BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Air seal and insulate flex ducts

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Spray foam insulates and air seals the underside of the attic roof and walls.

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Right – Spray foam air seals and insulates the walls including the walls behind the fireplace and covers the underside of the roof deck of this mixed-dry climate home to provide an insulated attic space for HVAC ducts.

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Sealed and Insulated Flex Ducts

Guide

Guide describing how to air seal and insulate flex ducts.

Seal seams in fiber board ducts with out-clinching staples, UL-181A-approved tape, and mastic

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Wrong- A tie strap should not be used over the duct outer liner because it can compress the insulation. Tuck in the fibrous insulation and seal the outer liner to the connecting duct with mastic or foil tape (Steven Winter Associates 2013).

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Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Deep Energy Retrofit in the Pacific Northwest

Case Study

Case study describing a whole-house, deep energy retrofit project in the marine climate.

Home Performance Assessment

Information Guide

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

Bedford Farmhouse High Performance Retrofit Prototype

Case Study

Case study describing a retrofit project in the cold and very-cold climate zones.

Best Practices Case Study: S&A Homes, East Liberty, PIttsburgh, PA

Case Study

Case study describing a building project in the cold and very-cold climate zones.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB), Washington, D.C.

Case Study

Case study describing a retrofit project in Maryland.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Evaluation of a Multifamily Retrofit in Climate Zone 5, Boulder, Colorado

Case Study

Case study describing a multifamily retrofit project in a cold climate.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: The Performance House: A Cold Climate Challenge Home, Old Greenwich, Connecticut

Case Study

Case study describing a high performance test home incorporating best practices for energy efficiency.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Deep Energy Retrofit of 1910 House, Portland, Oregon

Case Study

Case study describing a deep energy renovation of a home in the marine climate.

The New American Home 2011 Orlando, Florida

Case Study

Case study describing innovative technologies, construction techniques, products, and design trends in new home construction.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Fort Devens: Cold Climate Market-Rate Townhomes Targeting HERS Index of 40, Harvard, Massachusetts

Case Study

Case study describing a new townhome construction project designed to achieve a HERS score of 40.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Green Home Solutions by Grupe, Lodi, California

Case Study

Case study describing a retrofit project in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climate zones.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Lancaster Live/Work Townhome Prototype

Case Study

Case study describing a building project in the marine climate.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Tommy Williams Homes Initial Performance of Two Zero Energy Homes, Gainesville, Florida

Case Study

Case study describing two new construction projects in Florida built to be net zero energy homes.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Build San Antonio Green, San Antonio, Texas

Case Study

Case study describing one of three deep energy renovations of occupied affordable homes.

Case Study: Rural Development, Inc., Wisdom Way Solar Village, Greenfield, MA

Case Study

Case study describing a 20-unit community of energy-efficient duplexes in Massachusetts incorporating solar water heating and photovoltaics.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Program - Clark Residence

Case Study

Case study describing a retrofit project in the cold and very-cold climate zones.

Advances in Manufactured Home Energy Efficient Design

Presentation

Webinar explaining advances in energy efficient design for manufactured homes.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Pine Mountain Builders, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Case Study

Case study describing a builder in Georgia that designs energy-efficient homes for a green community, yielding homes with HERS scores as lowas 59 and electric bills as low as $50 a month.

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, Florida

Case Study

Case study describing an energy efficient retrofit project in hot-humid climates.

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.