Research Toward Zero Energy Homes October 2006 • NREL/TP-550-38449 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5


Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, 

Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate


U.S. Department of Energy 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable 

Building Technologies Program 

T OF ENERGY

DEPARTMEN

U

E

NITED STAT S OFA ERICA

M
MANAGERS

Putting building 

science to work for

your bottom line

INTRODUCTION

Taking action in

your community

CASE STUDIES

Bringing it all together

SITE PLANNERS

& DEVELOPERS

Properly situated houses

pay big dividends

SITE SUPERVISORS

Tools to help with

project management

DESIGNERS

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business

TRADES

Professional tips for fast

and easy installation

MARKETERS

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand

HOMEOWNERS

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TTL-1

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5

Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, 

Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate

Prepared by

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Michael C. Baechler

Z. Todd Taylor, Rosemarie Bartlett, Theresa Gilbride, Marye Hefty, Heidi Steward

and

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Pat M. Love

Jennifer A. Palmer

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United 

States Government nor any agency thereof, nor Battelle Memorial Institute, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, 

apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to 

any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily 

constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or 

Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the 

United States Government or any agency thereof.
Contents

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TOC-1 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INT-1 

Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-1 

Quick Tips: Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-1 

You’re in Good Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-1 

How Quality Houses Perform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-2 

An Energy-Efficient Home Will Cost You Less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-3 

Energy-Efficient Mortgages Can Help You Get More for Your Money . . . . . . . . . HOM-3 

What’s the Score? (HERS Index) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-5 

Guaranteed Energy Costs and Comfort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-6 

And There’s More - More Green for You and More Green for the Planet . . . . . . . HOM-6 

What to Look For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-6 

Sources and Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-7 

Homebuyer’s Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOM-7 

Managers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-1 

An Invitation to Building Company Managers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-1 

Building America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-1 

Quick Tips: Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-1 

The Business Case for Building Science and Energy Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-2 

Properly Choosing Materials and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-2 

Reduced Risks, Increased Productivity, and Fewer Callbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-3 

From an Economic Standpoint, Everyone Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-3 

Customer Satisfaction and Referrals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-3 

Consumers Expect More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-4 

Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-4 

Take the Next Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-5 

Case Studies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-5 

Sources and Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MNG-5 

Marketers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MKT-1 

ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes: Telling Your Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MKT-1 

Quick Tips: Marketers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MKT-1 

Increase Customer Satisfaction and Let Your Customers Sell Your Product. . . . . . . MKT-2 

Sell the Value that Home Buyers Expect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MKT-2 

How Industry Leaders Sell Energy-Efficient Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MKT-2 

Sources and Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MKT-4 
Contents

Site Planners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLN-1

Lot Orientation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLN-1

Quick Tips: Site Planners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLN-1

Shade Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLN-3

Other Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLN-4

Sources and Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLN-7

Designers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-1

Quick Tips: Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-1

Building Science and the Systems Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-1

The Cost of Doing Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-3

Marine Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-5

Design Best Practices for Marine Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-6

Site - Drainage, Pest Control, and Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-6

Foundation System Moisture and Soil Gas Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-7

Structural Moisture Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-10

Structural Air Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-16

Structural Thermal Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-17

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-26

Mechanicals Management and Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-35

Sources and Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DES-37

Site Supervisors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-1

Managing Expectations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-1

Develop a Work Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-2

Plans - Get Them Right. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-2

Plans - Keep Them Right. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-2

Contracts - Write Them Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-3

Pre-Construction Meeting - Have One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-4

Permits - Grease the Skids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-4

Managing Execution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-5

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-5

Scheduling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-6

Quality Assurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-7

Spot-Check Inspection Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-8

Pre-Drywall Inspection Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-9

Pre-Occupancy Inspection Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-10

Sources and Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUP-11

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TOC-2
Contents

Trades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-1

Slab Insulation - Marine Climates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-2

Basement & Conditioned (Unvented) Crawlspace Insulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-4

Housewrap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-6

Window Flashing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-7

Air Sealing - Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-9

Air Sealing - Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-10

Air Sealing - Drywall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-11

Air Sealing Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-12

Fiberglass Insulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-13

Masonry Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-14

Radiant Barriers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-15

Duct Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRD-16

Case Study: Ft. Lewis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CASE A-1

Case Study: SummerHill Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CASE B-1

Appendix I: Homebuyer’s Checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX I-1

Appendix II: Energy & Housing Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX II-1

Appendix III: Code Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX III-1

Appendix IV: Counties in the Marine Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX IV-1

Appendix V: Web Site References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX V-1

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TOC- 
Acknowledgments

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • ACK-1 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building America program is comprised of public/ 

private partnerships that conduct systems research to improve overall housing performance, 

increase housing durability and comfort, reduce energy use, and increase energy security 

for America’s homeowners. Program activities focus on finding solutions for both new 

and existing homes, as well as integrating clean onsite energy systems that will allow the 

homebuilding industry to provide homes that produce more energy than they use. In addition 

to the DOE management and staff, the Building America Program includes seven consortia, 

four national laboratories, and hundreds of builders, manufacturers, and service providers. 

Building America works closely with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 

(HUD) Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) Program, co-manages the 

ENERGY STAR Program along with the Environmental Protection Agency, and works with 

other federal agencies to coordinate research findings and disseminate information. These 

partners make the program a successful source of knowledge and innovation for industry 

practitioners and government policy makers. Together, these cooperating agencies have 

provided reviews and shared insightful comments, as well as making the authors aware of 

their technical libraries. 

The U.S. DOE Building America Program funded the development of this series of 

handbooks. DOE also funded the Building America consortia and national laboratories to 

form the basis for these best practices. The seven consortia are listed on the back cover of 

this document. The consortia have taken on the hard work of applied research, field testing, 

training builders, and transforming the results into building practices. Numerous drawings, 

descriptions, photos, and case studies originated with the consortia. 

Many builders have chosen to use the Building America process in collaboration with the 

consortia and are quoted in this series of best practices with over a dozen featured in case 

studies. These builders deserve thankful recognition for contributing to the success of the 

Building America Program and the Best Practices Series. 

Building America partners worked diligently on this project to further the cause of efficiency, 

resource conservation, or improved building performance. These groups have voluntarily 

supplied technical materials, review comments, or help in distribution. These contributors 

include Southface Energy Institute; Energy and Environmental Building Association, 

Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program; Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Air 

Conditioning Contractors of America, National Fenestration Rating Council, and National 

Association of Home Builders. National Association of State Universities and Land Grant 

Colleges Extension Service Professors from universities throughout the nation provided 

valuable and in depth contributions. In particular, professors from the following universities 

devoted their time and shared their insights: University of Kentucky, Cornell University, 

University of Florida, University of Louisiana; and the University of Minnesota. 

This project required coordination among the national laboratories. Pacific Northwest 

National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have taken the lead at producing 

this document. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory made its library of Building 

America documents available to the authors, reviewed the document, and has responsibility 

for posting the document to the Web. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

reviewed the document contents. 

Christina Van Vleck lent this project her skill as a graphic artist. She prepared all of the 

original drawings and designed and laid out the overall series of books. 

The authors and DOE offer their gratitude to the many contributors that made this 

project a success. 
Welcome

Taking action in your community 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • INT-1 

This best practices guide is part of a series produced by Building America. The 

guide book is a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energyefficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water 

heating in the marine climate. The savings are in comparison with the 1993 Model 

Energy Code, unless otherwise noted. The guide contains chapters for every member 

of the builder’s team—from the manager to the site planner to the designers, site 

supervisors, the trades, and marketers. There is also a chapter for homeowners on 

how to use the book to provide help in selecting a new home or builder. 

• Homeowners will find how energy-efficient homes package value, comfort, economy, 

durability, and performance. This chapter is a great introduction to energy-efficient 

home technologies and provides helpful checklists of what to look for when 

home shopping. 

• Managers will learn why building energy-efficient homes makes business sense. They will 

find out how much consumers value energy efficiency and the quality that comes with it, 

and how their company can gain market advantage by building energy-efficient homes. 

• Marketers will learn about great resources for selling energy-efficient homes, including 

getting plugged into the ENERGY STAR® nationally recognized branding program. 

• Site Planners will discover the huge impact building orientation, landscaping, and shading 

can have on energy costs, plus learn tips on moisture management and pest control. 

•	 Designers will learn about the systems approach to home design backed up by 

building science. They will get guidance on key building components for designing 

energy-efficient homes. 

•	 Site Supervisors will get guidance on contract specifications, tips on scheduling and 

training, and handy checklists for quality assurance and commissioning inspections. 

•	 Trades will find step-by-step, easy-to-follow illustrated instructions for adding key 

energy efficiency technologies. 

The last chapter has case studies showing real-life examples of builders who are designing 

and constructing energy-efficient houses in the marine climate zone. 

We designed this guidebook to be taken apart, passed around, and updated. Give 

the sections of the book to the right people in your organization. Pass on pieces to 

subcontractors to help them understand your objectives. Copy it as needed. 

This first series of guides helps builders understand and implement the Building 

America process to reach 30% energy savings in space heating and cooling and water 

heating. Future guides will aim at even higher levels of efficiency based on the latest 

Building America research, giving builders the knowledge they need to build even 

more efficient and durable houses. 

The practices in this book are intended for the marine climate zone. Visit 

www.buildingamerica.gov for information on handbooks covering other climate regions. 
Introduction

Marine Climate 

The marine climate covers a narrow band paralleling the west coast from the Canadian border south to the county 

boundary separating Ventura and Los Angeles counties in California. In some stretches, this band is only one county 

deep inland from the Pacific Ocean. The Marine Climate was designated in recognition of the mild temperatures 

and moist conditions found along the coast. Housing is diverse across this narrow swath. Slab, crawlspace, and 

basement foundation systems are all popular. Houses in this climate typically face a heating season of up to 5,000 

heating degree days (HDD) and average outdoor temperatures dropping below 45°Farienheit in winter. And many 

areas have moderate to high rainfall. 

Designers and builders face the challenge of controlling the infiltration of moisture-laden air into the building 

envelope and keeping moisture away from cold surfaces where condensation may degrade structural materials and 

contribute to mold growth. Wall and roof assemblies must accommodate cool moist air along the coast and heavy 

rains in many areas, and should allow for vapor transfer in two directions. 

BUILDING AMERICA CLIMATE REGIONS 

The top map shows the Building America designated climates 

for most of the country. The bottom map highlights just the MARINE CLIMATE 

marine climate. 

Building America Process 

Many builders choose to try out Building America ideas in a 

prototype house. After building one or a few prototypes they 

decide what features they will carry forward into their regular 

construction. This chart shows a process for working with a Home 

Energy Rating System (HERS) rating professional, an engineer, 

or an architect to build this first house and on an ongoing basis. 

The person offering guidance could also be a company designer 

who has become familiar with this document or has taken other 

Building America training. An educated staff will be the best 

means of selecting building science support. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • INT-2 
Introduction

BUILDING SCIENTIST BUILDER ENGINEER / ARCHITECT / HERS RATER 

PHASE #1 

Decision 

PHASE #2 

Pre-Construction 

Analysis 

PHASE #3 

Construction 

PHASE #4 

Post-Construction 

Evaluation 

PHASE #5 

Marketing 

PHASE #6 

Lessons Learned 

Management decides to go 

forward with best practices 

and company submits plan 

to building scientist 

Company evaluates success 

and decides on next steps 

Management tracks 

financial benefits 

Management ensures proper 

materials are purchased 

and available 

Company creates marketing 

program to emphasize 

improvements 

Site Planners integrate lessons 

learned in selection and siting 

of future communities 

Designer evaluates changes 

in style and materials 

Designer adds new features to 

production plans 

Site Supervisors evaluate skills, 

subcontractors and code issues 

Site Supervisors train crews 

and set clear expectations 

Trades professionals implement best practices 

in their installation and construction processes 

Offers design solutions based 

on whole building analysis, 

including materials compatibility 

and durability, and system 

tradeoff modeling 

Communicates design approach 

to supervisors and crew 

Educates builders about building 

science and systems approach 

Determines impact of design 

solutions, including energy savings 

Provides test results and 

data for marketing 

Observes construction practices 

and recommends improvements 

and offers training 

Offers help with upgrading 

production plans and with solar 

and green community design 

Conducts field tests and 

inspections including blower 

door, duct pressure, and HVAC 

system tests 

*Icons correspond with chapters and company capabilities 

Building America welcomes reader feedback on this second volume of the Best Practices Series. Please submit your 

comments via e-mail to: Michael Baechler (michael.baechler@pnl.gov) or Pat Love (lovepm@ornl.gov). You can 

learn more about Building America and download additional copies of this document at www.buildingamerica.gov. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • INT- 
Homeowners 

Shopping for value, comfort, and quality 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM-1 

Comfort. Economy. Durability. Performance. Some homes force you to choose. 

Energy-efficient homes deliver it all. And as a homebuyer, you deserve, and should 

demand, the whole package. 

One way to know you have found an energy-efficient home is to look for the 

ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR has taken much of the guesswork out of 

buying new homes and other products. ENERGY STAR-qualified new homes are 

built to strict energy-efficiency guidelines using proven technologies and construction 

practices. Your builder also may have incorporated other building features that go 

beyond ENERGY STAR criteria for even more energy savings, and for greater 

health and comfort. 

ENERGY STAR features should be included in all houses from lower cost starters 

to high-end customs. This chapter gives you an introduction to the technology that 

makes these houses work, how much they cost, how to pay for them, and a checklist 

of what to look for in new homes. The features described here are specifically designed 

for the marine climate found in the United States. 

You’re in Good Company 

The companies that build ENERGY STAR homes are among the best and largest in 

the nation. Over 2,000 builders work with ENERGY STAR in the United States. 

And about 50% of the largest 100 builders in the nation have at least one division 

building ENERGY STAR 

qualified homes. Thousands 

of small companies also build 

ENERGY STAR homes. And 

many of these companies are 

working with Building America. 

In addition to discussing the 

minimum requirements for 

attaining ENERGY STAR, 

this packet suggests other 

techniques developed within the 

U.S. Department of Energy’s 

Building America program. These 

techniques can help you avoid 

common construction problems 

that occur in the marine climate. 

The recommendations in this 

chapter are based on Building 

America’s building science 

research on over 25,000 homes 

in 34 states encompassing every 

climate region in the nation. 

Building America works with 

QUICK TIPS | HOMEOWNERS 

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label 

for government-endorsed proof that 

a home is energy efficient. 

• Learn why an energy-efficient home 

is usually a higher quality home all 

the way around. 

• Use the enclosed checklist to shop 

for energy-efficient homes. 

• Use the nationally recognized HERS 

rating to know just how efficient the 

homes you are considering really are. 

• Own a home you can be proud of 

—energy-efficient homes are good 

for the environment. 
Homeowners 

the nation’s premier building scientists to conduct research and share knowledge with 

builders to help build better homes. 

If you are looking for energy-saving features in your new home you’re in good 

company. Recent homebuyer surveys have found that energy efficiency is the top 

upgrade that homebuyers choose in new homes (Johnston 2000). And homebuyers in 

Phoenix rated energy efficiency as the number one reason related to the house itself 

that influenced their satisfaction with the builder recognized by Professional Builder 

magazine as having the top customer satisfaction in the nation (2003). This same 

builder won the J.D. Powers and Associates top ranking for customer satisfaction in 12 

of 21 markets in the United States. The winner, Pulte Homes, is a Building America 

Partner that brands its homes using ENERGY STAR. Centex, a Building America 

partner, was rated highest in customer satisfaction in 2005 by J.D. Power in the major 

marine climate markets. 

How Quality Houses Perform 

You don’t want to spend the first several months in your new home fixing construction 

problems. Not long after unlocking a new home’s door for the first time comes the 

reality of keeping the house and its inhabitants happy and comfortable. You’ll save 

time, money, and personal energy when you buy a house that works from the start. 

The building materials and quality that go into an energy-efficient home help to keep 

temperatures even, the air clean, and the house dry, quiet, and draft-free. In a welldesigned home, systems are designed to work together for optimal performance. The 

checklist near the end of this chapter provides details of what to look for in quality 

home construction. Figure 1 provides an overview of features Building America 

recommends to help you avoid problems, while saving time, money, and energy. 

FIGURE 1: Marine Climate Design Features 

All of these features save energy. Read the descriptions at right to see what else they do. 

Marine Design Features 

A. Efficient Windows: help to control 

and reduce ultraviolet light that can 

fade carpets and furniture, helping to 

keep your belongings looking like new 

and keeping window areas cooler and 

more comfortable to sit near. Window 

flashing protects against water leaks. 

