Showing results 1301 - 1400 of 2387
Attics are insulated to reduce the amount of heat loss or gain through the ceiling. However, sloped attic framing or trusses are inherently shallow at the roof eaves, leaving inadequate space for full insulation. As a result, there can be excessive thermal losses and gains along the roof edge...
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL
Publication Date
Description
Report on heating and cooling air-distribution ducts that are insulated, installed close to the ceiling in a vented attic and covered with attic insulation to minimize energy loss.
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...
Description
Guide describing different options for providing seismic and thermal resistance for homes with basement foundations, crawlspace foundations, or crawlspace foundations with a "cripple" wall.
Description
Guide describing how to air-seal attic access panels, doors, and stairs to provide a continuous air barrier at the ceiling.
Description
Guide describing how to create a fully aligned air barrier behind a staircase.
Description
Guide describing method for designing and installing ducts in a raised ceiling chase.
Traditional wall framing uses more studs than necessary to structurally support a wall. Using more studs not only increases the amount of lumber used, it decreases the amount of available space for insulation, and increases the surface area of lumber. Framing materials are not good insulators; heat...
Description
This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind showers and tubs.
Publication Date
Organization(s)
Addison Homes
Description
Video describing a technique to insulate walls to a higher R-value using a foam board on the exterior side.
Organization(s)
PNNL,
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a DOE Building America Top Innovation on HVAC ducts located in vented attics that are encapsulated in foam and buried in attic insulation.
Publication Date
Description
Video describing how to insulate and air seal sill plates.
Description
Guide describing how to correctly air-seal a wall with missing top plates or open wall cavities.
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
NSTAR
Description
Presentation describing basement insulation and potential problems.
Description
Guide that illustrates how and when to encapsulate ductwork in unconditioned attics, increases the R-value of duct insulation, mitigating condensation issues and reducing air leakage.
Publication Date
Organization(s)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center,
CCHRC
Description
Video describing crawlspace insulation configurations and problems that may arise in cold climates like Alaska.
In termite-prone areas, rigid foam insulation should not be used on the exterior of the foundations below grade because they can provide a pathway for infestation. Termite detection systems discourage termites and allow for inspection. This includes adherence to local codes that require at least a...
Publication Date
Organization(s)
Cold Climate Housing Research Center,
CCHRC
Description
Video describing a furring in framing technique to further insulate a pre-existing Alaskan house.
Publication Date
Description
Video describing how to properly insulate walls behind showers and tubs.
Description
This guide describes how to install a rigid air barrier to walls behind fireplaces.
Overview
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".
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Case study showing project and performance data and energy-efficiency measures for a DOE 2017 Housing Innovation Award winning home that was certified to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home criteria.
Description
Guide describing how to hang ducts with supporting straps or saddles to adequately support ducts so they do not sag and are not pinched or compressed in a manner that would cause damage to the ducts, the duct insulation, or the duct air barrier covering.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering insulating crawlspaces.
Publication Date
Description
Video showing the installation of a foundation in a passive house.
Description
Guide describing causes of condensation in attics and roof assemblies during cold weather and ways to reduce this condensation.
Traditional wall framing uses more lumber than is necessary and limits a builder’s ability to insulate walls. Wood and other framing materials are not good insulators. Heat can move through them from one side of the wall to the other. High-efficiency advanced framing uses techniques like thicker...
Publication Date
Organization(s)
SIPschool
Description
Video from SIPschool on sealing joints using SIP panels.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing methods for insulating and air sealing vented and unvented roofs in various climates zones.
Description
Guide describing how to retrofit an existing basement floor or slab to reduce moisture issues.
Description
Guide describing ways to construct wall assemblies in cold climates to minimize the likelihood of condensation formation inside the walls.
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Online calculator for estimating payback of adding additional insulation to your house.
Organization(s)
ORNL,
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with information about insulating and ventilating attics.
Description
Guide describing how to construct and retrofit homes built on slab-on-grade foundations in earthquake-prone areas to withstand seismic forces by properly installing wall to foundation connections.
Description
This measure guide describes how to correctly install ducts, ensuring enough cavity space to avoid compression.
Description
Guide describing how to insulate the sill beam or sill plate on the exterior side in a way that allows drying to the exterior, as part of an exterior wall upgrade.
