BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

These aluminum Bahama shutters shade west-facing windows from afternoon sun and are approved for hurricane protection

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A Practical Guide to Climate-resilient Buildings & Communities

Reference

Guidance document from the UN environment programme on climate-resilient buildings and communities practices, including guidance on heat waves, drought, hurricanes, and flooding.

Preparedness Webinars

Reference

Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Small Wind Site Assessment Guidelines

Reference

Technical report providing site selection guidance for installation of small wind turbines.

Wind speeds increase significantly with height above ground

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Sustainable Living Series

Reference

Presentation by the Washington University in St. Louis Office of Sustainability on saving energy.

The operable windows in this house are located at occupant level to provide comfort ventilation.

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In hot climate zones, shade building surface with vegetation for passive cooling.

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Example of a cool roof, painted white to reflect solar heat gain.

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Proper building orientation for minimal heat gain in the northern hemisphere.

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Calculate projection factor (PF) by dividing overhang (A) by length of window (B).

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A shallow, open floor plan allows free flow of cross ventilation through the house

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Landscape trees and shrubs to funnel cooling breeze towards a home in hot climate zones.

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When averaged over several years, more fatalities are caused by extreme heat than by any other weather-related hazard

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Locating windows on adjacent and opposite sides of the house will allow cross ventilation regardless of wind direction

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Casement windows or wing walls can create zones of higher pressure (right) and lower pressure (left) to encourage cross ventilation when wind is flowing parallel to window openings

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HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Top Tips for Making Your Home More Disaster Resistant

Reference

Factsheet describing tips for building or renovating with a focus on disaster resistance.

Install Window Shutters

Reference

This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.

Comfort ventilation focuses on airflow over occupants; in this example of wind-driven cross ventilation, the air is directed through the main occupied areas of the bedroom

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Airflow can be directed across thermal mass in the ceiling, floor, or elsewhere inside the home through various window and louver configurations

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Low perimeter to area (P/A) ratio home designs reduce heat transfer and perform better in hot climate zones than high P/A ratio homes.

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The light-colored exterior roll-down shades on this building, and the shaded entryway provide very effective control of solar heat gain

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The window awnings on this house provide a simple but very effective way to reduce solar gains while still allowing view, daylight, and ventilation through the windows

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Exterior Doors Are Insulated, Impact Rated, and Fire Rated

Guide

Guide describing the use of doors that are insulated and are impact rated or have protective coverings for resistance to hurricane, high winds, wildfires, and thermal losses.

Extreme weather, such as wind, fire, flood, or extreme heat (included in the Severe Weather category above) causes most large electric disturbance events in the U.S (defined as affecting at least 50,000 customers) (data from 2000-2016)

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Shading and Solar Control for Windows and Skylights

Guide

Guide describing various methods of shading and solar control to reduce heat gain through windows.

Emergency Air Conditioning and Food Refrigeration

Guide

Guide describing methods for providing space cooling and refrigeration during extreme heat events and/or power outages.

High-Thermal-Mass Construction

Guide

Guide describing materials and methods for incorporating thermal mass into the construction of a home for temperature regulation, energy savings, and resistance to extreme heat and cold.

Landscaping to Reduce Cooling Load

Guide

Guide describing ways to use landscaping to keep a home cooler.

Creating a Cool Room for Extreme Heat Events

Guide

Guide describing how to create a designated shelter-from-heat space in a home to help occupants successfully weather an extreme heat event.