B. Compact and Tightly Sealed Duct 

Runs: shorter runs mean less to go 

wrong and fewer air leaks to put air 

where it is intended to go, with fewer 

contaminants like humidity and dust 

from attics or crawlspaces. Leaky 

ducts can be a major contributor 

to mold problems. Return air paths 

ensure balanced air pressure for less 

drafts and more balanced temperatures 

throughout the house. Put ducts in 

conditioned space, if possible. 

C. Right-Sized and High-Efficiency 

HVAC Equipment: costs less to 

install than bigger equipment, saves 

energy, and is designed to comfortably 

handle heating and cooling loads. 

D. Ventilation: exhaust fans remove 

moisture and pollutants. A controlled, 

filtered air intake ensures plenty of 

fresh air. 

E. Sealed Combustion Appliances: 

direct-vented furnaces, boilers, and 

water heaters ensure the removal of 

combustion gases. We recommend 

against non-vented combustion 

appliances such as non-vented 

fireplaces or heaters. 

F. Overhangs: provide shade and 

direct water away from the house. 

Overhangs are not required by 

ENERGY STAR but are a sign of 

thoughtful design and are important 

in the moist marine climate. 

G. Insulation: holds comfortable 

temperatures in conditioned spaces 

and helps control noise. For insulation 

level recommendations visit 

www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/ 

insulation/ins_16.html Insulation levels 

must meet code requirements. 

H. Air Sealing: stops drafts, helps keep 

humidity and garage contaminants out 

of the house, and creates a barrier to 

rodents and insects. 

I. Well-Designed Moisture Barriers 

and Drainage: avoid expensive 

structural damage and help stop 

humidity, mold, and mildew. 

J. Building System: Perhaps the best 

thing about buying a system-designed 

house is that all of the parts are 

designed to work together. This can 

save you money on the purchase 

price, and it also means a durable and 

comfortable system, one that will help 

avoid maintenance and repair costs 

down the road. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM-2 
MONTH

YEAR

Homeowners 

An Energy-Efficient Home Will Cost You Less 

As with any upgrade, precisely how much is paid for an energy-efficiency upgrade will 

depend on many factors. Some builders make energy-efficiency features part of their base 

price, meaning the cost is built into the overall cost of the house. Others will sell you a 

specific upgrade package at a predetermined cost. Depending on how the builder structures 

his costs, the home’s size and design, and the prevailing cost of building materials, the 

additional cost of a system-designed energy-efficient home can vary substantially. 

The good news is you are likely to pay less for an energy-effiicient house on a monthly 

basis, if you consider the cost of energy. Here’s an example showing why: 

FIGURE 2: Monthly Cost Comparison 

TOTAL MONTHLY = $1,334

TOTAL MONTHLY = $1,303

STANDARD HOME ENERGY STAR® HOME

$1,159 $1,168

$175

< MORTGAGE BILLS >

< ENERGY BILLS > $135

$31

$372

SAVINGS

Our example assumes a base price on the house of $200,000, an upgrade cost of $1,500, 

and a 30-year mortgage at 6% interest. We also estimate that monthly energy bills will be 

about $135 after energy savings of about $40 per month in the energy-efficient home. 

Your builder or realtor, or a lender offering energy-efficient mortgages should be able to 

help you work through the savings for your house based on actual features, costs, and 

interest rates. 

Energy-Efficient Mortgages Can Help You Get More for your Money 

Lenders recognize that owning an energy-efficient home makes financial sense and 

they have developed energy-efficient mortgages to encourage consumers to purchase 

these types of homes. The loans work by allowing consumers to borrow more than they 

would typically qualify for. 

All major secondary mortgage organizations, including Fannie Mae, the Federal 

Housing Administration (FHA), the Veterans Administration (VA), and the US 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) offer energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs), though 

they use different criteria to determine the level of financing available. 

“You don’t know the quality 

of life you can experience 

until you’re in one of these 

homes. Our quality of life has 

improved tremendously and 

we’ll realize energy cost savings 

for years to come.” 

John Russo, purchased an ENERGY 

STAR home in 2002, as quoted in the 

Boston Herald, December 6, 2002. 

According to the U.S. 

Environmental Protection 

Agency, which manages the 

ENERGY STAR program with 

the U.S. Department of Energy, 

525,000 new homes have now 

earned the ENERGY STAR 

designation, saving these 

homeowners a total of 

$124 million in energy 

costs every year. 

“If you can save $1,000 a year 

on heating bills – to someone 

who is making a $1million a 

year, this doesn’t mean much. 

But to someone who is making 

$30,000 to $40,000, this is a 

big piece of change.” 

Les Bluestone, owner of Blue Sea 

Development Company in New York 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM- 
Homeowners 

Fannie Mae 

Fannie Mae is the nation’s largest source of mortgage funding. EEMs are available 

both for purchase and refinance in conjunction with most Fannie Mae first mortgage 

products, including conventional fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. The 

guidelines of the selected Fannie Mae mortgage apply, with the EEM allowing for the 

projected energy savings to provide an adjustment to the loan-to-value and qualifying 

ratios that favor the borrower. 

Monthly savings resulting from energy efficiency can be used to qualify borrowers for a 

larger mortgage, so consumers can buy more home in the form of energy efficiency or 

other upgrades. To qualify, the home must have been built to EPA’s ENERGY STAR 

Builder Option Package, or you must obtain a Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) 

report, which provides a rating of the energy efficiency of the home and estimates the 

resulting cost savings using average utility rates and usage data. See What’s the Score? 

below for more information on HERS. Building America recommends that every 

home receive this type of rating. You can learn more about Fannie Mae mortgage 

products at www.fanniemae.com. 

Veterans Administration (VA) 

An EEM may be obtained to make energy efficiency improvements to a home owned 

and occupied by a veteran, while purchasing a new home, or while refinancing an 

existing VA loan and including efficiency improvements. 

The mortgage may be increased by up to $3,000 based solely on the documented costs 

of the energy improvements (personal labor not included), and up to $6,000 total, 

provided the increase in the monthly mortgage payment does not exceed the likely 

reduction in monthly utility costs. It is also possible to receive an EEM of more than 

$6,000 subject to a value determination by VA. For more information visit: 

www.homeloans.va.gov/veteran.htm. 

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 

Consumers using Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan insurance should 

consider FHA’s Energy Mortgage Program. This program helps borrowers to 

include energy-efficiency features in their home by stretching the size of the 

loan they may qualify for without increasing their down payment. An energyefficient mortgage is one of many FHA programs that insure mortgage loans. FHA 

encourages lenders to make mortgage credit available to borrowers who would not 

otherwise qualify for conventional loans on affordable terms (such as first-time 

homebuyers) and to residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods (where mortgages 

may be hard to get). To learn more about FHA programs visit the Web site at 

www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

In June 2006, the USDA announced that it would offer special eligibility 

considerations for low- and moderate-income loan applicants who purchase 

energy-efficient homes in rural areas. This nationwide pilot program, called Home 

Energy Advantage, will operate for 18 months as part of the USDA’s existing Rural 

Development Section 502 homeownership loan program. 

“We wanted to prove that you 

could do it [energy efficiency] 

with a house of this magnitude. 

It was a thrill to see just how 

much energy efficiency was 

possible.” 

Michelle Horstemeyer, the lead 

builder from John Wieland Homes 

who teamed with Building America 

to achieve 50% energy savings on 

the 6,431-sq. ft., $1.3 million New 

American Home in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM- 
Homeowners 

Under the program, the qualifying ratios used to determine ability to repay a home 

loan may be exceeded by up to two percentage points when an energy-efficient home 

is purchased. Loans can be made for up to 100 percent of the appraised value of the 

property. Existing homes that are retrofitted to meet energy-efficiency standards are also 

eligible for consideration. Read more about the Home Energy Advantage Program at: 

www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2006/06/0191.xml. 

Some builders are working with lenders to offer special mortgage terms, such as lower 

interest rates, to help buyers of energy-efficient homes. Ask your builder if they have 

any special programs. 

• ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes – 

www.energystar/index.cfm?c=new_home.hm_index

• Fannie Mae – www.fanniemae.com 

• Federal Housing Administration (FHA) – 

www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm

• Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) – www.natresnet.org 

• US Department of Agriculture (USDA) – www.rurdev.usda.gov 

• Veterans Administration (VA) – www.homeloans.va.gov/veteran.htm 

FIGURE 3: HERS Index 

What’s the Score? 

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is a nationally recognized method of 

evaluating a home’s energy performance. Rating professionals are people trained 

in evaluating houses and accredited by the Residential Energy Services Network, 

found on the Web at www.natresnet.org. 

Even if homes are not participating in labeling programs like ENERGY STAR, 

the HERS Index can be used to gauge energy efficiency. See the Designers 

section for more information on HERS. 

California utilities offer several programs that can help builders meet 

ENERGY STAR standards. Some programs include financial incentives. 

Contact your local utility for more information. Links to utilities can be 

found at www.fypower.org/about/index.html. Information on the Northwest 

ENERGY STAR program for Oregon and Washington can be found at 

www.northwestenergystar.com/index.php?cID=125. 

After July 2006, HERS scores will 

be reported on an Index from 0 

to 100. Zero represents a house 

that produces as much energy 

as it consumes annually. 100 

represents a reference home that 

meets the minimum requirements 

of the 2006 International Energy 

Conservation Code. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM-5 
Homeowners 

Guaranteed Energy Costs and Comfort 

Some builders go even further than doing a great job of constructing an energyefficient home. Some guarantee it. Builders who guarantee their homes are willing to 

tell buyers how much energy the home should use, and they guarantee these levels will 

not be exceeded. These guarantees are backed up with payments if limits are exceeded. 

Builders can work with insulation companies or other partners to offer guarantees or 

caps on their home’s energy costs, or they may develop their own programs. Some 

cover room comfort by guaranteeing that the temperature at the thermostat will not 

vary by more than 3 degrees at the center of any room served by that thermostat. A 

Building America team helped to develop these programs. Information on three of 

these programs can be found at: 

• Environments for Living – www.eflhome.com/index.jsp 

• Engineered for Life – www.us-gf.com/engineered.asp 

• The Energy Use and Comfort Guarantee –

www.artistichomessw.com/guarantee.htm

And There’s More – More Green for You and More Green for the Planet 

Where else can you find an investment that delivers monthly dividends, makes 

you more comfortable and your house more durable, comes with its own financing 

incentives, and may even have guaranteed energy performance? ENERGY STAR 

homes give you all this, plus they are good for the environment. Just one ENERGY 

STAR qualified new home can keep 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gases out of our 

air each year. 

Last year, thanks to programs like ENERGY STAR and other energy efficiency 

measures, Americans cut their energy bills by more than $7 billion, along with saving 

enough energy to power 15 million homes. The greenhouse gas emissions saved by 

these steps was the equivalent of taking 14 million cars off our country’s roads. Visit the 

ENERGY STAR Web site at www.energystar.gov to learn more about how ENERGY 

STAR is helping the environment. 

What to Look For 

Take the Homebuyer’s Checklist at the end of this chapter with you when you’re 

shopping for a new home. Ask your builder or salesperson to help you consider each 

item. For a more detailed checklist, go to Appendix I. You may want to ask to see 

houses under construction to see how some measures are installed. The builder or 

realtor may have models and displays to help you see other features and ask to see the 

home’s owners manual. Not all builders have owners manuals, but they should. Not 

all of the measures on the checklist will apply to every home (for example, homes don’t 

typically have more than one kind of heating system). Check the features that are most 

important to you. We’ve left some blank spaces at the end of the checklist in Appendix I 

so you can fill in features that you want to remember to check that may or may not be 

energy related. 

Building America helped 

Veridian Homes of Wisconsin 

to design a prototype home 

packed with innovative features 

and designed as a system. 

“We actually incorporated all 

those ideas into every house 

that we build. That is now our 

standard,” said Jeff Simon, 

Veridian’s executive vice 

president of operations. 

Just one ENERGY STAR 

qualified new home can keep 

4,500 pounds of greenhouse 

gases out of our air each year. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM-6 
Homeowners 

If You’re Building a Custom Home 

A great advantage to building a custom home, or ordering your home before it is built, 

is that you can work with your builder or designer to get the features you want. Give 

your builder or designer this Best Practices Guide. It contains everything they need to 

design and build a durable and comfortable energy-efficient home. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power and Associates 2004 New Home 

Customer Satisfaction Study. West Lake Village, California. 2004. 

• Johnston, David. 2000. “Buyer Green.” Professional Builder, September 2000. 

www.housingzone.com 

• Professional Builder. “Customer Service Standard Setters.” September 2003. 

www.housingzone.com 

Web Sites Not Included with Published Documents Above 

• www.artistichomessw.com/guarantee.htm 

• www.buildingamerica.gov 

• www.buildiq.com 

• www.energystar.gov 

• www.housingzone.com/topics/pb/green/survey/buyer.asp# 

• www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm 

• www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/?appliances.html 

• www.eflhome.com/index.jsp 

• www.fanniemae.com 

• www.fypower.org/about/index.html 

• www.northwestenergystar.com/index.php?cID=125 

• www.natresnet.org 

• www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_16.html 

• www.us-gf.com/engineered.asp 

You can learn more 

about Building America 

and download additional 

copies of this document at 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM- 
Homeowners 

Homebuyer’s Checklist for the Marine Climate 

Use the following checklist to compare house features in different homes you visit. 

A more detailed checklist is available in Appendix I. 

MEASURE Building America 

Recommendations 

Builder 

#1 

Builder 

#2 

Builder 

#3 

BUILDER SERVICES AND RATINGS 

ENERGY STAR Rated 

HERS Index 

Energy Performance Guarantee 

Energy Efficient Mortgage 

Provides Owners Manual 

Yes 

Yes 

Good Idea 

Good Idea 

Yes 

If you can answer yes to the above questions you will have a good energy performing home. 

The HERS Index can be used for comparing homes and to qualify for local programs and 

ENERGY STAR. 

VENTILATION 

Controlled fresh air provided in the house Yes 

Quiet exhaust vents in bathrooms Yes 

Quiet exhaust (not recirculating) 

vents in the kitchen 

Yes 

Supply and return air vents or paths 

in bedrooms 

Yes 

WINDOWS 

Windows flashed to help repel water* Yes 

ENERGY STAR windows Yes 

COMBUSTION APPLIANCES 

Combustion appliance exhausts vented 

to the outside (except ovens) 

Yes 

Hardwired carbon monoxide monitors 

included for every 1000 square feet of 

living space if combustion appliances 

or an attached garage are present 

Yes 

MORE TO LOOK FOR TO ENHANCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures Good Idea 

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator Good Idea 

ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher Good Idea 

ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer Good Idea 

*Flashing is also important for doors and other openings—and for the roof. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • HOM- 
Managers

Putting building science to work for your bottom line 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • MNG-1 

This document tells company leaders how to use proven technologies and a successful 

marketing program to gain competitive market advantage and improve your 

company’s economic and product performance. A more efficient home can mean 

a faster return on your investment 

An Invitation to Building Company Managers 

We invite you to use the information 

in this packet to lead your company to 

increased profits and greater customer 

satisfaction. Building America is a U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE) program 

that has sponsored building science 

research on 30,000 homes nationwide. 

These technologies and the Building 

America systems approach can set your 

company apart, giving you a considerable 

competitive advantage in how you design, 

build, and sell homes. 

Building America 

Building America works with the nation’s premier building scientists to conduct 

research and bring knowledge to builders to help them build better homes. This 

knowledge has been gained from private/public partnerships involving builders all 

over the country working with DOE. Many builders have adopted the program’s 

principles and improved the performance of their houses and companies. Over 250 

builders and venders have partnered with Building America, including five of the 

largest 10 builders in the nation. This best practices guide contains results from this 

research in a form that your company can immediately build into your homes to 

increase efficiency, comfort, and durability. Learn more about Building America 

at www.buildingamerica.gov. 

QUICK TIPS | MANAGERS 

• Some of the most successful builders in the industry are working with 

Building America. 

• Applying the Building America process can: cut your production costs, 

reduce risks, improve your bottom line, help make you a market leader, and 

turn your customers into lead generators. 

• This document gets you and your company started. 

• ENERGY STAR® can help you market your new and improved product. 

“There are strong environmental 

and societal reasons for building 

energy-efficient homes. Strong, 

sustainable building practices help 

a builder differentiate themselves in a 

competititve marketplace, while still 

keeping focused on the bottom line.” 

Jeff Jacobs Project Manager, Centex, 

Northern California division 
Managers

FIGURE 1: A small sampling of Building America’s 250 partners 

Building America Partner 

Pulte Homes 

Ranking among Top 100 Builders 

2 

Centex Corp 4 

Beazer Homes USA 6 

The Ryland Group 7 

K Hovnanian 9 

Shea Homes 13 

Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company 

Habitat for Humanity International 

16 

17 

Source: Builder ONLINE, 2005 

The Business Case for Building Science and Energy Efficiency 

Why are all these builders working with Building America? The answer is simple – 

Working with Building America can enhance your company’s bottom line. The Building 

America process and systems approach embraces building science, component technology 

and the system approach for house design and construction. The benefits include: 

• Cost savings from making the best materials and equipment choices 

• Reduced risks, increased productivity, and fewer callbacks 

• Additional profits on energy efficiency and other upgrades 

• Competitive advantage in the marketplace 

• Customer satisfaction and referrals. 

