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

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

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Insulation does not cover boot and is not sealed

Insulation does not cover boot and is not sealed

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Insulation does not cover boot and is not sealed

Insulation does not cover boot and is not sealed

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No insulation installed in cavity and not air sealed

No insulation installed in cavity and not air sealed

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Two pieces of flex duct are spliced together with a metal sleeve, nylon draw bands, mastic, metal tape, and more mastic

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Cut fiber board with a red V-groove tool and a gray shiplap tool to create mitered corners and a shiplapped edge for duct sections

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Boot has been covered with insulation and sealed with mastic

Boot has been covered with insulation and sealed with mastic

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

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

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Right – R-25 of open-cell spray foam lines this new home’s attic ceiling, to protect HVAC ducts from heat and cold.

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Seal all joints and seams in the metal ductwork with mastic before installing insulation

Seal all joints and seams in the metal ductwork with mastic before installing insulation

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Cavity used for return is not insulated and is not air sealed, which will pull in air from outside

Cavity used for return is not insulated and is not air sealed, which will pull in air from outside

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

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

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Right - The precast insulated concrete walls of the basement provide a conditioned space for the high-efficiency (18 SEER, 9.5 HSPF) air-source heat pump, with its variable-speed fan, five-stage compressor, and MERV 11 filter.

Right - The precast insulated concrete walls of the basement provide a conditioned space for the high-efficiency (18 SEER, 9.5 HSPF) air-source heat pump, with its variable-speed fan, five-stage compressor, and MERV 11 filter.

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Show Home Targets Energy Efficiency in Hot-Humid Climates

Case Study

Case study describing the New American Home project.

Compact Air Distribution

Guide

Guide describing design and installation of compact duct systems for central heating and cooling systems.

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

Case Study

Case study describing a building project in the marine climate.

Boot is uninsulated

Boot is uninsulated

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Example of an HVAC installer’s balancing report form

Example of an HVAC installer’s balancing report form

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Seams are being properly sealed with mastic and mesh tape

Seams are being properly sealed with mastic and mesh tape

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Technology Solutions Case Study: Sealed Air-Return Plenum Retrofit

Case Study

Case study describing the retrofit of a leaky air handler.

Use only Underwriters Laboratory UL-181 approved tape

Use only Underwriters Laboratory UL-181 approved tape

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Fiber board sheets are available with pre-cut shiplapped ends

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After securing the inner coil, cover the draw band and the seam with a generous amount of mastic

After securing the inner coil, cover the draw band and the seam with a generous amount of mastic

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Air Seal HVAC Cabinet Seams

Guide

Guide describing air-sealing of the seams and holes in HVAC air handler and furnace cabinets.

Hand tools for cutting fiber board sheets include a knife, straight edge, and color-coded edge-cutting tools

Hand tools for cutting fiber board sheets include a knife, straight edge, and color-coded edge-cutting tools

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Right - Open-cell polyurethane spray foam to R-28 on underside of roof turns new attic into conditioned space for HVAC.

Right - Open-cell polyurethane spray foam to R-28 on underside of roof turns new attic into conditioned space for HVAC.

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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 HVAC System Upgrade or Expansion

Guide

Guide describing how to upgrade or expand an existing HVAC system.

Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Guide

Guide describing how to install a bathroom exhaust fan to remove excess moisture.

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.

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