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Performance of Windows in Walls With Continuous Insulation

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope

A strong push was made by many advocacy groups, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to increase the stringency of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to achieve a 30 percent energy savings relative to the 2006 IECC. This effort resulted in a number of major changes which impact both energy savings and construction costs for residential construction. The objective of this analysis is to quantify the incremental construction cost, energy savings, and percent energy savings associated with constructing a house compliant with the 2012 IECC relative to the 2006 IECC baseline.

Attic Retrofits Using Nail-Base Insulated Panels

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope

This project developed and demonstrated a roof/attic energy retrofit solution using nail-base insulated panels for existing homes where traditional attic insulation approaches are not effective or feasible. Nail-base insulated panels (retrofit panels) consist of rigid foam insulation laminated to one face of a wood structural panel. The prefabricated panels are installed above the existing roof deck during a reroofing effort. The layer of insulation provides the added thermal performance, and the wood structural panel provides the rigid substrate for installation of the roofing membrane.

TechNote - Window and Door Flashing: Code Requirements and Best Practices

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope

This TechNote provides an overview of building code requirements and best practices for flashing at window and door frames. The focus is on common flashing applications for new construction. Although each window/door manufacturer may have its own set of flashing instructions, the strategies and general principles apply to the vast majority of flashing situations.

Percent Energy Savings: 2009 IECC Analysis

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Building Codes & Standards, Energy Efficiency & High-Performance Building, Moisture Management, Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

A strong push was made by many advocacy groups, including the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), to increase the stringency of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This effort resulted in a number of major changes which impact both energy savings and construction costs for residential construction. As part of the federal effort to encourage state and local adoption of the more stringent code, provisions were also included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to persuade states to adopt the 2009 IECC.

Field Evaluation of Low-E Storm Windows

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

A field evaluation comparing the performance of low emittance (low-e) storm windows with both standard clear storm windows and no storm windows was performed in a cold climate. Six homes with single-pane windows were monitored over the period of one heating season. The homes were monitored with no storm windows and with new storm windows. The storm windows installed on four of the six homes included a hard coat, pyrolitic, low-e coating while the storm windows for the other two homes had traditional clear glass. Overall heating load reduction due to the storm windows was 13% with the clear glass and 21% with the low-e windows. Simple paybacks for the addition of the storm windows were 10 years for the clear glass and 4.5 years for the low-e storm windows.

Model Quality Plan for Use of Drainage EIFS

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Structural Performance

This document outlines key quality control points for builders and installation contractors using Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) cladding for residential construction.