More information on each of these points is presented below. But boosting the bottom 

line isn’t the only reason builders build quality, efficient homes. Builders tell us it boosts 

their pride in their craft, increases the morale of their workforce, and gives them a good 

feeling at the end of the day, knowing they’re doing their part to help the environment. 

Properly Choosing Materials and Equipment 

Building science offers many tools to help you pick out the right materials and size 

them correctly, and to help make sure you are using them to build the right product. 

Explanations and suggestions on building systems, designs, and trade-offs are in the 

Designers 

what you are currently spending. The idea is to use the materials best suited to the job 

chapter of this document. The costs of some measures can be more than 

and to size equipment accordingly. Higher prices in one area can be at least partially 

offset with savings in other areas. Costs for all building materials can vary tremendously 

in their own right, but your level of experience and design choices have a large bearing. 

For comparison, some builders find they experience no overall increase in materials 

costs to offer an energy-efficient package, but others suggest added costs of up to $1,500 

per home. In the Designers 

resulted in about $550 in savings for the design used by a Building America partner in the 

chapter, we show one example of costs and savings that 

mixed-humid climate. Read on to find out how this investment can add to your bottom line. 

“With California’s energy 

code, everyone here is already 

building a good house. With 

a few simple changes you can 

build a great house.” 

Jeff Jacobs, Project Manager, 


Centex, Northern California 


division


“It’s not hard and it’s not 

expensive. You just need to 

make sure it’s done right. The 

cost is not a big issue. It just 

takes a little more work. It 

takes a little more attention. 

You’ve got to allow the time for 

testing and inspection.” 

Santos Alvarez, Vice-President of 

Operations, SummerHill Homes 

“Higher energy efficiency has 

not been difficult to achieve; 

better windows, higher 

efficiency furnaces, ENERGY 

STAR appliances and light 

fixtures are all available.” 

Boyd Lucas, Equity Residential, 

executive development manager 

for the Ft Lewis project 

“For us it’s no more difficult to 

build energy efficiently than 

our standard construction 

process. There was a learning 

curve, but now it’s just part 

of our normal production 

process.” 

Steve Matus, Champion Silverton’s 

quality control manager 

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Managers

Reduced Risks, Increased Productivity, and Fewer Callbacks 

These benefits follow closely from selecting and properly using the right materials and 

equipment. Making a change in your process may take extra time the first few times 

you try it, but once established, the payoffs can be significant. 

One of the great values of using Building America approaches is that they were 

designed to solve construction problems, such as moisture degradation and mold 

growth, that plague builders. More than 10,000 mold cases are now pending 

nationwide, with an increase in cases of more than 300% since 1999 (Insurance 

Information Institute as reported in Wood and Clift, 2003). 

Applying building science reduces the risk of big problems and helps to eliminate the 

more mundane defects that cost money to fix. If you reduce the time your crews are 

working on callbacks, you increase the time they can be working on new product. 

From an Economic Standpoint, Everyone Wins 

As a manager, watching your profit margins is a full-time job. The structure of your 

business and emphasis you place on consistency determines how much profit you get 

from options packages. Some builders choose to incorporate energy efficiency and 

health and comfort options into their base price; others include them as options with 

a profit margin similar to other premium add-ons. Whichever approach you use, 

the experience of other builders suggest that customers place great value on energy 

efficiency and will pay to get it. 

Profit margins vary substantially from company to company. A National Association 

of Homebuilders report (1999) and Professional Builder magazine (2003) suggest a net 

profit margin of about 10% on overall house construction. This number is consistent 

with publicly traded homebuilding companies. Six companies’ annual financial reports 

to the Securities Exchange Commission over 2001 and 2002 reported net profit 

margins ranging from 4.2% to 9.6%. Gross profit margins over this same time period 

ranged from 7.4% to 19.2%. In comparison, builders report they have gained about a 

30% profit margin on efficiency upgrade packages. 

In the Homeowners chapter, we offer an example showing how energy-efficient homes 

end up costing less for consumers on a monthly basis when both the mortgage and energy 

expenses are taken into account. Consumers can either pocket these lower costs or use 

them to buy a more expensive home. Any upgrades translate into added profit. 

In short, builders can increase their profits at the same time that consumers lower 

their costs. From an economic standpoint, everybody wins. 

Customer Satisfaction and Referrals 

Customer satisfaction matters to your company’s future and energy efficiency matters 

to your customers. Centex and Pulte are two builders dominating J.D. Power 2005 

customer satisfaction ratings in 30 markets nationwide. Both builders work with 

Building America teams. Pulte received the highest ratings in 16 markets and Centex 

won in 10. Centex won in all three major markets defined by J.D. Power in the Marine 

“The American public has 

proven over and over that they 

are willing to pay more for value. 

The message they need to hear is 

‘You pay more but you get more.’” 

Jeff Jacobs, Project Manager, 

Centex, Northern California division 

“We decided building energy 

efficiently was the right thing 

to do... Every development we 

build is energy efficient. We 

typically exceed California’s 

energy code by 18% to 22%.” 

Santos Alvarez, Vice-President of 


Operations, SummerHill Homes


“Building America’s technical 

assistance on building science 

helped us to reduce callbacks by 

70% in our Chicago Division. 

That’s a tremendous savings for 

our campany and means our 

customers are happier with 

their homes.” 

Frank Beasley, V.P. of Building 

Science, Town and Country Homes 

“There are 4000 units on post, 

we own them, we pay the utility 

bill. So energy efficiency is to 

our benefit.” 

Boyd Lucas, Equity Residential, 

executive development manager 

for the Ft Lewis project. In this 

Army development at Ft. Lewis in 

Washington, the developer has long 

term responsibility for utility bills. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Managers

climate – Seattle/Tacoma, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Centex was 

among the highest rated builders in the Ventura County/Los Angeles market. Pulte 

and Centex are Building America Partners that brand their homes using ENERGY STAR. 

J.D. Power found that truly delighted home buyers (those rating their builders a 10 on a 

10-point scale) recommend their builder to nearly twice as many people compared to the 

average new-home buyer (J.D. Power 2005). 

Consumers Expect More 

Buyers want energy efficiency and they are willing 

to pay for it. A 2001 Professional Builder Magazine 

survey found that energy efficiency is the number 

one upgrade that homebuyers seek in a new home. 

Nearly 90% of new homebuyers in the survey 

were willing to spend more for energy efficiency 

features (Johnston 2001). Consistent with this 

study, the National Association of Homebuilders 

(NAHB) found that consumers would be willing 

to spend up to $5000 more on a new home if it 

saved them $1000 on their annual utility bills 

(NAHB 2002). And Pulte’s customers in Phoenix 

rated energy efficiency as the most important 

product-related reason for referring 

their contractor to new buyers. 

Centex, a Building America 

partner, was rated highest in 

customer satisfaction in 2005 by 

J.D. Power in the major marine 

climate markets. 

Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace 

One of your key goals as a manager is to gain competitive advantage in the marketplace. 

The technologies described in this packet can give your company a technological edge. 

One easy way to tell the public about your new product is to partner with ENERGY 

STAR. ENERGY STAR is a nationally recognized branding program sponsored by 

the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Consumers trust the ENERGY STAR logo to tell them whether their product is energy 

efficient. Participating in ENERGY STAR is easy and it gives you an effective way to 

distinguish your product from your competition’s. Over 3,000 builders partner with 

ENERGY STAR in the United States. And half of the 100 largest builders in the 

nation have at least one division building ENERGY STAR qualified homes. 

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to be substantially more 

energy efficient homes built to 2004 International Energy Conservation code. These 

savings are consistent with the practices described in this best practices manual. Go 

to www.energystar.gov for more information and to see new guidelines for ENERGY 

STAR qualified homes built in California. Information on Pacific Northwest homes 

can be found at www.northwestenergystar.com. 

The September 2003 issue of 

Professional Builder provides 

six top reasons why customers 

are willing to recommend a 

builder. Energy efficiency 

is first among the reasons 

related to product. 

“Nearly 93% 

of buyers of Pulte Homes in 

Phoenix had made at least one 

positive recommendation.” 

Professional Builder Magazine, 


September 2003, p. 67


“Our attention to energy 

efficiency is what really makes 

Pulte’s homes stand out.” 

Les Woody, Pulte Phoenix 


Director of Customer Service


“Building America helps us 

with our reputation within 

the building community. Our 

reputation on the street is that 

if you want a good quality 

home you go to Pulte.” 

Alan Kennedy, Vice President of 

Construction for Pulte Tucson 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • MNG- 
Managers

Take the Next Step 

This information packet is designed to give your company all the information you 

need to start using the Building America systems approach in the marine climate. The 

techniques described will help you avoid many of the problems plaguing all builders in 

the marine climate. 

chapter will give 

you the technical information you need to build your business. Find more information 

on ENERGY STAR in the Marketers 

Make sure your team reviews the sections prepared for each of your company’s capability 

areas: marketing, site planning, design, building site supervision, and the trades. This 

information will help your company compete in an increasingly complex and risky 

market. Following the design practices discussed in the Designers chapter and 

the inspection and testing procedures outlined in the Site Supervisors 

chapter and on the Web at www.energystar.gov. 

Case Studies 

Take a look at the case studies at the end of the book. All offer examples of how 

builders achieve profitable energy efficiency in the marine climate. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Builder Magazine. Healthier Profits Special Advertising Section. November 2003 

• Builder ONLINE, 2005. Builder 100 Listing. www.builderonline.com 

• J.D. Power and Associates. 2005. 2005 New-Home Builder Customer 

Satisfaction Study. www.jdpa.com

• J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power and Associates 2003 New Home 

Customer Satisfaction Study. West Lake Village, California. 2003. 

• Johnston, David. 2000. “Buyer Green.” Professional Builder, September 2000. 

www.housingzone.com 

• National Association of Home Builders. The Truth About Regulatory Barriers. 

Washington, D.C. 1999. 

• National Association of Home Builders. 2002. What 21st Century Home Buyers 

Want. NAHB, Washington, D.C. 

• Professional Builder. “Where are the Giants Headed? Industry Consolidation 

is Changing the Way Even the Smallest Production Builders Do Business, but 

How Far it Will Go is Still Open to Debate.” April 2003. www.housingzone.com 

• Professional Builder. “Customer Service Standard Setters.” September 2003. 

www.housingzone.com 

• Wood, C., and L. Clift. “Seven Wonders of the Construction World.” 

ProSales. October 2003, pp. 28-44. 

Web Sites Not Included with Published Documents Above 

• www.energystar.gov 

• California Energy Commission has a series of brief online videos that describe 

why energy efficient building makes business sense. You can find and play the 

videos at www.energyvideos.com; click on “Beyond the Codes”. 

• www.northwestenergystar.com 

“You want buyers to be happy 

about their house 5 or 6 years 

from now. You want buyers 

who will say ‘I talked to my 

friends who bought a house 

from a different builder and 

they don’t have everything I do 

with this house.’” 

Jeff Jacobs, Project Manager, 

Centex, Northern California division 

You can learn more 

about Building America 

and download additional 

copies of this document at 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • MNG-5 
Marketers

Energy Efficiency Delivers the Value that Customers Demand 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • MKT-1 

By selling homes you bind your company to its customers. Your work enables the 

company to capitalize on the benefits of its investments, including those made 

in energy efficiency. And you are the ones who help homeowners understand the 

quality, value, and economy represented by your product. 

ENERGY STAR® Qualified Homes: Telling Your Story 

An easy way to sell energy-efficient homes is to become an ENERGY STAR partner. 

Even if you build or sell great houses, ENERGY STAR makes it easier for your 

customers to know how much efficiency they are getting with tools that help you to 

tell your story. The ENERGY STAR is a recognized logo that signals consumers you 

are selling a superior product. And the ENERGY STAR program offers much in the 

way of advice and examples of how to use the logo. Differentiate yourself by offering 

a home that is certified to be more efficient—and better for the environment—than 

standard models. 

To find out more about marketing with the 

ENERGY STAR logo visit the program’s 

Web site at www.energystar.gov. You’ll find 

information about before-sales marketing, 

point-of-sale techniques, and building 

ongoing relationships with your customers. 

Much of the information comes from 

successful techniques used to sell ENERGY 

STAR homes across the nation. Tools on 

the Web site will help you instantly craft 

your message and prepare sales materials. 

ENERGY STAR offers a marketing platform 

that home builders can use to recognize that 

you offer truly energy efficient homes. 

QUICK TIPS | MARKETERS 

• Energy efficiency, and the performance that comes with it, gives you a 

competitive advantage. 

• ENERGY STAR can help you capitalize on your competitive advantage, 

produce marketing materials, and connect with buyers. 

• Your customers see energy efficiency as a sign of value. 

• Some of the biggest builders in the country have learned that energy 

efficiency can turn existing customers into new sales leads through 

customer satisfaction. 

• Learn how industry leaders sell new energy-efficient homes. 
Marketers

Increase Customer Satisfaction and Let Your Customers Sell Your Product 

Wouldn’t it be great if, for every home you sold, you could add a new sales associate 

to your staff to sell even more? 

That’s what energy efficiency can do for you. Happy customers will sell your products 

for you. And energy-efficient homes make happy customers. Compared to standard 

homes, energy-efficient homes cost less to own, are more comfortable to live in, and 

require less maintenance. 

The builder with the top customer satisfaction rating in the nation in 2003, Pulte 

Homes of Phoenix, is a Building America partner offering ENERGY STAR qualified 

homes. Pulte’s Phoenix division has had one or more positive referrals from 93% of its 

homebuyers. The conversion rate for shoppers referred in this way is twice that of 

non-referred shoppers. Homeowners talk, and word of mouth is a powerful selling 

tool. Some experts, in fact, say word-of-mouth is the most effective selling tool because 

Centex uses this display developed by ComfortWise to 

show some of the benefits of energy efficient windows. 

ComfortWise is a home labeling program created by 

ConSol, a firm that leads a Building America team. 

it carries with it the credibility of a 

trusted third party, such as a friend 

or relative. Add to that the fact that 

many potential buyers are skeptical 

of traditional advertising, and it’s 

no surprise that 10% to 30%, and 

sometimes more, of builders’ sales 

come from referrals (Farnsworth 

2003). The best way to sell homes is 

to let your customers do it for you. 

See the Managers chapter for 

information on the great customer 

satisfaction ratings received by builders 

selling ENERGY STAR homes. 

Sell the Value that Home Buyers Expect 

Market research shows: 

• J.D. Power found that truly delighted home buyers (those rating their builders 

a 10 on a 10-point scale) recommend their builder to nearly twice as many 

people compared to the average new-home buyer (J.D. Power 2005). 

• Energy efficiency is the number one upgrade sought by homebuyers of new 

homes (Professional Builder Magazine 2001). 

• Nearly 90% of new homebuyers are willing to spend more for energy 

efficiency (Johnston 2000 and NAHB 2002). 

• Buyers rate energy efficiency as a home builder’s most important productrelated reason for referring new customers (Professional Builder Magazine 2003). 

How Industry Leaders Sell Energy-Efficient Homes 

The NAHB Research Center sponsors an annual award competition called the 

Energy Value Housing Award. The Center has compiled the winning builder’s 

At Centex’s Torello project, 

houses are nearly sold out and 

all are rated as ENERGY STAR. 

“We need to educate the buyer. If 

you have a builder out there who 

starts including photovoltaics, or 

tankless water heaters, or super 

efficient furnaces and you don’t 

distinguish it, pretty soon you 

are just giving it away.” 

Jeff Jacobs, Project Manager, 

Centex, Northern California division 

“The sales associates love 

it (our energy efficient 

construction); they look 

forward to selling it and to 

telling home owners about it.” 

Santos Alvarez, Vice-President of 

Operations, SummerHill Homes 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Marketers

marketing techniques into a document that can be purchased on the Web at 

www.nahbrc.org/tertiaryR.asp?CategoryID=1705&DocumentID=3404 (Sikora 2002). 

Here are some of the best practices recommended by the NAHB Research Center and 

other sources: 

• Educate customers and sales professionals. Show buyers how living in 

an energy-efficient home will benefit them with lower household costs. 

The ENERGY STAR Web site has an example as does the Homeowners 

chapter. Vital to customer education is an informed sales staff and team of 

local sales professionals. 

