BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation to insulate truss-joist headers.

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The Truth about insulation in a hot climate

Video

Video from Horizon Energy on thermodynamics relating to insulation in attics of homes located in hot climates.

This hot climate zone home uses high quality batt insulation between studs to insulate this connecting garage wall.

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Air Sealing and Insulating Walls to Reduce Heat Gain

Information Guide

Information guide listing Building America Solution Center guides that describe ways to air-seal and insulate a new or existing home's walls to resist heat gain.

Air Sealing, Insulating, and Venting Attics and Roofs to Reduce Heat Gain

Information Guide

Information guide providing links to guides describing specific ways to air-seal, insulate, and ventilate attics and roofs to minimize heat gain in new and existing homes.

Right – The insulation has been located to the exterior of the thermal mass in this wall section

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A typical Las Vegas hot-dry climate home made of wood frame construction and insulated with R-25 expanded polystyrene externally over a drainage plane, with an unvented wood frame insulated attic and roof assembly.

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Passive Cooling

Reference

Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Keeping Homes and Cities Cool in Extreme Heat

Reference

Article from University of Arizona on keeping homes cool during extreme heat, both personal and system changes.

Efficient Earth-Sheltered Homes

Reference

Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing using Earth-Sheltered home building techniques in hot climate zones.

Extreme Heat—A Tale of Two Cities, BSI-032

Reference

Article from Building Science Corporation on construction techniques for extreme heat conditions in Dubai and Las Vegas.

Radiant Barrier: Effect of Radiant Barriers on Heating and Cooling Bills

Reference

Fact sheet describing analysis of potential heating and cooling savings from radiant barriers in attics.

Residential Heating and Cooling Loads Component Analysis

Reference

Report describing a study using parametric computer simulations of 112 single-family and 63 multi-family residential building prototypes to quantify the contributions of building components such as roofs, walls, windows, infiltration, outside air, lighting, equipment, and people to the aggregate...