BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Sealed and Insulated Flex Ducts

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate flex ducts.

Ducts Buried in Attic Insulation

Guide describing buried ducts in loose-fill attic insulation, a method that can only be used in dry climates.

Blown Insulation for Existing Vented Attic

Guide describing how to insulate a vented attic in an existing home using blown insulation added to the attic floor.

Ducts Buried in Attic Insulation and Encapsulated

Guide describing approaches to burying and encapsulating ducts in unconditioned attics to increase the overall R-value of duct insulation.

Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades

Author(s)

Cort Katherine A,

Pilet Tyler J,

Mullaly Stephen,

Bauer Eric

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Publication Date

September, 2022

DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating condensation buildup on windows when using insulating shades.

Air Sealing, Insulating, and Venting Attics and Roofs to Reduce Heat Gain

Information guide providing links to guides describing specific ways to air-seal, insulate, and ventilate attics and roofs to minimize heat gain in new and existing homes.

Building Science Corporation used convection to help cool this structural insulated panel (SIP) cottage in Georgia.

Publication Date

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 12:00

Some whole-house fans use an automatic insulated cover achieve high R-values when the fan is not in use

Publication Date

Mon, 08/22/2022 - 12:00

A 5,000- 6,000 Btu/hr air conditioner drawing about 500 watts can be installed in one window of a designated cool room (it is important that the installation is insulated and well-sealed

The IR image on the right shows the sun is heating the southeast-facing wall of this concrete-block house to 36C (97F); this corner of the home would not be a good place for a cool room due to lack of shading and insulation

Publication Date

Mon, 11/14/2022 - 12:00

Create a cool room to shelter from extreme heat by selecting a room in the basement or on the north or shaded side of the house, air sealing and insulating, providing low-wattage and battery-operated cooling, and reducing interior heat loads.

Publication Date

Mon, 11/14/2022 - 12:00

Building Science Introduction - Heat Flow

Information guide providing background information about heat flow in residential buildings.

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.

Calculating Design Heating Loads for Superinsulated Buildings, Ithaca NY

Author(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

CARB,

SWA

Publication Date

August, 2015

Case study describing heating loads for super-insulated buildings.

No Excessive Coiled or Looped Flex Ducts

Guide outlining how to correctly install flex ducts without excessive coils or loops.

No Ducts or Air Handlers Located in Garage

Guide describing how to design HVAC systems to be located within the conditioned space of the home, either in a utility closet or in an air sealed conditioned attic, basement, or crawl space.

Construction & Design Considerations in Warmer Climates

Author(s)

Zero Energy Project

Organization(s)

Zero Energy Project

Publication Date

January, 2022

Guidance from Zero Energy Project on construction techniques for warmer climates, such as home orientation, and insulation requirements.

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Author(s)

Wilson Alex

Organization(s)

Green Building Advisor

Publication Date

July, 2013

Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.

Whole-House Fans

Guide describing the types of whole-house fans, installation details to reduce energy loss, and how to operate them for comfort and energy savings based on climate zone.

Design for Extreme Heat

Information guide describing ways to design a home to be resistant to extreme heat.

How Many Hours-of-Safety Do Our Homes Have in Extreme Weather?

Author(s)

Corvidae Jacob,

Ayyagari Sheha

Organization(s)

Rocky Mountain Institute,

RMI

Publication Date

July, 2019

Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.

Evaporative Cooling - Code Compliance Brief

This brief discusses the provisions in the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and International Residential Code (IRC) related to evaporative cooling.

Passive Cooling Designs to Improve Heat Resilience of Homes in Underserved and Vulnerable Communities

Author(s)

Sun Kaiyu,

Zhang Wanni,

Zeng Zhaoyun,

Levinson Ronnen,

Wei Max,

Hong Tianzhen

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL

Publication Date

August, 2021

This study evaluated 11 measures for passive cooling using four heat resilience metrics with and without grid power in Fresno CA and found the two most effective measures were installing solar-control window films and adding roof insulation; natural ventilation also helped reduce overheating in...