• Walk-throughs and model homes can be invaluable educational tools for 

both buyers and sales staff. Model homes with display cutaways of energy 

features such as insulated attics and wall sections help them understand the 

energy-efficient construction process. Use labels, flags, and banners to create 

a fun self-explanatory message to give buyers a focus while they drive or 

walk the development. Recent research suggests just how important model 

home, models of house features, and other educational tools are to shoppers 

(Farnsworth 2003). 

• Training sessions can be an effective tool for educating sales staff and 

professionals. Use slides, sample products, and energy bills as aids. 

• One way to educate consumers is to emphasize an energy-efficiency upgrade 

when signing the final papers. One builder has a wall of testimonials, photos, 

and utility billing history in his waiting room. All prospects are given an 

opportunity to view this “wall of fame” before the final sale is made. Another 

builder has the buyer meet with the building site supervisor after the sale is 

made. This person gives them one more chance to sign up noting, from a 

builders’ perspective, what a better house they will get (Rashkin 2002). 

• Publications are an educational tool that customers and sales professionals can 

take home. Develop your own brochures or books or give away reprints of 

magazine articles, ENERGY STAR brochures, or Building America brochures. 

Don’t overlook vendors and trade associations. They can provide excellent 

materials, often at no charge. For example, excellent information on window 

performance is available at the Efficient 

Windows Collaborative Web site at 

www.efficientwindows.org/index.cfm. 

Also, give potential buyers a checklist 

so they can compare the energy saving 

measures in your homes with those of 

other builders. A sample is included 

in the Homeowners chapter. 

• Advertising can be used to explain the energy-efficiency advantages and 

distinguish builders from their competition. The ENERGY STAR Web site 

has useful information for designing advertising. 

• The Internet and compact disk formats are another forum for presenting all 

of your education and advertising messages. Some marketers suggest that all 

builders should have a Web site, even if it is simple and offers only limited 

information. CDs with brochures or slide shows can be given to potential 

buyers to take home and replay your message. 

Marketing tools for ENERGY 

STAR Houses can be customized 

at www.energystar.gov. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Marketers

• Seek out free publicity. Nothing is more cost effective than sending a news 

release to local media to announce business news and other company activities. 

News releases can cover your company’s involvement in educational activities, 

for example, teaching school children about energy efficiency or other 

charitable actions. 

• Offer energy-efficiency guarantees. Energy performance guarantees can 

help convince buyers that energy savings are real. Partnerships with outside 

companies can help to establish guarantees. For example, some insulation 

manufacturers offer home inspections, tests, and cost guarantees. 

• Make buyers aware of energy-efficient mortgages. 

• Take advantage of the testing data available on your homes. If your company 

follows the best practices in this guide, you will have blower door and duct 

tightness test data and a HERS score to share with buyers. Use these data to 

inform your customers and differentiate your houses. If you can not provide 

testing, make it available as an option for homebuyer’s purchase. 

Participate in ENERGY STAR and other partnerships. ENERGY STAR and Building 

America can provide technical guidance through publications and their Web sites. 

Partnering with ENERGY STAR cements your company’s commitment to energy 

efficiency and gives you access to the ENERGY STAR brand. 

Sources and Additional Information 

• Farnsworth, Christina. 2003. “The Weakest Link.” Builder Magazine, 

December 2003. www.builderonline.com/article-builder.asp?channelid=55&ar 

ticleid=375&qu=consumer+survey 

• Johnston, David. 2000. “Buyer Green.” Professional Builder, September 2000. 

www.housingzone.com 

• Professional Builder. “Customer Service Standard Setters.” September 2003. 

www.housingzone.com 

• National Association of Home Builders. 2002. What 21st Century Home Buyers 

Want. NAHB, Washington, D.C. 

• Rashkin, Sam. 2002. “Surprise! Energy Efficiency Sells without Rebates: 

Results of Mainstream Builders Selling ENERGY STAR Labeled Homes” 

Proceedings of the 2002 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 

Washington D.C. 

• Sikora, Jeannie. 2002. Energy Value Housing Award Guide: How to Build and 

Profit with Energy Efficiency in New Home Construction. National Association 

of Home Builders Research Center, Upper Marlboro, MD. 

“Branding, a logo, and good 

collateral materials help us 

explain energy efficiency and 

take credit for the sustainable 

features that we incorporate 

in our homes; this really helps 

the sellers and the consumers 

understand the products.” 

Jeff Jacobs, Project Manager, 

Centex, Northern California division 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • MKT- 
Site Planners 

Properly situated homes pay big dividends 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • PLN-1 

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates that 1.6 million new 

homes will be built each year over the next decade (NAHB 2002a). How these new 

developments are designed will have a major impact on energy use, the environment, 

and customer satisfaction. 

Developers and site planners can set the stage for efficient communities and can 

direct builders to protect a community’s value through quality building practices. 

The sun is the main source of heat in all homes. By looking at how houses receive 

sunlight, site planners can help optimize how much solar energy is available to heat 

a house, and minimize the heat that must be removed with air conditioning. 

Hotter and dryer portions of the marine climate in the south may be dominated 

by cooling rather than heating. Avoiding summer cooling is more important than 

encouraging solar gains for winter heating. Planners should do all they can to avoid 

the entry of solar energy into houses in summer. Site planners have two important 

tools to help avoid solar heat gain: lot orientation and, in some areas, shade trees. 

Lot Orientation 

As planners map out lots and roads, the relationship between buildings and the sun 

should be key. Just as you lay out roads to allow houses to take advantage of great 

views, or to work around hillsides and other landscape features, also consider how 

road design, lot lines, and orientation will influence the way that houses face the sun. 

Lot lines and roads should be situated to minimize home exposure to east and west. 

These orientations provide the greatest solar heat gains. Plan your subdivision so that 

the longer sides of the houses will face north or south. Streets should be positioned in 

an east-west direction. Proper orientation can result in substantial savings of heating 

and cooling costs, depending on specific site conditions and house designs. Highly 

efficient houses, especially when good windows are used, are less dependent on 

orientation and shading to manage solar gain. With proper planning, there may be no 

added costs to the builder for good orientation. 

QUICK TIPS | SITE PLANNERS 

• Lots facing north or south are preferred to manage heat gain from the sun, 

so position streets to run east and west. 

• Preserve trees for shade and cooler air. 

• Take advantage of prevailing breezes from lakes, the ocean, or other 

geographical features. 

• Properly grade your development to take water away from structures. 

• Use sustainable site and landscaping practices. 
N

Site Planners

Shading is not nearly as important when windows with a low solar heat gain coefficient 

(i.e., SHGC of 0.35 or less) are used. Using a low-solar-gain low-E coating results in 

great energy cost reductions for all conditions even with no shading. This is because the 

glazing itself provides substantial control of solar radiation, so these additional measures 

become less important in terms of energy use. However, a low SHGC blocks solar heat 

gain. In places where heat is needed in the winter, solar heat gain can save energy. For 

a description of the interactions between window performance and shading, see the 

Efficient Windows Collaborative Web site at: www.efficientwindows.org. 

FIGURE 1: Plan subdivision lot lines and roads for predominantly north and 

south orientation - place houses within lots to take advantage of solar access 

N 

N 

Subdivision with Predominantly 

North- and South-Facing Sites 

Typical Subdivision 

Adapted from Viera et al. 1992. p.3-5 

Lot orientation is especially important if solar heating or electric generation systems are 

planned. Inexpensive tools can help assess how much solar energy will be blocked by 

obstacles on a particular site. Low-cost tools for solar assessments are described in the 

Designers chapter in the section about windows. 

Lot orientation provides access to the sun, but window selection and shading are the 

controls that manage solar gain. A small Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) limits 

the entry of solar energy. Some Building America teams recommend a SHGC of 0.35. 

(See the Designers chapter in the section about windows). 

In addition to helping manage the sun and providing a marketing advantage, proper 

street design can reduce the environmental impacts of runoff, encourage walking and 

bicycling, and discourage speeding by through-traffic. 

Subdivision planning can also help to gain cooling benefits from breezes. Houses and 

other buildings that are tightly packed may create a wake in the wind that is four to five 

times the buildings’ eave height. 

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Site Planners 

Shade Trees 

Tree preservation brings many benefits, one of which is increased salability. Native trees 

are most beneficial to the environment. The NAHB reports in its survey of buyers, 

What 21st Century Homes Buyers Want, that over 80% of respondents in the West 

rated trees as essential or desirable (2002b, page 61). In 1992, the Florida Solar Energy 

Center (FSEC) estimated that a treed lot in Florida may increase the value of a home 

by as much as 20%. American Forests and the NAHB (1995) found that mature trees 

may add from $3,000 to $15,000 to the value of a residential lot. 

Trees also bring value by providing shade. It is far better to prevent solar energy from 

reaching a house than to attempt to manage it once it enters. Shade trees block summer 

sunlight before it strikes windows, walls, and roofs, dissipating absorbed heat to the air 

where it can be carried away by the breeze. If photovoltaic or water heating systems will 

be added, trees must be placed not to shade these systems. 

Truly cool neighborhoods have trees. A study in Florida has shown that a subdivision 

with mature trees had cooler outside air with less wind velocity than a nearby 

development without trees (Sonne and Viera. 2000). The development with a tree 

canopy had peak afternoon temperatures during July that were 1.1oF to 3.1oF ( ± 

0.7oF) cooler than the site without trees. The total effect of shading, lower summer 

air temperature, and reduced wind speed can reduce cooling costs by 5% to 10% 

(McPherson et al. 1994). 

Trees are most effective when located to cast shade on the roof, windows, walls, and 

air conditioners, and when located on the side of the home receiving the most solar 

exposure. Shade to the southwest and west is especially important for blocking peak 

solar gain in the summer in late afternoon. Depending on the species, trees more than 

35 feet from the structure are probably too far away for shade. Plants too close to air 

conditioners or heat pumps can plug coils. 

FIGURE 2: Configuration of shade trees 

N

Deciduous 

Trees 

Shrub Shading of 

Lower Wall 

Windbreak Shrubs 

North Side Shading from Evening and Morning Sun 

Source: Viera et al. 1992. p.3-8 

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Site Planners 

Xeriscaping 

Rain is not abundant throughout the marine climate, especially in summer. Although 

fog may hug the coast, inland summer droughts are common. In dry areas xeriscaping 

may be important. The term is taken from the Greek xeros, meaning dry, in 

combination with landscape. 

The goal of a xeriscape is to create a visually attractive landscape that uses plants 

selected for their water efficiency. Properly maintained, a xeriscape can easily use less 

than one-half the water of a traditional landscape. Once established, a xeriscape should 

require less maintenance than turf landscape. 

By grouping plants with similar water needs together in specific zones, a xeriscape 

landscape can use water more efficiently. Low-water-use plants should be grouped 

together, away from high-water-use plants and turf. Take advantage of warm or cool 

microclimates (the actual climatic conditions around your property which can be 

influenced by the placement of walls and shade trees) to create areas of interest 

and diversity. 

A well-planned and well-maintained irrigation system can significantly reduce a 

traditional landscape’s water use. For the most efficient use of water, irrigate turf areas 

separately from other plantings. Other irrigation zones should be designed so low-wateruse plants receive only the water they require. Proper irrigation choices can also save 

water. Turf lawns are best watered by sprinklers. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcovers 

can be watered efficiently with low-volume drip emitters, sprayers, and bubblers. 

The information presented here was adapted from the City of Albuquerque’s Web site 

at www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/xeric.html. Many jurisdictions in dry landscapes 

have information, including potential rebates and other incentives. 

Other Steps 

In addition to orientation and the use of trees, many other steps can be taken during 

site planning to make developments user and earth friendly. 

Site Grading 

Proper site grading directs surface water away from building foundations and walls. 

The steeper the slope away from the building, the better the water will drain. Slabs and 

crawlspaces should always be above the surrounding grade. Basement floors should be 

higher than the surrounding drainage system. Driveways, garage slabs, patios, stoops, 

and walkways should all drain away from the structure. See EEBA’s Water Management 

Guide (Lstiburek 2003) for more information. Additional information on moisture 

management is also available in the Designers chapter. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Planners 

FIGURE 4: Drain all water away from the structure 

Drain Building

Drain Wall

Drain Roof

Drain Site

Drain Ground Drain Ground

Drain Site

Drain Materials

Drain Components

Drain Openings

Source: Lstiburek, J.W. 2003. p.4 

Sustainable Development 

Builders who choose to advertise their “green” designs have found that buyers are willing 

to pay for environmental features. 

Features that help to conserve the natural environment can include: 

• Orienting lots to best manage energy and light from the sun. 

• Land planning that preserves the natural environment and minimizes land 

disturbance. 

• Site design that minimizes erosion, paved surfaces, and runoff. 

• Preserving and protecting trees and natural vegetation. 

• Conserving water indoors and out. 

• Designing energy efficiency into houses. 

• Selecting materials that are durable and recyclable, or created from recycled 

products, and considering the energy that goes into making products. 

• Recycling construction materials and reducing on-site waste. 

Programs with information about sustainable development within the marine 

climate include: 

CALIFORNIA 

• California Green Builder: A homebuilders association program. 

www.cagreenbuilder.org

“What we tell buyers is that 

we sell value...it’s about high 

standards in every aspect of 

home building...The whole 

idea is to get builders all over 

the country more concerned 

about building this way—it’s 

about energy efficiency, indoor 

air quality, waste recycling, 

water recycling, better 

planning—it all leads to 

better development.” 

GW Robinson, 


President of GW Robinson 


G.W. Robinson pipes recycled 

irrigation water to cut water 

use and costs to homeowners at 

the Cobblefield development in 

Gainesville, Florida. 

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Site Planners 

• Green Building in Alameda County: A local government program.

www.stopwaste.org/fsbuild.html

• San Francisco Department of Environment, Green Building: A local 

government program. www.sfenvironment.org 

• Innovative Building Review Program Santa Barbara County: A local 

government program. www.silcom.com/~sbcplan/ibdrc.html 

PACIFIC NORThwEST 

• Earth Advantage®: A non profit organization. www.earthadvantage.com 

OREGON 

• G/Rated Green Building Incentive Program: A local government program in 

Portland. www.green-rated.org 

wAShINGTON 

• Built Green of King and Snohomish Counties: A homebuilders association. 

www.builtgreen.net 

• Seattle Sustainable Building: A local government program. 

www.cityofseattle.net/sustainablebuilding/

• Built Green Kitsap: A homebuilders association. 

www.kitsaphba.com/bbk.html

• Built Green of Southwestern Washington: A homebuilders association. 

www.builtgreennw.com/index.asp 

• Tacoma-Pierce County Built Green: A homebuilders association.

www.mbapierce.com

Other places to find more general information about sustainable development are Rocky 

Mountain Institute’s Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate (Wilson, et. 

al. 1998), the NAHB’s Building Greener: Building Better: The Quiet Revolution (NAHB 

2002c), the Sustainable Building Council’s Green Building Guidelines (SBIC 2003), 

www.lid-stormwater.net, a U.S. EPA-sponsored Web site with tools for watershed 

management, and DOE’s Smart Communities Network at www.sustainable.doe.gov. 

Alameda County developed this 

builder guide in collaboration 

with many other local green 

building programs. 

National Programs also offer green 

building tips and ratings. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Planners 

Sources and Additional Information 

• Alameda County Waste Management Authority & Source Reduction and 

Recycling Board. 2005. New Home Construction Green Building Guidelines. 

San Leandro, CA. www.stopwaste.org 

• American Forests and the National Association of Homebuilders. 1995. 

Building Greener Neighborhoods: Trees as Part of the Plan. NAHB, 

Washington, D.C. 

• Lstiburek, J.W. 2003. Water Management Guide. Energy and Environmental 

Building Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota. www.eeba.org 

• McPherson, G.E., D.J. Nowak, and R.A. Rowntree (eds). 1994. Chicago’s 

Urban Forest Ecosystem: Results of the Chicago Urban Forest Climate Project. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research 

Station, www.f.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/ 

technical_reports/pdfs/scanned/gtr186a.pdf 

• National Association of Homebuilders. 2002.a Builder’s Guide to the APA’s 

Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook. NAHB, Washington, D.C. 

• National Association of Home Builders. 2002b. What 21st Century Home 

Buyers Want: A Survey of Customer Preferences. NAHB, Washington, D.C. 

www.BuilderBooks.com 

• National Association of Homebuilders. 2002c. Building Greener: Building 

Better: The Quiet Revolution. NAHB, Washington, D.C. 

• Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC). 2003. Green Building 

Guidelines: Meeting the Demand for Low-Energy, Resource-Efficient Homes. U.S. 

DOE. Washington, D.C. document available at www.SBICouncil.org. 

