BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

No insulation installed in cavity and not air sealed

Exterior Insulation Implications on Heating and Cooling in Cold Climates

Author(s)

Herk Anastasia,

Poerschke Andrew

Organization(s)

Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,

IBACOS

Publication Date

April, 2015

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is interested in finding cost-effective solutions for deep energy retrofits (DERs) related to exterior wall insulation in a cold climate, with targets of 50% peak load reduction and 50% space conditioning energy savings.

Inadequate amount of insulation installed with compression, misalignment, and voids

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

Publication Date

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 12:00

If HVAC duct must be installed in an exterior wall, separate it from the exterior with at least R-6 of continuous rigid insulation

Wrong: open wall cavity connected to this return air plenum is allowing cellulose attic insulation to be pulled into the furnace

Publication Date

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 12:00

HVAC ducts, cavities used as ducts, and combustion inlets and outlets may pass perpendicularly through exterior walls but shall not be run within exterior walls unless at least R-6 continuous insulation is provided on exterior side of the cavity

HVAC Ducts Shall Not Be Run within Exterior Walls

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

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

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL,

ORNL

Publication Date

December, 2010

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

Advances in Manufactured Home Energy Efficient Design

Author(s)

ARIES

Organization(s)

ARIES Collaborative

Webinar explaining advances in energy efficient design for manufactured homes.

Ducts in Dropped Ceilings

Guide describing method for installing ducts in a duct chase above a dropped ceiling.

Fort Devens: Cold Climate, Energy-Efficient, Market-Rate Townhomes

Author(s)

Zoeller William,

Grab Joanna,

Slattery Matt

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

August, 2013

Report about development of effective strategies to reduce the overall building energy use in line with Building America goals in this modestly priced market rate project.

Building America Case Study Technology Solutions for Existing Homes: Concord Four Square Retrofit

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2012

Case study describing a four-square Concord home retrofitted by Building Science Corporation in Massachusetts.

The New American Home 2004 Las Vegas, Nevada

Author(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE,

NREL

Publication Date

December, 2003

Case study describing whole house building techniques in the hot-dry climate.

Building America Case Study Technology Solutions for Existing Homes: Bedford Farmhouse High Performance Retrofit Prototype

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

December, 2013

Case study describing project conducted by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell (HfHGL) and Building Science Corporation (BSC).

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

Author(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Organization(s)

PNNL

Publication Date

December, 2011

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

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates, Volume 9

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Williamson Jennifer,

Ruiz Kathi,

Bartlett Rosemarie,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

October, 2009

Report providing builders in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

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.