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Wind Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Designers and builders can choose from a variety of features to help minimize losses from high winds. The choice of features will depend on the severity and type of local wind events, but the entire continental United States is exposed to high winds. This is especially true for tornado and hurricane...

Hurricane Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Hurricanes pose a serious threat along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Designers and builders can choose from a variety of features to help minimize losses from high winds and the impact of flying debris. Measures are available to fortify all typical construction types, including concrete, masonry...

Tornado/Hail Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Tornados pose a serious threat in the midsection and southern parts of the nation, but many other regions are also at risk. Designers and builders can choose from a variety of features to help minimize losses from high winds and the impact of flying debris. Measures are available to fortify all...

Severe Winter Storm Resist. Home

Building Science Measure
Power outages, freezing water pipes, and ice dams are among the risks that accompany severe winter weather. A thoroughly air sealed and insulated house can stay warm for hours or even days if the power goes out. Water pipes should be protected from freezing conditions by not locating them in...

Natural Event Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Floods, earthquakes, and wildfires are among the natural events that can damage or destroy your home. Knowledgeable builders will know what the risks are in your area and choose appropriate construction materials and techniques to address those risks.

Flood Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Flood damage can be minimized by designing foundations that can withstand flood forces, elevating living spaces comfortably above base flood elevations published by FEMA, grading the site to effectively drain away from the house, and using moisture-resistant building materials inside and outside...

Wildfire Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Wildfire damage can be minimized by designing landscaping to include “defensible space,” using noncombustible materials to block embers from entering vulnerable areas such as soffits and under decks and porches, and choosing fire-resistant roofing materials and double-pane tempered glass windows. In...

Earthquake-Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Structural strapping and bracing similar to what’s recommended in high-wind areas also helps to make homes more earthquake resistant. In high-risk earthquake areas, foundations should be designed by structural engineers and homes should include hold-down straps to keep walls from shifting. Water...

Pest Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
Insects, rodents, and other pests are more than just a nuisance; they can carry diseases, aggravate allergies, and spread germs. These pests can cause considerable property and structural damage if their activities go undetected for any length of time. There are several steps that builders can take...

Termite Resistant Home

Building Science Measure
In termite-prone areas, rigid foam insulation should not be used on the exterior of foundations below grade. To discourage termites and allow for inspection, some codes require that rigid foam insulation on the exterior of the foundation be held at least six inches above the ground. Wood siding...

Integrated Pest Management

Building Science Measure
Although Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves environmentally friendly practices for controlling pests after a home is occupied, builders can educate their buyers about this strategy. IPM focuses on knowing the pest in order to prevent pests from getting out of control. IPM is safer because non...

Disaster Resilience

Building Science Measure
Homes are subject to potentially destructive forces from outside, including severe weather (e.g., winter storms, hurricanes, tornadoes), natural events (e.g., floods, earthquakes, and wildfires), and from within (e.g., house fires, water damage from pipe failures, and electrical surges). Builders...

Water Efficient Indoor

Building Science Measure
Water is an increasingly precious commodity. Choices in fixtures, appliances, and even design can help conserve this vital resource.

Low Flow Fixtures

Building Science Measure
Water-conserving fixtures reduce water usage and the amount of energy needed to heat that water. Faucets and showerheads are designed to save water but provide the same experience as typical fixtures. The WaterSense label (from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) takes the guesswork out of...

Water Efficient Appliances

Building Science Measure
Look for ENERGY STAR-certified appliances when buying clothes washers or dish-washers. ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washers uses about 25% less energy and 40% less water than regular washers. An ENERGY STAR dish washer will save, on average, 1,600 gallons of water over its lifetime compared to a...

Efficient Hot Water Distribution

Building Science Measure
Some showers and fixtures run cold for a long time before the hot water finally arrives. And this adds up. For example, every 60 seconds of shower run-time amounts to about three gallons of wasted water down the drain. Homes can be designed with plumbing layouts that deliver hot water much more...

Core Plumbing

Building Science Measure
Traditional hot water distribution systems consist of a trunk and branch layout. This entails a relatively long, large-diameter main line feeding smaller branches that flow to plumbing fixtures or split to serve multiple fixtures. Even in relatively small homes of 1,200 square feet, the volume to...

Manifold Plumbing

Building Science Measure
Traditional hot water distribution systems consist of a trunk and branch layout. This entails a relatively long, large-diameter main line feeding smaller branches that flow to plumbing fixtures or split to serve multiple fixtures. Even in relatively small homes of 1,200 square feet, the volume to...

Demand Pumping System

Building Science Measure
Traditional hot water distribution systems consist of a trunk and branch layout. This consists of a relatively long, large-diameter main line that feeds smaller branches that flow to plumbing fixtures or split to serve multiple fixtures. Even in relatively small homes of 1,200 square feet, the...

Efficient Outdoor Landscaping

Building Science Measure
In dry or drought-stricken locales, landscaping irrigation can consume the majority of the household water bill. Fortunately there are several choices builders and homeowners can make to reduce water consumption for irrigation, including making landscaping choices that reduce water needs, using...

Efficient Landscape Design

Building Science Measure
Landscaping irrigation needs can be reduced or even eliminated by choosing native, drought-tolerant species that can survive on available rainfall and by installing non-plant ground covers like rock and bark. If there will be plants that require irrigation, they can be planted in clusters for...

Efficient Landscape Irrigation

Building Science Measure
EPA’s WaterSense program certifies weather-based irrigation controllers, which employ a "smart" irrigation control technology. These systems use local weather data to determine when and how much to water. Drip irrigation systems use 20% to 50% less water than conventional pop-up sprinkler systems...

Water Neutral Home (reclaims as much as it uses for irrigation)

Building Science Measure
Households can meet or reduce their irrigation needs by reclaiming grey water, stockpiling and using rain water, and designing their landscape to feature draught-resistant fauna. Imagine a yard irrigation system that doesn’t add one penny to your household water bill. Residential water recycling...

High-Efficiency Integrated Equipment

Building Science Measure
Water heating systems can be configured to provide both hot water and space heating. Combined heating sources can include boilers, tankless water heaters, solar water heaters, and other systems. Multi-function heating systems sometimes deliver space heating through a hydronic under-floor system but...

HVAC Quality Installation

Building Science Measure
Poorly sized and installed comfort systems will not operate as efficiently as they should and may not last as long as they could. Professional HVAC installers follow recognized industry standards like those set by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) for proper design, sizing...

Proper Sizing HVAC System

Building Science Measure
“Rules of thumb” are too often used to size comfort systems, which results in excessively oversized systems. . This leads to increased cost, wasted energy, and too-frequent on and off cycling, which can lead to comfort and efficiency issues. A trained contractor or qualified designer will determine...

Heating/Cooling Equipment Sizing

Building Science Measure
A trained contractor or qualified designer will determine a home’s specific heating and cooling loads to establish the right size equipment. This is achieved with sizing calculations based on recognized industry standards, like those developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Right...

Duct Distribution Sizing

Building Science Measure
Improper duct sizing can significantly impact the performance of a central heating and cooling system. Overly large ducts can require larger fans or just work harder to push conditioned air through the duct system. Ducts that are too small, too long, or too winding may make the fan work harder to...

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