• Sonne, J.K. and R.K. Viera, 2000. “Cool Neighborhoods: The Measurement 

of Small Scale Heat Islands.” Proceedings of the 2000 Summer Study on Energy 

Efficiency in Buildings, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 

Washington, DC. www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/pf363/index.htm 

• Viera, R.K., K.G. Sheinkopf, and J.K. Sonne. 1992. Energy-Efficient Florida 

Home Building, third printing. Florida Solar Energy Center, FSEC-GP-33-88, 

Cocoa Beach, Florida. 

• Wilson, Alex, Jenifer L. Seal, Lisa A. McManigal, L. Hunter Lovins, Maureen 

Cureton, William D. Browning. 1998. Green Development: Integrating 

Ecology and Real Estate. Rocky Mountain Institute, Old Snow Mass, CO. 

www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid220.php 

web Sites Not Included with Published Documents Above 

• www.builtgreen.net 

• www.builtgreennw.com/index.asp 

• www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/xeric.html 

• www.cagreenbuilder.org 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • PLN- 
Site Planners

• www.cityofseattle.net/sustainablebuilding/ 

• www.earthadvantage.com 

• www.green-rated.org 

• www.kitsaphba.com/bbk.html 

• www.lid-stormwater.net 

• www.mbapierce.com 

• www.sfenvironment.org 

• www.silcom.com/~sbcplan/ibdrc.html 

• www.stopwaste.org/fsbuild.html 

• www.sustainable.doe.gov 

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Designers

Well-crafted designs capture benefits 

for builders, buyers, and business 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Even good builders can have bad results if they are working toward the wrong product. 

Designers have the job of giving builders the opportunity to do the right thing well. 

Building Science and the Systems Approach 

Perhaps the most important step in designing any form or function is recognizing 

that the design is for the entire product. No one piece can be changed without 

affecting all related pieces. This simple proposition applies to all systems and allows 

for all kinds of trade-offs. In cars, without any loss in performance, lightweight 

frames may be translated into smaller brakes, a smaller engine, and smaller tires. 

Or, that same change may be used to produce more speed. 

In houses, this systems approach recognizes the interaction of windows, attics, 

foundations, mechanical equipment, and all other components and assemblies. 

Changes in one or a few components can dramatically change how other components 

perform. Recognizing and taking advantage of this fact, and applying appropriate 

advances in technology to components, can result in cost and performance payoffs, 

both for the builder and buyer of new homes. 

Building America has embraced the systems approach and combined it with 

the technology development and testing that make up building science. 

As with other scientific disciplines, building science provides an intelligent 

approach to understanding complex systems and diagnosing problems. Over time, 

knowledge, tools, and tests are developed that make the science and the product 

more efficient and more powerful (Adapted from Florida Solar Energy Center Web site 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/science/basics/index.htm). You can learn more about the U.S. 

Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building America program at www.buildingamerica.gov. 

QUICK TIPS | DESIGNERS 

• Building America brings you the results of research, real-world experience, and 

dialogue with builders from over 30,000 homes nationwide (as of early 2006). 

• System design and building science offer you tools and techniques to 

improve housing performance without sacrificing style and appeal, avoid 

problems plaguing new homes, find cost savings to help your company’s 

bottom line, and give consumers satisfaction in their investment. 

• Seek the help of a home energy rating professional or engineer to avoid reinventing 

many of the solutions that have already been found and optimize your designs. 

• Review the many technologies discussed in this chapter for help in selecting 

the applications right for you. 

“If you do the wrong things with good materials and good workmanship, it is still 

wrong. You must do the right thing with good materials and good workmanship.” 

Joseph Lstiburek, Building Science Corporation 
Designers

Four steps can help to manage risks and take advantage of system trade-offs. 

1) Give builders the right target. Recognize you are designing a complete product— 

a system—and ensure the product is right for the marine climate. 

2) Take care of the basics. The basics are proven, cost-effective technologies that 

include good windows, insulation, moisture management, and ventilation. Make sure 

the house has adequate overhangs for shade and rain deflection. Guidelines for many 

of the basics are included later in this chapter. 

3) Take only what you need. Size heating and cooling equipment, ducts, and fans to 

match the load. If equipment sizing is normally done by a subcontractor, ensure the sub 

uses the procedures listed in this document to properly size equipment. Proper sizing of 

heating and cooling equipment is a huge opportunity to save money and increase profit. 

4) Put everything in its place. Be sure there is a place for everything the house requires 

and show it on your plans. Do not leave it to chance where ducts will be placed or 

even where plumbing will run. If there are places that should not be tampered with, 

for example a duct chase, make it clear the space is off limits to plumbers, electricians, 

and others who need to create routes through buildings. 

Building Science and the Systems Approach: Prevents Problem 

Moisture, mold, and material degradation are examples of problems that building science can 

help solve. High temperatures create a need for cooling. High humidity adds to discomfort and 

is a source of moisture. Humid air and a cold surface result in condensation that can add up to 

discomfort, material failure, and high repair costs. 

Leaky ducts located in attics or crawlspaces create air pressure differences that can draw in humid 

air through cracks and holes and deliver it into the house. Humid air inside a cool space encourages 

the occupant to turn down the thermostat for more cooling. This cycle can result in moisture 

forming as condensation on or in ducts, walls, and other assemblies. Accumulated moisture 

supports mold growth and leads to rotting, warping, and staining. 

The result is that a small problem in one assembly (leaky ducts) that is inexpensive to fix during 

installation, can lead to big problems in framing, interior finish, and human health. Moisture 

problems may have causes other than leaky ducts, but many unintended problems can be avoided 

in a similar fashion. 

Building Science and the Systems Approach: Reaps Rewards 

There is more than avoiding problems to encourage you to use a systems approach. For example, 

trade-offs from installing energy-saving measures can help save construction costs for heating 

and cooling equipment. If good windows, adequate insulation, and efficient heating and cooling 

equipment are installed, the heating and cooling equipment capacity can also be smaller than 

typically used and shorter duct runs are possible. All of this can add up to reduced costs in heating 

and cooling equipment that offset the cost of the other measures. Using trade-offs to improve 

economics, durability, and comfort is essential to successful business and design. 

The challenge to designers is to carefully select new technologies, consider their cost 

and rewards for your overall system, and use the changes that make sense. Building 

America has taken this systems approach to designing energy-efficient houses. This 

document presents you with information that will give you a straight-forward approach 

to designing houses that qualify for ENERGY STAR®. Design information is provided 

for a variety of measures and components in the remainder of this section. Put in the 

recommended measures and your houses should qualify. You may also qualify using 

other trade-offs. Suggestions from Building America’s experience are also included that 

will improve the health and comfort of your homes. 

“Understand the theory of your 

construction...then be sure 

to question your engineer (or 

subcontractor) as to whether 

it’s all really necessary. If 

you don’t get a straight, 

understandable answer, find 

an engineer who will give you 

one. Remember, it doesn’t cost 

the engineer a penny to overdesign. But ultimately someone 

foots the bill.” 

Tim Garrison, CEO of ConstructionCalc, made an important point 

about the cost of overdesigning 

structural components. He is 

quoted here because his point is 

equally valid for HVAC and other 

equipment (adapted from Nation’s 

Building News Online, 27 April 

2004, www.nbnnews.com). 

You can learn more 

about Building America 

and download additional 

copies of this document at 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

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The Cost of Doing Business 

The cost of building homes is different for every builder. Technique, experience, 

subcontractors, suppliers, and the size of purchases can all make a difference in how 

much a home costs to build. Even a builder’s accounting methods can influence 

how costs are reported. These variables all apply to energy-efficiency measures and 

contribute to the difficulty of providing cost estimates that apply to more than a 

limited example over a short period of time. 

In addition to variability, other considerations apply to costs. First, the cost of higher 

quality housing represents an added value and holds the potential of a higher profit. 

Second, a tremendous benefit of the systems approach described above is that the costs 

of energy-efficient measures can often be offset by savings in other areas. And finally, 

buyers can recover any additional costs through reduced utility bills, increased resale 

value, and for some, better mortgage terms. 

Some builders say that meeting ENERGY STAR qualifications does not increase their 

costs. However, they must focus on higher quality installations. Other builders suggest 

additional costs up to $1,500 to the consumer, but it’s unclear if these values apply 

beyond their experience. 

HERS Ratings and Qualifying for ENERGY STAR 

Best Practice: Building America recommends working with a Home Energy Rating 

System (HERS) professional, architect, or engineer early in the design process to help 

select and size materials and equipment. The building scientists can be especially 

helpful in right sizing heating and cooling equipment. By forming a relationship with 

a rater who later will inspect the construction site, designers can get valuable feedback 

about what works and what house features require more detailed information for the 

site supervisor and the trades. Find out more about HERS raters at www.natresnet.org. 

The best use of a HERS rater involves working with your rater in creating your design. 

When following this path, the rater analyses your construction plans, in addition to 

at least one on-site inspection and test of the home. The plan review allows the home 

energy rater to view technical information such as orientation (if known), shading area, 

proposed equipment ratings, and insulation levels. The on-site test involves blower 

door testing. Building America also recommends testing ducts for air leaks. Results of 

these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are entered into a computer 

simulation program to generate the HERS score and the home’s estimated annual 

energy costs, including heating, cooling, water heating, and other energy requirements. 

A HERS rating is a computer-simulated evaluation of a home’s energy efficiency. 

Using a computer model, either a house design or completed structure is compared to a 

reference house of the same size and shape as the rated home. 

RESNET recently completed a comprehensive overhaul of its rating standards that 

will take affect in July 2006. At that time, the reference home will meet the minimum 

requirements of the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). More 

information on the IECC can be found at www.energycodes.gov. 

HERS RATER 

Building America recommends 

working with a HERS rater or 

building scientist early in the 

design process. 

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Designers

The new HERS rating will incorporate all of the energy uses of the home into a wholebuilding “expanded” home energy rating. The traditional HERS ratings covered space 

conditioning and water heating only. The overhaul increases the energy uses that are 

considered by home energy ratings by up to 80% in some southern climates and by 

about 25% in the some northern climates. The new system also allows energy uses like 

high-efficiency lighting, refrigerators, dishwashers and ceiling fans to be “rated” along 

with the heating, cooling and hot water systems of the home. 

The new system changes the way that rating results are reported. The new system is based 

on an Index on a 0 to 100 scale, where 100 represents the energy use of the reference home 

and 0 represents zero net energy use. Each point below 100 amounts to a one-percent 

decrease in energy use compared to the reference home. The maximum HERS index 

permitted to earn an ENERGY STAR rating is an 80 in northern colder climates and an 

85 in southern warmer climates. Specific criteria apply to ENERGY STAR qualifications 

in the marine climate states. For more information on qualifying for ENERGY STAR 

in California visit www.energystar.gov and www.fypower.org/about/index.html. For 

information in Oregon and Washington visit www.northwestenergystar.com. 

California 2006 ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes 

All ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes built in California must be 15% more energy 

efficient than the California energy code (2001 T-24 or 2005 T-24) under which they 

were permitted. Homes built under 2001 T-24 code have until December 31, 2006 to 

complete construction. All homes completed on or after January 1, 2007 must be 15% 

more energy efficient than the latest T-24 code. 

Any home formally enrolled in a utility incentive program for ENERGY STAR Qualified 

Homes by December 31, 2005 until December 31, 2006 to complete construction and 

be labeled under old guidelines. 

All homes enrolled in a 2006 utility ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes (residential new 

construction) program must be qualified using the new guidelines. The 2006 ENERGY 

STAR Qualified Homes guidelines requirements include: 

• Homes must be 15% more energy efficient than the code under which the 

home is permitted. 

• The EPA ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Checklist/CEC Quality Installation 

Insulation merged protocols are a mandatory requirement. 

• Performance credit to achieve 15% over code using quality insulation 

installation (TBC/QII) is not allowed. 

• Ductwork leakage must be less than 6 cfm to outdoors per 100 square feet 

of conditioned space, though duct leakage tests can be waived if ducts and 

equipment are located in conditioned space and the home’s envelope leakage is 

less than 0.25 CFM 50 per square foot of building envelope. 

• All cooling equipment shall be sized according to the latest editions of the 

ACCA Manuals J and S, ASHRAE 2001 Handbook of Fundamentals, or the 

equivalent computation. 

Source: www.energystar.gov 

“We are building a much higher 

performing home today than 

we were building three years 

ago based on what we learned 

from the first Huntington 

plan. You can see it in the 

HERS ratings we receive on 

our homes...it continues to 

improve every day.” 

Jeff Simon, Executive Vice 

President of Operations for 

Veridian Homes

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Designers

Your HERS rater can be a tremendous resource in the design phase. Raters who are 

trained in building science may help to solve construction problems. One important 

job your rater can help with is to work with the mechanical contractor to correctly 

size heating/cooling equipment, perform room-by-room calculations to determine the 

supply air needed for each room, and work with the mechanical contractor on duct 

sizes and lay out. This is likely to eliminate callbacks due to comfort complaints and 

can save substantial money by right-sizing the heating and cooling equipment. During 

the design stage, the rater can suggest alternatives to attain desired performance levels in 

the areas of energy, comfort, durability, and health. 

Selecting a HERS rater is much like selecting any other professional services provider, 

such as an architect, accountant, or engineer. Be sure you are comfortable with the rater’s 

communication skills, experience, training, and references before making a selection. 

Best Practice: Building America recommends that every house receive a site inspection 

and diagnostic tests from a HERS rating professional. The information gained from 

these tests can help to isolate specific problem areas that can be solved with further 

training, more explicit details, better building materials, or other production changes. 

Marine Climate 

The marine climate touches on the hot-dry and cold climate zones. The marine climate 

has moderate conditions most of the time. But weather conditions similar to those 

found in neighboring climate zones occassionally prevail. Homes in the marine climate 

are faced with a lot of moisture, often in the form of fog or rain. 

The marine climate covers a narrow band paralleling the west coast from the Canadian 

border south to the county boundary separating Ventura and Los Angeles counties in 

California. In some stretches, this band is only one county deep inland from the Pacific 

Ocean. The Marine Climate was designated in recognition of the mild temperatures 

and moist conditions found along the coast. However, the marine climate borders 

on the cold climate in the north, and the hot-dry climate in the south and the more 

extreme conditions of these neighbors are found in some inland areas. 

A marine climate is generally defined as a region that meets all of the following criteria: 

• A mean temperature of coldest month between 27°F (-3°C) and 65°F (18°C) 

• A warmest month mean of less than 72°F (22°C) 

• At least 4 months with mean temperatures more than 50°F (10°C) 

• A dry season in summer. 

The month with the heaviest precipitation in the cold season has at least three times as 

much precipitation as the month with the least precipitation in the rest of the year. 

Another set of challenges arises from the common use of full basements and 

crawlspaces. These design features may bring extra living and storage space, but they 

also bring their own moisture and temperature management challenges. 

The recommendations in this Best Practices guide apply to the marine climate region. 

If you aren’t sure that your project is within these climate regions, check Appendix IV to 

see a listing of counties and their climates. 

SITE INSPECTION 

Building America recommends that 

every house receive site inspections 

and diagnostic tests. 

FIGURE 1: 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Designers

Design Best Practices for the Marine Climate 

Housing types vary greatly throughout the marine climate. Basements and crawlspaces 

are common in the north. Slabs are used throughout the region. In the face of this 

diversity, this document does not recommend a single set of measures for achieving 

the 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating. We do recommend 

following the principles included in these Best Practices and adjusting these practices 

and your designs to make them work together. We also recommend working with a 

building scientist such as a Home Energy Rating Professional to help with the transition. 

The best practices described in this manual are intended to give builders and designers 

recommendations resulting from Building America’s work on over 30,000 homes. 

Building scientists have tried and tested these measures on actual homes in the field. 

This does not mean that every measure will be for you. However, as builders start 

aiming for higher performing homes, details become more important. It may not make 

sense to install the best practice in every instance. Sometimes you can get away with 

less. But making this decision should involve an evaluation of the risks of not using the 

best practice, and questioning how the overall house system may be impacted. 

Site – Drainage, Pest Control, and Landscaping 

Additional planning information related to overall site development is presented in the 

Site Planners chapter. 

Drainage 

Moving moisture away from a building is critically important to maintaining structural integrity. 

FIGURE 2: Drainage Best Practice: Grading Drain Building and landscaping should 

Adapted from Lstiburek 2003 

Drain Ground Drain Ground

Drain Materials

Drain Components

Drain Openings

Drain Roof be planned for movement 

of building run-off away 

from the home and its 

foundation, with roof 

drainage directed at least 3 

feet beyond the building, 

and a surface grade of at 

least 5% maintained for 

Drain Wall

Drain Site Drain Site at least 10 feet around 

and away from the entire 

structure. This topic is 

also discussed in the Site 

Planners chapter. 