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the building science implications of insulating vented or unvented attics.
Description
Installed correctly, comprehensive vented attic upgrades can significantly reduce utility costs while improving comfort, indoor air quality, and durability of the attic structure.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report on adding insulation to load-bearing mass masonry buildings.
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the research into insulating vented versus unvented attics.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet that summarizes Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction including advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing issues with condensation in unvented attics insulated with open-cell spray foam.
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how insulating and air sealing unfinished attic spaces can lead to reduced energy bills in some homes.
Publication Date
Description
Video describing the under slab and vapor barrier used on a passive house.
Description
Guide describing the air-sealing of rim joists on walls connecting homes and attached garages.
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Case study poster describing a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home 2022 Housing Innovation Award winning production home in the mixed-dry climate that used 2x6 16-in. o.c. walls with 5.5 inches of spray foam plus R-5 rigid continuous insulation, R-33 open-cell spray foam attic insulation, and 6.23 kW rooftop...
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the fire performance of combustible cladding over combustible insulation.
Even when insulated, homes can still have unnecessary heat loss due to the ability of heat to transfer through the wood framing. Because framing can comprise up to one-fourth of the wall in stud-framed walls, the studs can significantly contribute to heat loss. To address this, a continuous thermal...
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering non-combustible continuous exterior insulation and non-combustible roof venting.
Publication Date
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Description
Video describing the installation of windows to be air- and water-tight, including recommendations on flashing, air-sealing, and insulation, from Home Innovation Research Labs
Description
Guide describing ways to seal drywall to the top plate of an exterior wall to air-seal the wall cavity.
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing new home construction in the hot-humid climate, optimizing thermal enclosure, HVAC, water heating and lighting measures.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a building project in the cold and very-cold climate zones.
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a new home construction project in the marine climate.
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a new home construction project in the hot-humid climate.
Comfort systems installed in vented attics work much better when they are buried in insulation. Vented attics can reach extreme temperatures. Deeply burying the ducts in the attic's insulation provides significant protection from these harsh conditions. The ducts need to be tightly sealed to ensure...
Publication Date
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Description
Video from Home Innovation Research Labs giving an overview of moisture problems common to exterior walls and how to mitigate these problems with proper framing, flashing, sheathing, cladding, and insulation.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
How hard can it be to insulate a flat sheet of concrete? I mean you only have three choices – on the top, on the bottom, or on the edge. OK, you might have some combination of the three as well.
Organization(s)
City of Gresham,
State of Oregon
Publication Date
Description
A guideline containing fire sprinkler insulation requirements from the Prescott, Arizona Fire Department.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing re-siding retrofits containing exterior insulation and window upgrades aimed at improved energy savings and comfort.
Organization(s)
SEI
Publication Date
Description
Presentation describing the Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code air barrier requirements, envelope concepts including air flow and thermal properties, and common missed insulation and air-sealing opportunities.
Publication Date
Description
Video describing best practices for air sealing an attached garage during construction using plywood and spray foam in the band joist and providing an exhaust fan to ventilate and depressurize the attic.
Description
Guide describing vapor retarder permeability, insulation interaction, and example construction in a hot-humid climate.
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a 4,763 ft2 certified Passive House that achieved HERS 27 without PV through the construction of R-54 walls that use ICF plus fiberglass cavity insulation, an R-100 vented attic, extensive air sealing and flashing, triple-pane windows, ductless heat pumps, and solar hot water.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a construction project in Hilton Head, SC utilizing a whole-house performance approach.
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a new home construction project in the hot-humid climate.
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
UMN
Publication Date
Description
Expert meeting report describing the need for greater understanding of foundation systems including moisture and insulation issues.
Retrofitting Knob and Tube Wiring An Investigation into Codes, Assessment, Wiring Practices and Cost
Organization(s)
Building Research Council,
School of Architecture University of Illinois,
Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
Publication Date
Description
Guide on retrofitting insulation in cavities.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the evolution of the IRC to permit class 3 vapor retarders (latex paint) in walls coupled with exterior continuous insulation to allow drying and reduce condensation risk.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Case study describing a retrofit project in the cold and very-cold climate zones.