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Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades

Reference

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

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

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

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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

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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

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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.

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Building Science Introduction - Heat Flow

Information Guide

Information guide describing the concept of heat flow in residential buildings.

Encapsulated Ducts

Guide

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

Calculating Design Heating Loads for Superinsulated Buildings, Ithaca NY

Case Study

Case study describing heating loads for super-insulated buildings.

Construction & Design Considerations in Warmer Climates

Reference

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

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Reference

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.

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

Reference

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.

Design for Extreme Heat

Information Guide

Information guide describing ways to design and build a home to be resistant to periods of extreme heat.

Whole-House Fans

Guide

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

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

Reference

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...

Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades

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

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

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

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.

Building Science Introduction - Heat Flow

Encapsulated Ducts

Calculating Design Heating Loads for Superinsulated Buildings, Ithaca NY

Construction & Design Considerations in Warmer Climates

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

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

Design for Extreme Heat

Whole-House Fans

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

Creating a Cool Room for Extreme Heat Events

Existing HVAC System Upgrade or Expansion

Passive and Low-Energy Cooling

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Existing HVAC Systems

Emergency Air Conditioning and Food Refrigeration

Air Conditioning

HVAC has Corrosion-Resistant Condensate Drain Pan

Ductless (Mini-Split) Heat Pumps

Ground-Source Heat Pumps