Pest Control 

Termites are a serious menace across the United States. 

Best Practice: Based on local code and Termite Infestation Probability (TIP) maps, 

use environmentally appropriate termite treatments, bait systems, and treated building 

materials for assemblies that are near soil or have ground contact (check with County 

Cooperative Extension Programs in the area you are building). 

“Now when we do new 

product development—like 

introducing new floor 

plans—we are a lot more 

particular on roof design and 

how we are going to manage 

the water, and this is a 

direct tribute to Building 

America. Before if we had 

a house with a dead valley, 

we would just field engineer 

something and build around 

it. Now, we just don’t accept 

that from our architects.” 

Vernon McKown,

Ideal Homes in Oklahoma

GRADING 

Plan grading and landscaping to 

direct run-off away from the home 

and its foundation. 

TERMITES 

Use environmentally appropriate 

termite treatments. 

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Designers

Landscaping 

Landscaping is a critical element to the marketability of a house. But plants must be 

placed to avoid interfering with visual inspections of termite access. Planting can also 

be used to shade foundations and reduce cooling loads. 

Best Practice: Plantings should be held back as much as 3 feet and no less than 

18 inches from the finished structure, with any supporting irrigation directed away 

from the finished structure. Plantings may be selected to shade the foundation edge, 

especially on the southwest corner of the structure. Choosing native plantings results 

in less irrigation and less chance for irrigation water to create a moisture problem 

in the house. Decorative ground cover—mulch or pea stone, for example—should 

be thinned to no more than 2 inches for the first 18 inches from the finished 

structure. More landscaping information can be found on DOE’s Web site at 

www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/landscaping/index.cfm/mytopic=11910. 

Foundation System Moisture and Soil Gas Control 

Slabs, crawlspaces, and basements are all found in the marine climate. All building foundations 

should be designed and constructed to prevent the entry of moisture and other soil gases. 

Most foundation water leakage or intrusion is due to either bulk moisture leaks or capillary 

action. Bulk moisture is the flow of water through holes and cracks. Capillary action occurs 

when water wicks into the cracks and open spaces of porous building materials, such as 

masonry block, concrete, or wood. These tiny cracks and pores can absorb water in any 

direction, even going upward. Moisture can also be carried by soil gas into homes. 

Moisture may cause structural decay and can contribute to human health and comfort 

problems. Radon that enters a home exposes occupants and may cause lung cancer. 

The following practices apply to all foundation systems. 

• Keep all untreated wood materials away from contact with earth and concrete. 

• Design the house structure with overhangs, gutters, drainage planes, and 

flashing to shed rainwater and conduct it away from the house. 

• Slope the earth away from the house and ensure that no irrigation strikes near 

the foundation as described in the Drainage section. 

• Use a sill gasket for air sealing 

• Install a protective shield such as metal flashing, plastic L bracket, or a 

membrane to block capillary water wicking into the wall from the foundation. 

This material can serve as a termite shield. 

• Exterior foundation wall insulation requires a protective coating at abovegrade applications. Examples of protective coverings for exterior, abovegrade insulation include: flashing, fiber-cement board, parging (stucco type 

material), treated plywood, or membrane material (EPDM* flexible roofing). 

• Damp-proof all below grade portions of the exterior foundation. 

• Place a continuous drainage plane over the damp proofing or exterior insulation on 

foundation walls to channel water to the foundation drain and relieve hydrostatic 

pressure. Drainage plane materials include special mats, high-density fiberglass insulation products, and washed gravel. All drainage planes and foundation drains should 

be protected with a filter fabric to prevent dirt from clogging the drainage channels. 

PLANTINGS 

Select indigenous plantings 

and keep them at least 18 inches 

from the foundation. 

* EPDM stands for Ethylene 

Propylene Diene Monomer. 

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Basements requires a foundation drain installed directly below the drainage plane 

and beside (not on top of) the footing. Foundation drains are needed for crawlspaces 

and slabs where the slab or the floor of the crawlspace is located below grade. In 

combination, these systems should provide a continuous high quality water resistant 

layer capable of resisting both capillary and hydrostatic water penetration. 

Slabs and Basement Floors 

Best Practice: Slab foundations and basement floor require 6-ml polyethylene sheeting 

or rigid foam insulation acceptable for below grade use directly beneath the concrete 

that accomplishes vapor control and capillary control for the slab. The vapor retarder 

should continuously wrap the slab as well as the grade beam. 

Best Practice: A sand layer under the slab or basement floor should never be placed 

between a vapor retarder and a concrete slab. Cast the concrete directly on top of the 

vapor barrier. Differential drying and cracking is better handled with a low water-toconcrete ratio and wetted burlap covering during initial curing. 

Best Practice: Slab and basement floor drainage should include a gravel capillary break 

directly beneath the slab vapor retarder. 

Crawlspace Foundation Systems 

One source of moisture problems in crawlspaces comes from the combination of moist 

air and cold temperatures. Air in crawlspaces may be moist due to the proximity of soil 

and air leaks from the house. 

Best Practice: In crawlspaces, install 6-mil polyethylene across the entire ground 

surface. Overlay and tape all seams by 12 inches. Seal the polyethylene at least 6 inches 

up the walls or to a height equal to ground level. Pressure treated wood strapping could 

be used to fasten the polyethylene to the wall. 

Some Building America teams make the following recommendations: install a 

polyethylene groundcover at the beginning of construction, then install another one 

on top of the first one when the crawlspace is ready to be sealed up to cover all rips and 

holes. To improve durability, some Building America teams recommend pouring a 

minimum 2-inch concrete slab over the polyethylene. 

In areas with humid summers, moisture is carried into the crawlspace in the air drawn 

through traditional wall vents. When this warm moist air reaches cooler structural 

framing, the moisture can condense out and cause mold and structural problems. In 

areas with freezing temperatures, cold air may be drawn into the crawlspace and does 

little to dry out crawlspaces, but can lower temperatures, cause condensation and freeze 

exposed waterpipes. Although warm-humid or frigid areas are limited in the marine 

climate, conditioned crawspaces should be considered for these areas. Conditioned 

crawlspaces limit condensation by controlling temperatures and moisture entry. A nonvented crawlspace is a more hospitable environment for the air distribution system to 

operate in. Conditioned crawspaces are described more fully in the Structure Thermal 

Performance section. Building America is currently conducting research on conditioned 

crawlspaces in the marine climate. Building America teams recommend using 

conditioned crawlspaces. 

VAPOR CONTROL 

Achieve vapor and capillary control 

with sheeting or rigid insulation 

directly below the slab. 

CASTING CONCRETE 

Cast the concrete directly on top 

of the vapor retarder, with no sand 

in between. 

DRAINAGE 

Place a gravel capillary break 

directly beneath the slab vapor 

barrier. 

CRAWLSPACE INSULATION 

Thoroughly insulate and seal 

all crawlspaces. 

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Radon Control 

In addition to other benefits, the gravel and vapor barriers under slabs, basement floors, 

and crawlspaces are important first steps to radon control. The gravel provides a path 

for radon and other soil gas to escape to the atmosphere rather than being drawn into 

the house. And the vapor retarder helps to block soil gas entry into the house. Where 

gravel is scarce, builders often pour slabs onto sand. When sand or other native fill is 

used, a 3- or 4-inch perforated and corrugated pipe loop can be use for both drainage 

and radon control. Or drainage matting may be in= Sealant or Gasket stalled over sand. Both approaches are Rigid insulation described in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents listed below. 

Rigid Insulation 

Treated Radon-resistant construction practices are described in the following documents for a Sill gasket membrane wood nailer (also serves as capillary break) Cavity insulation

variety of foundation systems: Damp proofing Continuous Metal termite flashing polyethylene 

Polyethylene or • ASTM WK2469 New Standard (Formerly E1465-92)(draft) Guide for Radon Control Cover insulation Treated wood nailer exposed above grade damp proofing

(bring vapor barrier capillary break Options for the Design and Construction of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings up to grade level) 

• Model Standards and Techniques for Control of Radon in New Residential Buildings Rigid fiberglass insulation 

Polyethylene vapor barrier (U.S. EPA 1994) Rigid insulation 

Polyethylene or damp 

• Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on Hoproofing capillary break w to Build Radon-Resistant Homes (U.S. EPA 

Damp proofing 

2001) available on the Web at www.epa.gov/radon/images/buildradonout.pdf. Rigid insulation

Perforated drainage 

pipe embedded in Damp proofing

coarse gravel Continuous 

polyethylene Concrete footing FIGURE 3: Typical Building Foundation Systems below frost depth Polyethylene or 

damp proofing 

capillary break 

EXTERIOR CRAWLSPACE INSULATION EXTERIOR BASEMENT INSULATION 

= Sealant or Gasket Radon reduction Rigid insulation 3” plastic vent pipe 

Rigid Insulation 

Sill gasket membrane Sill gasket membraneTreated 

(also serves as capillary break) Cavity insulation (also serves as capillary break) Cavity insulation wood nailer 

Metal termite flashing Damp proofing Continuous Metal termite flashing polyethylene 

Cover insulation Cavity Cover insulation Polyethylene or Treated wood nailer insulation damp proofing 

(bring vapor barrier exposed above grade capillary break 

up to grade level) 

exposed above grade 

Rigid fiberglass insulation Rigid fiberglass insulation Polyethylene vapor barrier Damp proofing Damp proofing Rigid insulation Rigid insulation Polyethylene vapor Polyethylene or damp Polyethylene or damp Polyethylene or with foil facing

diffusion retarder damp proofing

proofing capillary break proofing capillary Break capillary break

Damp proofing 

Rigid insulation 

Perforated drainage


pipe embedded in Damp proofing


Perforated drainage 

pipe embedded in


coarse gravel
 coarse gravel Continuous 

polyethylen Concrete footing e Concrete footing Polyethylene or below frost depth below frost depth damp proofing 

capillary break 

Radon reduction Hold drywall 

1/2” above floor 3" plastic pipe vent stack


Cover insulation 


exposed above grade
 Radon reduction Seal all slab Perforated (see list on reverse 3” plastic vent pipe ) penetrations drain pipe 

Concrete Use extruded (R-5 per inch) Sill gasket membrane slab (also serves as capillary break) or expanded (R-4 per inch) Cavity insulation

polystyrene or rigid 

Metal termite flashing fiberglass insulation 

Gravel base Cover insulation Damp proofing (4-6" deep coarse, no fines) Cavity 

insulation exposed above grade Polyethylene vapor diffusion retarder 

Polyethylene or damp proofing capillary break Perforated drainage 

Rigid fiberglass insulation pipe embedded 

in gravel Damp proofing Concrete footing below frost depth 

Damp proofing 

Rigid insulation Polyethylene vapor EXTERIOR INSULATION Polyethylene or with foil facing 

PACKAGE capillary break 

= Sealant or Gasket Polyethylene or damp diffusion retarder damp proofing proofing capillary Break 

Perforated drainage


pipe embedded in


coarse gravel


Building America BeConcrete footing
 st Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for below frost depth
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Designers

Best Practice: Other than identifying areas that have had radon problems, it is not 

possible to predict radon levels in houses prior to construction, so it is important to 

include inexpensive radon control measures. One measure recommended by the EPA 

to control potentially high radon levels and other soil gasses, is a passive soil gas stack 

connected to a perforated drain pipe embedded in the gravel under the slab, basement 

floor, or crawlspace ground cover. The stack may also be attached to a perforated pipe 

loop or mat. If it turns out the house has unacceptable radon levels, a fan can be added 

to the stack to actively draw soil gas away from the house. To determine potential 

radon levels in the county in which you are building, visit the EPA’s radon potential 

map at www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html. 

For information about local variation in radon levels you can find local contacts at 

the following EPA Web site: www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html. The EPA divides 

counties into one of three zones based on radon level potential. The EPA recommends 

that all homes built in Zone 1 (high radon potential) areas have radon reduction systems. 

Rain falls frequently in the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes it comes as wind-driven 

sheets, often a fine drizzle, and sometimes a drenching downpour. The quantity of 

annual precipitation is less than other regions such as the hot-humid climate and about 

the same as areas such as the State of New York. But the rain in the Northwest can settle 

into the landscape and last weeks, and sometimes months, at a time. 

Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, and Portland: These cities have all faced substantial moisturerelated building failures. Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have 

concluded that 20% of Seattle multifamily structures built between 1984 and 1998 are 

suffering premature building enclosure failures due to moisture intrusion (Karagiozis 

2002a). ORNL also concluded that in multifamily buildings water penetration is the 

most critical influence on moisture management of wall systems and water loads become 

many times greater in walls with windows and joints (Karagiozis 2002b). 

Structural Moisture Control 

Moisture is a significant problem in this climate in the form of both high humidity 

and high rainfall. Most of the marine climate receives more than 40 inches of annual 

precipitation. Some areas get more than 60 inches. The ambient air has significant levels 

of moisture most of the year. Since air conditioning is installed in many new homes, cold 

surfaces are present where condensation can occur. Controlling moisture intrusion and 

the infiltration of moisture-laden air into building envelopes and keeping moisture away 

from cold surfaces are major goals of design and construction in the marine climate zone. 

Two types of rain management systems have been identified: barriers and screens. Barriers 

rely on exterior cladding to drain water and are best used with water-resistant building 

materials, such as masonry block or concrete. Screens have multiple lines of defense 

against water entry and are used with wood, brick, and gypsum-based materials. Both 

barriers and screens rely on lapped flashings to direct water to the exterior at critical areas 

such as seams, windows, and penetrations. In both systems, it is essential that materials 

are lapped shingle fashion to direct water down and out, away from the wall assembly. 

RADON 

Houses built in areas with 

potentially high radon levels can 

install a soil gas stack to draw soil 

gas away from the home. 

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Best Practice: Roof and wall assemblies must contain surfaces that will drain water in 

a continuous manner over the entire area of the building. Water must have a path that 

will take it from its point of impact, around any elements such as windows, doors, and 

seams, all the way to the exterior ground, sloping away from the house. 

Best Practice: In areas with potentially high winds and heavy rains install four-inch to 

six-inch “peel and seal” self-adhering water-proofing strips over joints in roof decking 

before installing the roof underlayment and cover. Increase gutter and rain leader 

capacity to accomodate heavy rain and large roof areas. 

Water Leakage 

One critical point of concern is water leakage around windows. The EEBA Water 

Management Guide offers examples of many window flashing applications. The window 

flashing examples here are taken from the Trades chapter. These examples are for 

homes with housewrap and plywood or OSB sheathing. 

Best Practice: Specify that flashing be installed for all windows and doors. Window and 

door flashing details should be designed to match specific wall assemblies and claddings. 

Flashing systems should be designed in accordance with the ASTM standard entitled 

Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors, and Skylights (ASTM 

2002). In addition to the standard and the EEBA guide, see DOE’s Technology 

Fact Sheet on Weather-Resistive Barriers (DOE 2000), available on the Web at 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents/pdfs/28600.pdf. 

Extreme Weather 

The marine climate is vulnerable to high wind and heavy-rain events. Proper structural 

fastening and impact resistant windows, doors, and skylights are critical to surviving 

high winds. Proper use of roofing materials can help roofs withstand snow loads and 

high winds, and protect against severe rains. This document does not provide detailed 

information on disaster survival but the following sources provide structural details and 

guidance and a listing of building materials acceptable for high wind areas. 

• Federal Emergency Management Agency. Building a Safe Room Inside 

Your Home. www.fema.gov 

• Federal Alliance for Safe Homes – FLASH, Inc. Designed primarily for Florida, 

this Web site contains generally-applicable information about building to resist 

high winds, wild fires, and floods. Blueprint for Safety. www.blueprintforsafety.org 

• Institute for Business and Home Safety. The IBHS has building guidelines and 

public information. www.ibhs.org 

• U.S. Department of Energy. A training program for home inspectors to 

identify hazards. www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/hazard_workshop.html 

WINDOW FLASHING 

Flashing should be installed 

for all windows. 

FIGURE 4: 

Window Flashing Building Tips 

Complete instructions for window 

flashing are provided in the Trades 

chapter of this handbook. 

CAULK

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

WATER-PROOFING 

ROOF DECKING 

Install water-proofing strips over 

joints in roof decking. 

“I think the number one issue 

facing home owners is moisture 

management. Construction 

detailing around windows and 

doors is something that the 

building industry doesn’t truly 

understand. You know, no 

where in the building code do 

they inspect for flashing.” 

Vernon McKown, the co-owner of 

Ideal Homes in Oklahoma, which 

builds all its homes using Building 

America principles. 

VAPOR BARRIERS 

Roof and wall assemblies must 

contain elements that, individually 

and in combination, permit drying 

of spaces inside of walls. 

