BASC Search

Author(s)

ENERGY STAR

Organization(s)

ENERGY STAR

Publication Date

August, 2020

Introductory guide to air sealing the envelope of a home to reduce wasted energy and save on energy costs.

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Guide describing how to insulate headers over doors and windows to reduce heat loss and heat gain through solid wood framing.

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Single framed wall converted to double wall and insulated with closed-cell spray foam

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used to air-seal openings.

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Right - New flashing has been installed to complete the air and water control layers at the window openings of this wall retrofit that includes insulating the wall cavities with spray foam

Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.

Proper flashing around windows is especially important when the rigid foam serves as the drainage plane in the wall

Publication Date

Mon, 10/01/2007 - 12:00

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

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

After installing the house wrap over the SIPS, window flashing is installed

Publication Date

Wed, 11/14/2012 - 12:00

Home Performance Assessment

Information guide describing how to apply a whole-house approach to home improvement with energy efficiency upgrades, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort.

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Guide describing how to minimize framing around doors and windows to reduce heat losses and gains through structural framing.

Advanced framing showing open headers

Publication Date

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:00

DOE ZERH 2013 Case Study: e2 Homes Winter Park, Florida [2-page summary version]

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2013

Case study describing the first certified DOE Zero Energy Ready Home—the “Wilson Residence” in Winter Park, Florida.

DOE ZERH HIA 2013 Case Study: e2 Homes, Winter Park, Florida

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2013

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2013 Housing Innovation Award Winner in Winter Park FL that scored HERS 57 without PV or HERS -7 with PV.

How to Design a Home for a Cold Climate

Author(s)

Diez Roy

Organization(s)

New Home Source

Publication Date

July, 2020

Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.

Right – Verify SIP headers are installed

Publication Date

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 12:00

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI

Publication Date

November, 2016

Fact sheet describing building envelope performance measures applicable to residential and small commercial construction.

Complete Window and Frame Replacement

Guide describing a complete window replacement in existing homes.

Window Sash Retrofit

Guide describing how to modify an existing window sash for high-efficient windows.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Conway Street Apartments - Greenfield, Massachusetts

Author(s)

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

CARB,

SWA

Publication Date

December, 2014

Case study describing a deep energy retrofit, turning an old school into 12 high-end apartments in Greenfield, MA.

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

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2014

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

Insert Replacement Window

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

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: M Street Homes, Smartlux on Greenpark Houston, TX

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2014

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2014 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 45 without PV and 32 with PV and is the first home in the world to use a tri-generation system to supply electricity, heating, and cooling on site.

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

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

HIRL

Publication Date

December, 2014

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.

Window Sash Replacement

Guide describing how to replace a window sash in an existing home.

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: Thrive Home Builders, Lowry Plan, Denver, CO

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

PNNL,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2017

Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2017 Housing Innovation Award winner that scored HERS 38 without PV and 4 with PV.

Manufactured insulated header

Why Seal and Insulate?

Advanced Framing: Insulated Headers

Site-built insulated header

Right – Verify continuous rigid insulation is installed

Advanced framing details include insulated headers over windows and doors.

Right – Verify two member headers with rigid insulation between are installed

Right – Verify single member headers with insulation on one side are installed

Single framed wall converted to double wall and insulated with closed-cell spray foam

Wrong – Fibrous insulation is not an air barrier and cannot be used to air-seal openings.

Right - New flashing has been installed to complete the air and water control layers at the window openings of this wall retrofit that includes insulating the wall cavities with spray foam

Skylight Shaft Walls

Proper flashing around windows is especially important when the rigid foam serves as the drainage plane in the wall

Install Top Plates or Blocking at the Top of Walls Adjoining Unconditioned Spaces

After installing the house wrap over the SIPS, window flashing is installed

Home Performance Assessment

Mini truss header - section

Outset header with head plate

Advanced Framing: Minimal Framing at Doors and Windows

Advanced framing showing open headers

DOE ZERH 2013 Case Study: e2 Homes Winter Park, Florida [2-page summary version]

DOE ZERH HIA 2013 Case Study: e2 Homes, Winter Park, Florida

How to Design a Home for a Cold Climate

Right – Verify SIP headers are installed

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

Complete Window and Frame Replacement

Window Sash Retrofit

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Conway Street Apartments - Greenfield, Massachusetts

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

Insert Replacement Window

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: M Street Homes, Smartlux on Greenpark Houston, TX

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

Window Sash Replacement

DOE ZERH HIA 2017 Case Study: Thrive Home Builders, Lowry Plan, Denver, CO

High-Performance (ENERGY STAR) Windows

Air Sealing Window and Door Rough Openings

Window Rehabilitation

Interior Storm Windows and Panels

Low-E Exterior Storm Windows