http://www.buildingscience.com daily 1 2010-01-26T02:05:02Z http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-la-new-orleans-green-dream-i The “Crescent Green Dream 1” House is an example of best practice energy efficient and environmentally responsible homebuilding that is flood recoverable and affordable. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles doc-CaseStudy Building America resources-homeowner climate-zone-hot-humid doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:30:01Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-cold-ma-concord-cape The house is a Cape Cod style design with 5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 stories plus a finishedbasement. It is built into an existing neighborhood close to public transportation, restaurants, shops and other community resources. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold Building America resources-homeowner doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:31:30Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-tx-lewisville-greencraft BSC collaborated with Greencraft Builders in Lewisville, TX on a 2009 prototype house called the TimberCreek Net Zero Energy House. This house demonstrates the energy efficiency and durability upgrades that Greencraft has been promoting for years. No publisher Building Science Corporation climate-zone-mixed-humid guidance-Enclosure design principles subsystems-HVAC doc-CaseStudy Building America zero-energy resources-homeowner doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:47:36Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-146-eifs-problems-and-solutions Stucco and EIFS are common cladding systems that appear similar from the exterior. These systems have very different attributes however. This Digest explains the reasons why face-sealed EIFS are fundamentally flawed as cladding systems for most applications, and describes how drained EIFS can be used successfully in almost all climate zones and exposures. Cracks, lamina deterioration, and movement joints are also discussed. No publisher Joseph Lstiburek ©2007 buildingscience.com Building Science Digests are information articles intended for professionals. The author and the publisher of this article have used their best efforts to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The author and publisher make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information contained in this article. guidance-Enclosure design principles moisture-Diffusion/Vapor Pressure thermal-Insulation comp-walls moisture-Drainage plane EIFS type-low-rise moisture-Vapor Permeance guidance-Construction details type-institutional doc-Digest enclosure-Wall assembly-insulation resources-homeowner 2013-02-26T23:15:46Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-150-black-stains-on-carpets-and-ghosting-of-framing This digest offers a detailed explanation of the causes of carpet discoloration, particulate deposits on surfaces and "ghosting" of wood stud members on the interior gypsum board surfaces of exterior walls. No publisher Joseph Lstiburek Building Science Digests are information articles intended for professionals. The author and the publisher of this article have used their best efforts to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The author and publisher make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information contained in this article. enclosure-Wall assembly guidance-Windows dust marking rain screen doc-Digest framing ghosting resources-homeowner 2011-03-19T23:25:06Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/ma-jamaica-plain-ngrid-comprehensive-der-three-family-triple-decker The retrofit project included new fiber cement siding installed over exterior insulation, new high performance windows, a conditioned basement, improved insulation at the attic and roof, and improved air tightness. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles resources-homeowner deep energy retrofit doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold resources-low-energy Building America renovation Retrofit doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T17:03:06Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-la-new-orleans-green-dream-ii The Green Dream 2 is a single-family home built on the site of a hurricane-damaged house that stood for three years before being demolished by the city of New Orleans. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles doc-CaseStudy Building America resources-homeowner climate-zone-hot-humid doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:26:30Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-oakdale-ct-greenbrier The Greenbrier prototype is the model home for a 14 home subdivision in which the builder intends to demonstrate his concept of "attainable sustainable." No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles affordability doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold Building America resources-homeowner doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:33:04Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/ma-westford-national-grid-deep-energy-retrofit-westford-modern-colonial-retrofit There are many suburban neighborhoods built within the last 20 years that have similar houses. This project demonstrates the potential for significant energy savings for these newer homes. No publisher Building Science Corporation enclosure-Wall assembly ERV resources-homeowner guidance-Building systems/HVAC guidance-Below-grade enclosure deep energy retrofit guidance-Windows doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold enclosure-Foundation assembly guidance-Roof design enclosure-Roof assembly guidance-Wall design renovation Retrofit 2013-04-02T17:06:58Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-ma-lancaster-ngrid-deep-energy-retrofit-small-colonial Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts received this circa 1900 property as a donation from the Town of Lancaster and the project plan needed to be formed around donated materials and volunteer labor. The result is a project that serves as an impressive example of what is attainable under such circumstances. