BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Right – Wiring penetrations have been neatly sealed with foam.

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Right – Wiring penetrations have been neatly sealed with foam.

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Right – Neatly cut holes have been properly sealed with foam.

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Airtight electrical boxes have built-in gaskets and self-sealing wire holes.

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Right – All electrical boxes are carefully sealed as are all top plate-to-drywall seams.

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This IR camera image shows a cold spot (in purple) at an electrical outlet on an exterior wall due to lack of insulation; some streaking is also visible and indicates air leakage.

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To minimize air leakage through electrical boxes, the boxes were either wrapped with fire-resistant putty (required at fire-rated walls) or wire penetrations were foamed and the boxes were caulked to the drywall.

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Electrical Wiring

Video

Video describing how to properly install electrical wiring.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Quadrant Homes, Kentlake Highlands, Kent, WA

Case Study

Case study describing a builder's technology package that achieves energy savings of 50% over standard practice compared to the 2006 IECC.

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Crawlspaces and Basements

Information Guide

Information guide describing things to consider when considering home retrofits in the basement or crawlspace including HVAC, wiring, or structural systems.

Wrong - Around electrical box unsealed

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Caulk holes in the electrical box, caulk the wire holes, and caulk the face of the box to the drywall

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Wrong - Sealant doesn't completely fill hole around wiring.

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Technology Solutions Case Study: Preventing Thermal Bypass

Case Study

Case study describing techniques used to prevent thermal bypass in new homes.

Right - Wiring penetration through exterior wall is flashed with tape.

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Right - External outlet wall penetration is flashed with tape that is properly layered with house wrap.

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New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Attention to Detail in High-Performance Homes 2012, Heritage Buildings, Leland NC

Case Study

Case study describing one builder's conversion to high-performance building in the hot-humid regions of the Atlantic seaboard.

Right - Electrical boxes and wood-to-wood joints in exterior or garage-to-house walls have been caulked

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New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Nelson Construction: Hamilton Way, Farmington, CT

Case Study

Case study describing the design and testing of 10 high-performance homes in Farmington, Connecticut.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Green Home 3 - Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Case Study

Case study describing the Green Home 3 project, which achieved a 44% whole-house energy savings over the Building America New Construction B10 Benchmark, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certification, and National Green Building Standard Gold-level certification.

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: One Sky Homes, Cottle Zero Net Energy Home, San Jose, CA

Case Study

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2014 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 69 without PV and -1 with PV.