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Right – This recessed light is ICAT labeled, but still needs a gasket.

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Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

Reference

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

Five Things, BSI-039

Reference

Article describing five fundamental changes to building construction from the last 50 years and their modern construction consequences.

Wrong – No blocking installed to prevent attic insulation from falling into stairs and opening

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Wrong – Drop down stairs do not have insulation cover installed

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Wrong – Attic access panel does not have an insulation cover installed

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Wrong – Whole house fan installed without an insulated cover

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Right – The sill plate was sprayed with foam prior to installation atop foundation.

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Right – This ICAT recessed light is sprayed with foam to act as gasket against the drywall.

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Right – There is a foam gasket installed between the sill plate and foundation.

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Insulated whole-house fan cover

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Install the whole house fan in the ceiling in a central location in the house

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Light tubes adjacent to unconditioned space include lens separating unconditioned and conditioned space and are fully gasketed

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All seams between structural insulated panels (SIPs) foamed and/or taped per manufacturer's instructions

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Right – Weatherstripping has been installed and remains in contact when the door is closed.

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Right – Blocking has been installed around the perimeter of this attic access to prevent insulation falling into the house

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Right – Attic access door has foam and rubber weatherstripping installed that remains in contact when closed.

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Wrong – Foam was sprayed at exterior sheathing and sill plate connection, leaving gaps beneath sill plate.

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Right – Spray foam was installed at the sheathing intersection as well as the sill plate to sub-floor connection.

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Wrong – There is visible light around the door because no weather stripping has been installed.

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Right – Attic access hatch has been properly insulated by attaching a fiberglass batt, gasketed, and opening has blocking

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Typical installation of a double section modular home on a pier and ground anchor foundation

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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.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

Case Study

Case study describing a stand-off furring strategy that minimizes the physical connections to each existing wall stud, uses spray foam to encapsulate existing siding materials (including lead paint), and creates a vented rain screen assembly to promote drying.

Right - This ceiling-mounted mini whole-house fan has built-in insulated covers to reduce heat loss when the fan is not in use

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Right – This recessed light is ICAT labeled, but still needs a gasket.

Small Commercial Building Fact Sheet - Building Envelope

Five Things, BSI-039

Wrong – No blocking installed to prevent attic insulation from falling into stairs and opening

Wrong – Drop down stairs do not have insulation cover installed

Wrong – Attic access panel does not have an insulation cover installed

Wrong – Whole house fan installed without an insulated cover

Right – The sill plate was sprayed with foam prior to installation atop foundation.

Right – This ICAT recessed light is sprayed with foam to act as gasket against the drywall.

Right – There is a foam gasket installed between the sill plate and foundation.

Whole house fan cover details

Insulated whole-house fan cover

Install the whole house fan in the ceiling in a central location in the house

Light tubes adjacent to unconditioned space include lens separating unconditioned and conditioned space and are fully gasketed

All seams between structural insulated panels (SIPs) foamed and/or taped per manufacturer's instructions

Right – Weatherstripping has been installed and remains in contact when the door is closed.

Right – Blocking has been installed around the perimeter of this attic access to prevent insulation falling into the house

Right – Attic access door has foam and rubber weatherstripping installed that remains in contact when closed.

Wrong – Foam was sprayed at exterior sheathing and sill plate connection, leaving gaps beneath sill plate.

Right – Spray foam was installed at the sheathing intersection as well as the sill plate to sub-floor connection.

Wrong – There is visible light around the door because no weather stripping has been installed.

Right – Attic access hatch has been properly insulated by attaching a fiberglass batt, gasketed, and opening has blocking

Typical installation of a double section modular home on a pier and ground anchor foundation

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

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

Right - This ceiling-mounted mini whole-house fan has built-in insulated covers to reduce heat loss when the fan is not in use

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

Building Science Introduction - Moisture Flow

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

1 inch exterior insulation sheathing as attic eave baffle and vent