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles resources-homeowner deep energy retrofit doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold resources-low-energy Building America renovation Retrofit doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:56:30Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-ma-ngrid-deep-energy-retrofit-18th-century-cape In June of 2009, National Grid launched a pilot program intended to demonstrate Deep Energy Retrofits (DER) in existing Massachusetts homes. The pilot program provides financial incentives and technical support to projects that commit to achieving significant energy reduction and successfully complete a long application process. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles resources-homeowner deep energy retrofit doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold resources-low-energy Building America renovation Retrofit doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:13:43Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/ma-brookline-three-story-victorian-partial-retrofit This home provides an example of a staged approach to a comprehensive retrofit. New retrofit measures are carefully thought out and integrated with the measures implemented previously. This staged approach may be a more realistically accessible path to broad adoption of DER. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles resources-homeowner deep energy retrofit doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold resources-low-energy Building America renovation Retrofit doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T17:04:20Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-103-understanding-basements Buildings used to be constructed over cellars. Cellars were dank, dark places where coal was stored. People never intended to live in cellars. Now we have things called basements that have pool tables, media centers and play rooms. Cellars were easy to construct – rubble, stone, bricks and sometimes block. If they got wet or were damp so what? Basements are different. They are not easy to construct if we intend to live in them. They need to be dry, comfortable and keep contaminants out. Over the last 50 years there has been a notable expansion of living space. The useful conditioned space of building enclosures is expanding to the outer edge of the building skin (Figure 1). Attics, crawlspaces, garages and basements are valuable real estate that are being used to live in or used for storage or places to locate mechanical systems. Basements are viewed by many as cheap space that can easily be incorporated into a home. Keeping basements dry, comfortable and contaminant free is proving to be anything but simple. No publisher Joseph Lstiburek Building Science Digests are information articles intended for professionals. The author and the publisher of this article have used their best efforts to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The author and publisher make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information contained in this article. The information presented in this article must be used with care by professionals who understand the implications of what they are doing. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional shall be sought. The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising from, the use of the information contained within this Building Science Digest. moisture-Diffusion/Vapor Pressure airflow-Indoor Air Quality thermal-Insulation guidance-Below-grade enclosure moisture-Vapor Permeance resources-technical comp-below-grade doc-Digest enclosure-Foundation assembly moisture-Interstitial Condensation vapor barrier resources-homeowner resources-mold 2013-03-21T18:21:45Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-135-ice-dams Ice dams are a common roof performance problem in buildings that experience snowfall and at least a month of below freezing temperatures. The combination of sufficient roof pitch, adequate insulation just above the exterior wall, and air sealing at the wall-roof assemblies transition are all essential to prevent ice dams. But ice dams can occur even in properly detailed roof assemblies from differential solar snow melt. This digest outlines both the causes and solutions to ice dam problems. No publisher John Straube Building Science Digests are information articles intended for professionals. The author and the publisher of this article have used their best efforts to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The author and publisher make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information contained in this article. The information presented in this article must be used with care by professionals who understand the implications of what they are doing. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional shall be sought. The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising from, the use of the information contained within this Building Science Digest. thermal-Surface Temperature condensation thermal-Insulation thermal-Convective/air movement moisture-Drainage plane radiation moisture-Vapor Permeance resources-homeowner doc-Digest moisture-Convection/Air barriers thermal-Thermal Bridging guidance-Roof design enclosure-Roof assembly airflow-Airtightness/Air barrier type-low-rise comp-roofs 2013-04-03T03:23:01Z BSC Article http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/case-studies/cs-ma-newton-ngrid-deep-energy-retrofit-comprehensive-cape-basement-renovation This test home provides an example of a thoroughly comprehensive retrofit that did not involve major additions or changes to the building footprint but, nonetheless expanded living space by including the basement within the thermal enclosure. No publisher Building Science Corporation guidance-Enclosure design principles resources-homeowner deep energy retrofit doc-CaseStudy climate-zone-cold resources-low-energy Building America renovation Retrofit doc-DesignsThatWork 2013-04-02T16:58:05Z BSC Article