses associated with tank storage water heaters

Guide describing sizing and installation of foundation heat exchangers, which can be connected to a heat pump system used for spacing conditioning as well as domestic water heating.

Guide providing information about ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps including an overview of technology and guidance on compliance and installation.

Guide describing the installation of gutters, downspouts, and alternate options for managing rainwater run-off from roofs.

Importance of Proper HVAC Commissioning Research shows that most residential HVAC systems aren’t installed correctly, and that can cause a lot of problems for both homeowners and contractors. The prevalence of improper installation is a significant concern, as evidenced by various research findings...

Guide describing the planning and installation process for Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs) in single-family homes, including model selection, installation location, thermal resource adequacy, and condensate removal.

Guide describing lighting choices and installation procedures in new and existing homes.

This guide describes the uses, selection process, and specification of high-MERV filters.

Guide providing information about high-performance and high-efficiency windows including ENERGY STAR-certified windows.

Guide describing materials and methods for incorporating thermal mass into the construction of a home for temperature regulation, energy savings, and resistance to extreme heat and cold.

Guide describing the advantages and disadvantages of gable roof and hip roofs and how both designs react under high wind loads.

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with basement foundations, crawlspace foundations, or crawlspace foundations with a "cripple" wall.

Guide describing the design and installation of indoor automatic fire sprinklers in residential settings.

Guide describing how to thoroughly seal HVAC ducts to ensure air delivery without leakage, and to ensure economical and quiet performance of the HVAC system.

Guide describing how to insert a replacement window in an existing home.

Guide describing how to correctly air seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.

Guide describing how to install insulated concrete forms to block excessive heat loss and gain though structural framing.

Guide illustrating how to insulate a floor over unconditioned space with conditioned space above by adding insulation and air sealing.

Guide describing air sealing of non-ICAT recessed lights installed in accessible attics of existing homes.

Guide describing how to upgrade a wall with a floor overhang (or cantilever) on an existing home by adding rigid insulating sheating and or closed-cell spray foam insulation and air sealing.

Guide with information about how to upgrade a garage ceiling when a portion of the interior of the house is located directly above the attached garage by adding insulation and air sealing.

Guide describing insulation of piping in exterior walls.

Guide describing how to install insulation below attic platforms

Guide describing how to upgrade a crawlspace floor in an existing home by adding insulation.

This guide describes RESNET Grade 1 level installation of insulation in walls, attics, and floors.

This measure guide describes basic steps for designing an integrated collector storage (ICS) or thermosyphon hot water system.

Guide describing installation procedures for combined space and water heating systems.

Guide describing how to install low-e interior storm windows.

Guide describing how to choose ENERGY STAR fans.

This measure guide describes the need to install a mounting surface for equipment related to a future solar photovoltaic installation.

Guide describing how to install jump ducts in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms and to enable stale air to return to a central heating system's air handler for reconditioning even when room doors are closed.

Guide describing how to install efficient kitchen exhaust systems.

Kitchen exhaust ventilation, properly ducted to the outside, is an essential component of good indoor air quality (Figure 1). Research has identified kitchens as the primary location where most harmful pollutants are generated in the home. During the cooking process, moisture and pollutants are...

Guide describing ways to use landscaping to keep a home cooler.

Guide describing how to brace gable end walls to resist wind pressures.

Guide describing testing of water-using fixtures, equipment, and appliances to ensure there are no leaks.

Guide describing how to install low-e exterior storm windows.

A guide describing how to install low-sloped ("flat") roofs with insulation above the roof deck that resist wind pressures during high-wind events.

Guide describing steps to take to minimize indoor humidity in preparation for cold winter weather.

Guide describing how to construct homes and decks to manage heavy snow loads in winter weather.