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The Ins and Outs of Vapor 

It’s been said that water is lazy, it will always follow the easiest path as it is pulled along 

by gravity. However, moisture can also cause problems as vapor. Unlike moisture in its 

liquid form, vapor travels where ever air flows. Air is vapor’s heavy lifter. Where there are 

air leaks, there are vapor leaks. 

Diffusion can also force vapor through materials and into places it shouldn’t be, such 

as wall cavities. Differences in vapor pressure and temperature are the forces that drive 

diffusion. Vapor diffusion moves moisture from areas of higher vapor pressure to areas of 

lower vapor pressure, and from areas of greater temperature to areas of lesser temperature. 

The most important point to make about these two types of vapor transport is that air 

movement is by far the more important mechanism for moving vapor. Seal up air leaks 

in the building envelope, both inside and out, and most vapor transport will be blocked 

from getting inside structural cavities. 

The installation of air barriers involves systematically and continuously sealing air leaks. 

Methods for creating air barriers are described in the section on structural air sealing. 

Continuous means that the barrier extends over the entire surface of the structure, but 

the barrier may be made up of many materials. The interior gypsum board may be 

incorporated into the air barrier, along with studs, draft stopping materials, housewraps, 

and rigid insulation, as long as the seal is continuous. 

Vapor diffusion retarders are materials that block diffusion because they are 

impermeable. A perm is a unit of measurement based on the amount of water that 

passes through a material over a fixed period of time. Four classes of permeability have 

been established. Here are the classes along with examples of materials (adapted from 

Lstiburek 2004): 

• CLASS 1 - Vapor impermeable (0.1 perm or less): polyethylene film, 

glass, aluminum foil, sheet metal, foil-faced rigid insulation, and other 

foil-faced materials. 

• CLASS 2 - Vapor semi-impermeable (1.0 perm or less and greater than 

0.1 perm) oil-based paints, most vinyl wall coverings, unfaced extruded 

polystyrene greater than 1 inch thick, kraft-faced fiberglass insulation, 

smart vapor retarders.* 

• CLASS 3 - Vapor semi-permeable (10 perms or less and greater than 

1.0 perm): plywood, bitumen impregnated kraft paper, oriented strand 

board, unfaced expanded polystyrene, unfaced extruded polystyrene (1-

inch thick or less), building paper, and one coat of most latex paint. 

• Vapor permeable (greater than 10 perms): unpainted gypsum board and 

plaster, unfaced fiberglass insulation, cellulose insulation, dimensional 

lumber, and masonry. 

* Smart vapor retarders are engineered materials that are designed to change their 

permeance at specific relative humidity levels (BSC 2006) 

Source: Building Science Corporation (BCS). 2006. Vapor Barriers and Wall Design. 

FIGURE 5: 

Water Carring Capacity of 

Diffusion vs. Air Flow in a 

Cold Climate 

Vapor Carrying Capacity of 

DIFFUSION 

30 times 

more water is tranferred by 

airflow than by diffusion 

Vapor Carrying Capacity of 

AIR FLOW 

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Vapor Management 

Water has many guises and water in its liquid state is not the only problem. Water can 

also cause problems as vapor. The problem is especially bad when vapor gets trapped 

within an assembly, such as a wall: turns to its liquid form (condenses); and wets 

structural assemblies. Condensation can also form in and on ductwork, especially when 

air conditioning cools duct surfaces that come in contact with humid air, such as in a 

vented attic or crawlspace. 

In the marine climate, and especially in the Pacific Northwest, interior and exterior 

moisture loads tends to be high. Typically interior relative humidity levels around the 

nation are maintained at 30 to 40% on average in the winter. Field testing in the Pacific 

Northwest show that average 

interior relative humidity in excess 

of 55% is common in the winter. 

Building assemblies need to be 

protected from getting wet from both 

the interior and exterior and should 

be allowed to dry to either the exterior 

or the interior. Lstiburek (2001) 

notes three general strategies for 

managing vapor in wall assemblies: 

Washington State University is using the Natural Exposure 

Test Facility (NET), established in 2003 to evaluate the 

effects of heat, moisture, and ventilation on wall assemblies. 

• Installing vapor diffusion retarders on the interior and exterior of wall assemblies 

to block moisture entry from both directions. This approach is very dangerous if 

moisture is trapped inside the wall from water leaks, using wet building materials, 

or vapor transport. Tight construction using OSB (oriented strand board) exterior 

sheathing and a polystyrene vapor retarder behind the gypsum board may create 

this situation. Building America teams do not recommend this approach. 

• Allowing vapor to “flow through” by using permeable materials on both the 

interior and exterior sides of the building assemblies. This allows water vapor 

to diffuse through the assembly from the interior to exterior during heating 

periods and from the exterior during cooling periods. An example of this type 

of assembly may include plywood sheathing and vinyl cladding on the exterior 

and interior gypsum board finished with primer and latex paint. 

• Putting the vapor diffusion retarder roughly in the “middle” of the assembly by 

installing impermeable or semi-permeable insulating sheathing (such as unfaced, rigid, 

extruded polystyrene foam insulation) on the exterior of a frame cavity wall filled with 

permeable insulation. This is the system recommended by Building America teams. 

Vapor retarders on walls are currently required by building codes, but code changes 

are anticipated, and engineered wall designs that do not require vapor retarders may be 

approved by building officials. 

Based on research in multifamily buildings in Seattle, ORNL suggests that if interior 

relative humidity is maintained below 60%, then a latex primer and paint may perform 

better than the use of a polyethylene sheet (Karagiozis 2002b). Other research suggests 

that some wall systems with low permeable cladding, such as stucco, may require a 

class 1 vapor retarder, such as polystyrene sheets, on the interior (Murray 2005). These 

findings suggest that wall systems are diverse and should be carefully designed to 

accommodate building materials, local climate conditions, and interior moisture loads. 

DOE ResearchonHeatandMoisture 

Transport Properties in Walls 

In 2003, DOE sponsored Washington 

State University and Oak Ridge 

National Laboratory to build a 

test bed to evaluate full-scale 

wood frame wall systems in 

the Pacific Northwest marine 

climate. Additional grants and 

in-kind contributions have come 

from Certain Teed, Fortifiber, 

Weyerhauser, APA – the 

Engineered Wood Association, and 

local suppliers, trade associations, 

and union apprentice programs. 

Key aspects of the research are 

to explore the interactions of high 

insulation levels, Washington’s 

ventilation requirements, and both 

current and new building practices. 

The overall impact of successful 

project completion will be a 

thorough understanding of building 

component relationships within a 

wall system and how they influence 

hygrothermal performance. With 

this understanding, building 

professionals and component 

manufacturers will be able to 

scientifically design buildings 

and products that are directly 

responsive to natural and 

conditioned environments. This 

will provide builders with a higher 

degree of confidence in the 

durability of their structures. 

One year of research at the NET 

Facility has shown that stucco 

clad walls without interior vapor 

retarders result in moisture 

accumulation in exterior sheathing. 

Other findings show the importance 

of cladding ventilation, the 

effectiveness of wall systems that 

couple exterior foam insulation 

(insulated sheathing) with cavity 

insulation, and the effectiveness 

of “smart” vapor retarders that 

become more permeable as the 

moisture load increases (the 

Certainteed MemBrain® was 

used in the testing and kraft 

backed insulation share some of 

these properties) (Murray 2005). 

Additional research will help 

provide design guidance over time 

as additional wall systems and 

products are tested. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Best Practice: Do not install impermeable coverings, such as vinyl wallpaper, on interior 

walls. Do not install polyethylene vapor retarders on the interior side of wall framing 

unless the wall system has been carefully designed to use that material. Building codes 

require polyethylene vapor retarders, but exceptions are available for engineered 

assemblies. Wall systems can be designed so that primed and painted gypsum board 

is an adequate vapor retarder. 

Best Practice: Roof and wall assemblies must contain elements that individually and 

in combination permit drying of spaces inside the assemblies. Exterior housewraps, 

including building paper and felt, will allow vapor to pass through and should be 

installed on the exterior side of sheathing. 

Best Practice: Water soaking through wood cladding can carry with it contaminants 

that may interfere with the ability of housewraps, building paper, or felt to resist water. 

Priming all surfaces of wood cladding avoids water saturation and migration and makes 

the wood much more durable. 

Best Practice: Creating an air space between the cladding and the drainage plane effectively 

increases the durability of both components. With some claddings, such as brick, 

the air space is especially important. An air space stops capillary movement of moisture, 

discourages vapor diffusion, stops the contamination of the drainage plane via contact with 

the cladding, and allows air circulation for better drying. In some wall assemblies, ventilation 

openings to the exterior at both the top and bottom further encourages drying (Murray 

2005). Information on housewrap performance behind brick and stucco can be found at 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/brick_stucco_housewraps.pdf 

Best Practice: Install two layers of building paper or felt in areas prone to severe rain. By 

providing a double drainage plane, the two layers offer increased resistance to leakage at 

fasteners, helps solve contamination problems from leaching or contact with stucco, and 

allows for more flexible installation. In ORNL’s study of Seattle multifamily buildings, 

two layers of 60-minute paper performed better than one layer of No.15 building felt 

(Karagiozis, 2002b). Two layers may be especially important behind stucco. 

Best Practice: Installation is key for all types of housewraps. The sheets must be lapped, 

shingle-style, especially over and around windows, doors, and other penetrations (and 

their flashing systems). Use manufacturer-specified fasteners and space them according 

to specifications to provide required support. See the Building Tips on installing 

housewraps in the Trades section. 

Additional information on moisture control, crawlspace insulation, basement 

insulation, and slab insulation can be obtained from: 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2003. EEBA Water Management Guide (Lstiburek 

2003), available for sale from the EEBA Bookstore, on the Web at 

www.eeba.org/bookstore.

• DOE’s Technology Fact Sheets on Weather-Resistive Barriers, available on 

the Web at www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/ 

• Building Science Consortium’s Web site at www.buildingscience.com/ 

designsthatwork/buildingmaterials where you can compare wraps and 

other materials. 

• www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/problems_with_housewraps.htm 

IMPERMEABLE COVERINGS 

Impermeable coverings inside the 

house are not recommended. 

HOUSEWRAPS 

Install exterior housewraps. 

BACKPRIMING 

Backprime all wood cladding 

to avoid water saturation. 

AIR SPACE 

Creating an air space between 

the cladding and the drainage plane 

effectively increases the durability 

of both components. 

TWO LAYERS OF 

BUILDING PAPER OR FELT 

Consider installing two layers 

of building paper or felt to create 

a double drainage plane. 

CAREFUL INSTALLATION 

Pay close attention to lapping, 

especially around windows and 

doors, as well as the proper use 

of fasteners. 

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• The following article provides an overview of house wraps and was a key 

source for this section: Straube, John. 2001. “Wrapping it Up,“ Canadian 

Architect. May, 2001. Available at www.cdnarchitect.com. 

• The National Association of Home Builders Research Center’s 

Moisture Protection of Wood Sheathing is available on the Web at 

www.nahbrc.org/docs/mainnav/moistureandleaks/792_moisture.pdf. 

• DOE’s Energy Savers fact sheet titled Vapor Diffusion Retarders and Air Barriers 

available on line at: www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/bd4.html 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2004. Builders Guides, available at www.eeba.org/bookstore. 

Guides to mixed humid, hot-dry, mixed-dry, and cold climates may apply to 

the marine climate. 

Housewrap, Building Paper, or Felt – Your Choices for Wrapping it Up 

Housewrap, building paper, or impregnated felt should be part of the exterior wall system 

that protects the building from water penetration. None of the materials are waterproof, 

but are intended to shed rainwater that penetrates exterior cladding. The surface formed 

by these materials is called a drainage plane, house membrane, or rain barrier. They are 

used to shed liquid water that may penetrate siding or roofing and to prevent liquid water 

from wicking through them, while remaining sufficiently vapor permeable (“breathable”) 

for outward drying (Straube 2001). By helping to keep building materials dry, these 

membranes improve building durability, decrease maintenance costs, and reduce the risk 

of moisture-related problems such as pests, mold, and rot. 

Building Paper is a Kraft paper sheet impregnated with asphalt to increase its strength 

and resistance to water penetration. It is primarily employed as a drainage layer. It is 

graded according to a test of the amount of time required for a water-sensitive chemical to 

change color when a boat-shaped sample is floated on water. Common grades include 10, 

20, 30, and 60 minutes. The larger the number, the more resistant the paper is to water. 

Building Felts have been in use over a hundred years. Originally made from rags, today’s 

felts are made of recycled paper products and sawdust. The base felt is impregnated with 

asphalt. Ratings for felt harken back to the traditional weight of the material before the oil 

crisis of the 1970s. At that time 100 square feet of the material (1 square) weighed about 

15 pounds. Modern #15 felt can weigh from 7.5 to 12.5 pounds per square depending on 

the manufacturer. 

Housewrap typically refers to specially designed plastic sheet materials. Housewrap 

comes in a variety of materials and can be perforated or non-perforated. If joints and 

connections are sealed, housewraps can serve as air retarders to reduce air leakage. 

Housewraps are highly resistant to tearing, unlike building paper. Non-perforated wraps 

tend to have higher liquid water resistance because the holes between plastic fibers are 

very small. 

Most building paper is UV-resistant, whereas recommended housewrap exposure limits 

may vary by manufacturer. Check with manufacturers if outdoor exposure will exceed 

a month. One person can usually install building paper, while housewrap requires two 

people. However, housewrap is available in wide sheets that can cover an entire one-story 

wall surface in a single pass. 

Adapted from Straube 2001. 

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Structural Air Sealing 

Best Practice: Use either interior gypsum board, exterior sheathing, or both as a 

continuous air flow retarder. Exterior stucco may also serve as an air flow retarder. 

Carefully seal big and little holes. Pay particular attention to sealing shared walls and 

attic spaces between garages and houses. 

Best Practice: Use sheet goods, such as hard board, rigid foam insulation, polyethylene 

sheet plastic, plywood, or sheet metal to seal holes behind tubs, shower stalls, stairs 

fireplaces, and other potential bypasses. 

FIGURE 6: Envelope Air Sealing 

Source: Building Science Corporation 

A tight building envelope is necessary to control the movement of air in and out of 

building assemblies. Air infiltration can contribute to problems with moisture, noise, 

dust, and the entry of pollutants, insects, and rodents. Using mechanical ventilation as 

a superior approach to supplying fresh air is discussed in the section on Mechanicals, 

Electrical, and Plumbing. 

Moisture-laden air moving into wall or roof assemblies may lead to condensation and 

result in deterioration of moisture sensitive materials. Airflow retarders can be installed 

on the interior or the exterior side of the envelope or on both sides. Insulation made 

up of batt or loose fill products does not seal against air leakage. Rigid foam board 

insulation can be used as both a moisture and air retarder. 

AIR SEALING 

Be sure to seal shared walls and 

attic spaces between garages 

and houses. 

SHEET GOODS 

Use sheet goods to seal holes 

behind all potential bypasses. 

ENERGY STAR THERMAL 

BYPASS CHECKLIST 

The checklist stipulates 16 areas 

that require special attention to 

insulation and air barrier continuity. 

1) Insulation installed in full 

contact with air barriers for 

continuous alignment 

2) Exterior walls behind tubs 

and showers 

3) Insulated floors in rooms 

over garages 

4) Attic knee walls 

5) Attic hatch openings 

and drop-down stairs 

6) Cantilevered floors 

7) Duct shafts and piping shafts 

and penetrations 

8) Flue shafts 

9) Attic eave baffles and insulation 

10) Dropped ceilings and soffits 

11) Fireplace walls 

12) Staircase framing on 

exterior walls 

13) Recessed lighting 

14) Porch roofs at intersection with 

exterior walls 

15) Whole-house fan penetrations 

16) Common walls between 

dwelling units 

For more information see the 

ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes 

Thermal Bypass Inspection 

Checklist at www.energystar.gov 

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Controlling air movement through the building envelope requires sealing both the 

“big” holes and the “little” holes. The big holes occur behind bathtubs and showers 

on exterior walls, behind fireplaces, and where soffits or utility walls (double wall with 

chase) meet exterior walls or ceilings. Recessed lights collectively can be a really big hole 

in the ceiling assembly. These big holes are responsible for wasted energy (high utility 

bills) and condensation that can cause mold and wood decay. These holes are easy to 

seal during the framing stage but only when someone has the responsibility for making 

sure it gets done. Only airtight recessed lights (ICAT-rated) should be used in ceilings 

leading to unconditioned spaces. 

The little holes occur between framing members (such as band joist to sill plate), 

around electrical boxes, and where plumbing or wiring penetrate the envelope. All 

penetrations leading to unconditioned spaces should be sealed with foam or caulk. See 

the Trades chapter, Building Tips on air sealants and the instructions for plumbers, 

electricians, and framers. Also see the sections later in this chapter for plumbing and electrical. 

