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Skylight Shaft Walls

Guide describing insulation techniques for skylight shaft walls.
Guide

Floor Above Garage

Guide describing how to create an air barrier between the garage and the conditioned space above it to prohibit pollutants from entering a home's interior.
Guide

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

Guide describing air barrier installation, insulation installation, and air-sealing for double walls (half or full walls included in a home design as an architectural feature that provides a more dimensional appearance).
Guide

Attic Knee Walls

Guide describing how to insulate and air-seal attic knee walls and floor joist cavities under knee walls.
Guide

Vented versus Unvented Attic

Guide describing options for designing and locating the thermal boundary at either the attic floor or along the roof line in new and existing homes.
Guide

Wind Washing

Guide describing wind washing and how to prevent it.
Guide

Advanced Framing vs Traditional Framing

Publication Date
Author(s)
Risinger
Organization(s)
Build with Matt Risinger
Video describing traditional 2x4 16 inch on center framing versus advanced framing with 2x6 stud walls at 24 inch on center, insulated corners and headers, wall stud-ceiling joist alignment, etc. providing a strong wall with more room for insulation.
Video

Cantilevered Floor

Guide describing how to air-seal and insulate a cantilevered floor.
Guide

Staircase Walls

Guide describing how to create a fully aligned air barrier behind a staircase.
Guide

The Perfect Wall Explained

Publication Date
Author(s)
Todd Usher
Organization(s)
Addison Homes
Video describing a technique to insulate walls to a higher R-value using a foam board on the exterior side.
Video

Walls Behind Fireplaces

This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind fireplaces.
Guide

Rooms Containing Fuel-Burning Appliances - Code Compliance Brief

An entirely new section in the 2015 IECC/IRC regarding fuel-burning appliances basically requires the appliance to be isolated from the building thermal envelope, located either outside or within a separate room if the fuel-burning appliance is supplied by open combustion air ducts. This brief provides an overview of the requirements and further details of approving the actual "room".
Code Compliance Brief

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

Author(s)
IBACOS
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Case study describing a stand-off furring strategy that minimizes the physical connections to each existing wall stud, uses spray foam to encapsulate existing siding materials (including lead paint), and creates a vented rain screen assembly to promote drying.
Case Study

ETW: Wall - ICF Wall Construction

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.
Reference
With a quality installation, tape can last a long time

With a quality installation, tape can last a long time

Publication Date
Image
Use flashing tape to seal around any pipes or vents that penetrate through the foam

Use flashing tape to seal around any pipes or vents that penetrate through the foam

Publication Date
Image

Sidewall Blowing Tips and Tricks

Author(s)
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Organization(s)
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Publication Date
High-density sidewall cavity insulation can be a major comfort and savings boost. It saves energy by slowing both conductive and convective losses, but only if the right things are done and done right. This always requires site-specific thinking.
Reference

Technology Solutions Case Study: Complete and Fully Aligned Air Barrier

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Case study describing the elimination of excessive humidity in the attic of a multi-floor, single-family home that was causing condensation and water damage along the roof and eaves.
Case Study
A pumper is used to place the concrete into the foam form walls

A pumper is used to place the concrete into the foam form walls

Publication Date
Image
ICF forms are filled with the use of a concrete pumper truck

ICF forms are filled with the use of a concrete pumper truck

Publication Date
Image
Two layers of XPS are installed with staggered seams over a liquid-applied membrane on the structural sheathing

Two layers of XPS are installed with staggered seams over a liquid-applied membrane on the structural sheathing

Publication Date
Image

Home Performance Assessment

Information guide describing how to apply a whole-house approach to home improvement with energy efficiency upgrades, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort.
Information Guide
The ICF consists of foam forms that are held in place with plastic or metal spacers and reinforced with metal rebar

The ICF consists of foam forms that are held in place with plastic or metal spacers and reinforced with metal rebar

Publication Date
Image
Wrong – Either this tape was not pressed down firmly or the surface was wet or dirty so the tape is not sticking properly even during construction.

Wrong – Either this tape was not pressed down firmly or the surface was wet or dirty so the tape is not sticking properly even during construction.

Publication Date
Image

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Author(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Organization(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Publication Date
Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.
Reference

Attic Radiant Barriers

Guide describing application of a radiant barrier layer in the attic to block radiant heat transfer between hot surfaces and heat-absorbing surfaces.
Guide

Air Sealing Sill Plates

Guide describing how to air-seal sill plates in single-family homes and multifamily buildings.
Guide

CCHRC: Thermal Mass in Alaska

Publication Date
Author(s)
Craven
Organization(s)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center,
CCHRC
Video describing what thermal mass is and answering some frequently asked questions about how to utilize it in Alaska.
Video

Infrared Camera Home Inspection

Publication Date
Author(s)
Todd Usher
Organization(s)
Addison Homes
Video showing the inspection of the thermal envelope of a house using an infrared camera. Infrared inspection uses differences in temperature to locate potential water leaks or voids in insulation.
Video

Marine Climate

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Reference

DOE ZERH HIA 2013 Case Study: Preferred Builders, Old Greenwich, Connecticut

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2013 Housing Innovation Award Winner in Old Greenwich CT, that scored HERS 42 without PV and HERS 20 with PV.
Case Study

Your Northern Home: Walls

Publication Date
Author(s)
Benesch
Organization(s)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center,
CCHRC
Video describing how walls in cold climates must address three key issues: air leakage, moisture movement, and conductive heat losses.
Video

A Thermally Broken Steel Connection

Author(s)
West Chris
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Publication Date
Article describing methods for thermally isolating a garage in a Passive House-certified multifamily building.
Reference

DOE ZERH HIA 2013 Case Study: e2 Homes, Winter Park, Florida

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Case study describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2013 Housing Innovation Award Winner in Winter Park FL that scored HERS 57 without PV or HERS -7 with PV.
Case Study