BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

These prefabricated rebar assemblies use stainless steel and rigid foam to provide a thermal break where a concrete floor slab passes through the exterior wall of a multistory building; the stainless steel is connected to carbon steel rebar

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Are the Walls Closing In?

Presentation

Webinar describing research on moisture performance in high-R walls.

A double layer of hat channels installed at 90-degrees to each other with stainless-steel screws through the rigid foam to anchor cladding to steel studs with less thermal transfer; the second layer of hat channels provides increased rigidity

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Utilities are commonly recessed into cutouts in the foam after concrete has been poured

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Six Corners Modern | High Performance Building Details

Video

Video describing the high-performance building details of a new home construction project.

A 1- and ½-story home with a room located in the attic and the thermal boundary located at either a) the walls and ceiling of the attic room with small vented attic spaces or b) the roof line for an unvented attic

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Thermal bridging is eliminated at the rim joist with the use of joist ledgers that are anchored in the wall

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Moisture Management in Residential Construction - Building Enclosure: Managing Heat Flow

Video

Video from Home Innovation Research Labs on managing heat transfer in the forms of radiation, convection, and conduction within the building envelope.

A Bridge Too Far, BSI-005

Reference

Article describing thermal bridging, construction practices that encourage thermal bridging, and solutions.

Right – Verify SIP headers are installed

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Moisture Management in Residential Construction Series - Brick Installation Drainage Cavity Wall

Video

Video from Home Innovation Research Labs showing how to correctly install brick cladding on exterior walls with a drainage cavity behind it for moisture prevention.

Right - Continuous wall sheathing and blocking has been installed to brace the raised heel trusses.

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Opportunities for Energy Conservation and Improved Comfort From Wind Washing Retrofits in Two-Story Homes - Part I

Reference

Report highlighting the evaluation methods used and extent of wind washing found in a study analyzing wind washing in thirty-two two-story homes.

ASHRAE -Thermal Performance of Building Envelope Details for Mid- and High-Rise Buildings (1365-RP)

Reference

Technical report describing the thermal performance of 40 common building envelope details for mid- and high-rise buildings, including analyses to optimize energy efficiency and reduce thermal bridging.

High Performance Builder Spotlight: Treasure Homes Inc.

Case Study

Case study describing the family-run Treasure Homes that achieved a HERS rating of 46 without PV on its prototype “Gem” home, located on the blustery shores of Lake Michigan in northern Indiana.

Technology Solutions Case Study: Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Manufactured Home Builders

Case Study

Case study describing a package of energy- efficiency measures for new manufactured homes in the Pacific Northwest, including triple-pane highly efficient windows.

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.

DOE ZERH HIA 2014 Case Study: Imery Group Proud Green Home, Serenbe, GA

Case Study

Case study describing the first DOE Zero Energy Ready Home in Georgia that achieved a HERS score of 40 without PV and -10 with PV.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Reference

Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Devoted Builders, LLC, Mediterranean Villas, Pasco, WA

Case Study

Case study describing 50% energy saving projects for new multifamily homes in cold climates.

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Green Home 3 - Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

Case Study

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.