When air sealing drywall, gypsum board acts as an interior air flow retarder. The 

gypsum board is sealed to the framing members at the perimeter of exterior walls and 

around penetrations such as doors, windows, and attic hatches. The gypsum board is 

also sealed to electrical boxes on exterior walls. Air cannot move through the gypsum 

board and the taped corners. 

There are many approaches and practices to sealing buildings. Many details and 

photographs of air sealing techniques can be found on the Building Science Corporation 

Web site at www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/airsealing/default.htm, 

in the EEBA Builders Guides, and in the DOE Technology Fact Sheet on Air Sealing 

available on the Web at www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents/pdfs/26448.pdf. 

Best Practice: One area to pay attention to for sealing is the intersection of the walls 

and roof. This area may involve an attic, cathedral ceiling, knee walls, all of the above, 

or other examples of complex roof lines. Figures 7 and 8 show knee wall examples. 

Tight sealing of this intersection may require blown-in foam. Careful work in these 

areas will help avoid ice dams. 

Best Practice: Another area needing special attention for occupant health and safety is 

sealing shared walls and ceilings between attached garages and living spaces. Carefully 

seal any penetrations, block air pathways through the attic, and weatherstrip any doors. 

Structural Thermal Performance 

Properly installed insulation is like your favorite winter comforter for keeping heat where it’s 

wanted. Any interior insulation type is acceptable that has vapor permeability. These include 

cellulose, fiberglass, and foam. Foam can also serve as an air retarder, but air sealing must be 

accomplished by a separate component or system when cellulose or fiberglass is used. 

The following descriptions of insulation were adapted from DOE’s Fact Sheet on 

Insulation available on the Web at www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_08.html. 

“Air stoppage is the biggest 

thing you can do and one 

of the cheapest.” 

Michelle Horstemeyer, a lead 

builder for John Wieland Homes 

INTERSECTIONS OF 

WALLS & ROOF 

Tight sealing of the intersection 

of the roof and wall may require 

blown-in foam.

FIGURE 7 & 8: Knee Walls 

Figures 7 and 8 show possible 

approaches to sealing knee walls. 

Seal knee wall to create a 

continuous air barrier. Knee walls 

can be sealed following the wall 

and attic floor. 

In new homes, it is preferred 

to seal along the sloping edge 

of the attic roof. 

Use rigid foam or sheet goods 

to seal joist cavities 

Desired 

ventilation 

Hardboard

Seal

Seal

SHARED WALLS & CEILINGS 

WITH GARAGES 

Pay special attention to the shared 

walls and ceilings between attached 

garages and living spaces. 

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How Much Insulation Do You Need? 

This is an excellent question to ask your Home Energy Rater. The answer depends on 

your location, the overall design, and the efficiency of other building features. At least the 

levels required by local code must be installed. Using a systems approach, insulation can be 

traded off with other building features. The ENERGY STAR Web site contains Builder 

Option Packages (BOPS) that recommend insulation levels on a county by county basis. 

The BOPS can be found at www.energystar.gov. Examining the ENERGY STAR BOPs 

provides some examples of how insulation can be traded off with other features such as 

efficient windows and HVAC systems. DOE can also help with insulation recommendations for each zip code. Visit the Web site below. Have in hand the first three digits 

of your zip code and the type of heating system that you are considering. The calculator 

will recommend an insulation level: www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_16.html 

If you prefer to work with a map, the following DOE Web site will give you recommended 

insulation levels: 

www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11340 

These recommendations are only guidelines and are limited in scope. The more complex or 

advanced your design, the more you should rely on specific calculations. 

Blankets 

Blankets in the form of batts or rolls are flexible products made from mineral fibers, 

typically fiberglass. They are available in widths suited to standard wall, floor, and 

attic framing spaces. Continuous rolls can be hand-cut and trimmed to fit. They are 

available with or without vapor retarder facings. High-density fiberglass batts are 

about 15% more effective than traditional batts. Even if you choose to use other types 

of insulation, such as blown or sprayed in cellulose or foam, batts can be installed in 

areas that may become inaccessible as construction unfolds. These areas could include 

behind-shower inserts, stairs, or rim joists. Batts also make good dams in attics around 

access points or other areas where blown-in insulation should be held back. 

Best Practice: When fiberglass batt insulation is specified, use high-density, unfaced 

or kraft-faced batts. Batt facing is a vapor retarder and can trap moisture inside walls. 

Check local code requirements. 

Blown-In 

Blown-in, loose-fill insulation includes loose fibers or fiber pellets that are blown into 

building cavities or attics using special pneumatic equipment. Another form includes 

fibers that are co-sprayed with moisture or an adhesive that allows them to set in 

walls and makes them resistant to settling. The blown-in material can provide some 

resistance to air infiltration if the insulation is sufficiently dense. 

Foamed-In-Place 

Foamed-in-place foam insulations can be applied by a professional applicator using 

special equipment to meter, mix, and spray into cavities. Foam makes an excellent air 

seal and can be used to reach hard-to-get-at places. 

Rigid Insulation 

Rigid insulation is made from fibrous materials or plastic foams that is pressed or 

extruded into sheets and molded pipe-coverings. These provide thermal and acoustical 

INSULATION 

Use high-density batts, when 

fiberglass batt insulation 

is specified. 

FIGURE 9: Insulation 

Blown-in wall insulation 

Batt insulation 

Reflective insulation 

Spray-in foam insulation. Soy-based 

foams are now available (Photo: Building Science Corporation) 

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insulation, strength with low weight, and coverage with few heat loss paths. Such 

boards may be faced with a reflective foil that reduces heat flow when next to an air 

space. Foil facing also makes the board nearly impervious to water and vapor and so 

should be used with caution. Rigid foam insulation may be used in combination with 

other insulation types, such as on the exterior of walls that are filled with cellulose or 

fiberglass. Foam sheets that may be in contact with the ground should be borate-treated 

for termite resistance (see Figure 11 on page 23 for an example of rigid foam insulation). 

Rigid insulation may also be applied to the interior and exterior of foundation walls. 

Reflective Insulation Systems 

Reflective insulation systems are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of 

backings such as roof sheathing, craft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or 

cardboard. These systems are applicable for sunny portions of the marine climate 

dominated by cooling rather than heating. If a single reflective surface is used alone and 

faces an open space, such as an attic, it is called a radiant barrier. 

Slab Foundation Insulation 

Slabs in the marine climate may be insulated at the perimeter with borate-treated 

foam board or rigid glass fiber insulation. Use only insulation approved for belowgrade use. Some code officials may require a gap between exterior insulation and wood 

foundations elements to provide a termite inspection area. Exterior insulation should 

be applied from the top of the foundation wall to the bottom of the frost line. Cover the 

exterior face of the insulation exposed to outside air using material such as flashing, fiber 

cement board, parging (stucco type material), treated plywood, or membrane material. 

A shallow, frost protected slab foundation may be used in areas subject to seasonal 

ground freezing. With this approach, foundation footings need not be placed below 

frost depth. However, rigid insulation, approved for below-grade use, must be placed 

vertically on the exterior of the grade beam, and must be placed to extend away from 

the foundation horizontally at the base of the grade beam for a distance equivalent to 

frost depth. Rigid insulation is also needed vertically on the inside of the grade beam, 

and must extend horizontally under the slab, on top of the gravel capillary break, for 

two feet. Code officials may require that a structural engineer review and approve 

specific plans. 

For more information on shallow foundations see: 

• Houses that Work (BSC 2004), www.bsc.com 

• The American Society of Civil Engineers standard (number 32-01), 

Design and Construction of Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations. 

• University of Minnesota, Building Foundations Research 

Program, Frost Protected Shallow Foundations Design Specifications. 

www.buildingfoundation.umn.edu/MHFAfrostFoundation.htm 

Slab perimeters may be insulated on the interior side. This approach requires that rigid 

insulation be placed between the slab and the foundation wall, and under the slab, as 

required by local code. 

“It proved to me that some of these 

measures are worth the extra 

money, for example, a radiant 

barrier roof shielding—it helps 

deflect the heat of the sun, and 

this helps with the heating bills 

in the summer time.” 

Michelle Horstemeyer, a lead 

builder for John Wieland Homes’ 

first Building America home the 2002 

New American Home in Atlanta. 

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Crawlspace Insulation 

Crawlspaces are a foundation method used in the marine climate. Two methods are in 

use for insulating crawlspaces. The first, in common use over the last several decades, 

is to insulate the underside of the building floor, and provide outside air vents in 

foundation walls. Research has shown that this approach can lead to moisture problems, 

especially in areas with frigid air or warm humid air. These conditions are not common 

in the marine climate. Ventilated crawlspaces require properly installed floor insulation 

(see Building Tips on Insulation Installation), tightly sealed ducts, and duct insulation. 

Duct sealing and insulation are described later in this chapter. 

Another approach is referred to as conditioned crawlspaces, or mechanically vented 

crawlspaces. Within this type of system, foundation side walls are insulated on either the 

interior or exterior (or both), and no outside air vents tunnel through the foundation 

wall. These conditioned crawlspaces allow for the placement of ducts and air handlers in 

conditioned space. Research on this type of crawl space system is just getting underway 

in the Pacific Northwest. Conditioned crawlspaces may require a code variance. 

Guidance for code officials can be found in Appendix III, Code Notes. Building America 

teams recommend using conditioned crawlspaces. 

Best Practice: All crawlspaces require proper site engineering and landscaping to 

maintain adequate site drainage. Local groundwater tables at their maximum elevation 

should be below the lowest excavated site foundations levels. Sealed crawlspaces have 

less air exchange with the outside and so behave in a way similar to basements when 

inundated from improper site drainage or groundwater. For more information see the 

section on Foundation System Moisture and Soil Gas Control earlier in this chapter. 

Best Practice: The preferred approach is to install insulation on the exterior foundation 

wall. Exterior insulation will help to protect the foundation from the freeze-thaw cycle and a 

warmer wall is less likely to condense moisture. Products such as borate-treated foam board 

or rigid glass fiber insulation work well. Extruded polystyrene (R-5 per inch) is durable and 

moisture resistant. Expanded polystyrene (R-4 per inch) is less expensive, but it has a lower 

insulating value. Rigid fiber glass insulation does not insulate as well as foam but provides a 

drainage plane. Some code officials may require a gap between exterior insulation and wood 

foundations elements to provide a termite inspection area. Insulation that is exposed above 

grade must be covered with a protective coating such as flashing, fiber cement board, parging 

(stucco type material), treated plywood, or membrane material. 

If placed on the interior, wall insulation must extend down the wall to a depth at 

least 2 feet below grade level and be rated for crawlspace and basement exposure. 

Polyisocyanurate insulation with an aluminum facing is a good interior insulation 

choice. If the crawlspace wall extends less than 2 feet below grade level, then the 

remaining insulation must be placed horizontally along the ground at the base of the 

wall. A sealed ground cover is installed over the entire area of the crawlspace. Install a 

system to provide conditioned air to the crawlspace. More information is available at: 

• Building Energy Codes Resource Center, Details for Mechanically Vented 

Crawlspaces - Code Notes, www.energycodes.gov/support/code_notes.stm 

(includes information on sizing the mechanical ventilation). 

• University of Minnesota, Building Foundations Research Program. Minnesota Energy 

Code Building Foundation Rule: Amendment Proposal Development Project Final Report, 

www.buildingfoundation.umn.edu/FinalReportWWW/Section-A/A-recs-main.htm 

CONDITIONED CRAWLSPACES 

Insulate foundation side walls on 

either the interior or exterior (or both). 

Fig 10. Conditioning Crawlspaces 

(AHU: Air Handling Unit) 

A: Supply air to crawlspace 

B: Return air from crawlspace 

C: Supply and return to crawlspace 

For all configurations above: 

• Minimum 2-4”x8” transfer grilles 

from house 

• 20 cfm of flow per 1,000ft

2 of crawlspace 

• Air handler cycled at 5 minutes per hour 

Source: Building Science Consortium 

EXTERIOR INSULATION 

Install insulation on the exterior 

foundation wall to help protect 

the foundation from the freezethaw cycle. 

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• www.crawlspaces.org This Web site is geared toward research done on 

crawlspaces in the mixed-humid climate. 

See these documents from Building America Consortia available at 

www.buildingamerica.com in the Publications section. 

• Broniek, John. Builder System Performance Packages Technical Report. Prepared 

by IBACOS for the Building America Program. 

• Yost, Nathan. May 2003. “The Case for Conditioned, Unvented Crawlspaces.” 

Building Safety Journal. 

• IBACOS. 2002. Best Practices: Consider the Crawlspace. 

Basement Insulation 

Basements are a common foundation system in the marine climate. Wall insulation in 

basements is similar to the approaches described for crawlspaces. And basement floors 

are insulated in ways similar to slabs. 

Best Practice: Exterior wall insulation is preferred over interior approaches (Broniek 

2003; Yost and Lstiburek 2002). Exterior insulation will help to protect the basement 

wall from freeze-thaw cycles and will help make the wall warmer, giving condensation 

less chance of forming and improving thermal comfort. Exterior insulation’s position 

outside of damp proofing makes it less likely to contribute to problems of trapped 

moisture inside basement walls. Exterior wall insulation must be approved for belowgrade use. Products such as borate-treated foam board or rigid glass-fiber insulation work 

well. Extruded polystyrene (R-5 per inch) is durable and moisture resistant. Expanded 

polystyrene (R-4 per inch) is less expensive, but it has a lower insulating value. Rigid 

fiber-glass insulation does not insulate as well as foam but it is the only insulation option 

that provides a drainage plane for foundation walls. Some code officials may require a 

gap between exterior insulation and wood foundations elements to provide a termite 

inspection area. Insulation that is exposed above grade must be covered with a protective 

coating such as flashing, fiber cement board, parging (stucco type material), treated 

plywood, or membrane material. Exterior insulation is an especially good choice in areas 

with high water tables or poor draining soils. 

If interior insulation is used it is important to consider moisture control, insulation 

flame spread rating, and moisture compatibility. Yost and Lstiburek (2002) discuss 

three requirements for interior basement insulation systems. 

• It must dry to the interior if wetting occurs because the below-grade portion 

of the wall cannot dry to the exterior. This requirement means that interior 

polyethylene vapor barriers or any impermeable interior wall finishes such as 

vinyl wall coverings or oil/alkyd/epoxy paint systems should not be installed. 

• The wall system must be tightly sealed to keep interior air from reaching the 

cool foundation wall. The system must have either an effective interior air 

barrier (see the section on structural air sealing), or rigid insulation could be 

installed directly on the interior concrete or masonry surfaces. 

• Material is contact with the foundation wall and the concrete slab must be 

moisture tolerant. A capillary break must be placed between materials that 

transport moisture and moisture sensitive materials. 

EXTERIOR BASEMENT 

INSULATION 

Install insulation on the exterior 

foundation wall to help protect 

the foundation from the freezethaw cycle. 

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Yost and Lstiburek go on to present three strategies for interior basement insulation. 

The first system uses foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid insulation attached directly to the 

upper portion of the basement wall. Extruded or expanded polystyrene can be attached 

to the below-grade portion of the wall. The polystyrene would require a gypsum board 

or equivalent covering. Extending gypsum board up the entire wall, leaving at least a 

half-inch gap at the floor to avoid wetting, provides a finished wall. 

A second system has either expanded or extruded polystyrene foam board attached 

to the entire foundation wall. Extruded polystyrene is more moisture tolerant and 

should be used if there are any doubts in the external drainage system. Additional 

insulation can be added to a frame wall built on the interior of the foam insulation. If 

no additional insulation is desired, wood furring strips can be attached over the foam 

and gypsum board attached to the furring strips. A similar approach is described in the 

masonry wall section of this report, suggests the installation of 2x4 furring, against the 

basement wall, at the intersection with the ceiling, if a firestop is required. Check with 

local code officials about required fire ratings and stops. Gypsum board should be held 

at least a half inch above the basement floor to avoid wetting. 

A third approach uses pre-cast concrete foundation walls that come with a minimum of 

1 inch of rigid foam insulation attached to the interior. 

Broniek suggests that a blanket insulation with a perforated facing (to allow drying 

of the wall to the inside) can also be used on the inside face, but it is best used in 

combination with exterior insulation and in conditioned basements. 

For more information on basement insulation see the following: 

• Broniek, John. 2003. Builder System Performance Packages Technical Report. 

Prepared by IBACOS for the Building America Program. Available at 

www.buildingamerica.gov in the publications section. 

• Yost, Nathan, and Joseph Lstiburek. 2002. Basement Insulation Systems. 

Prepared by the Building Science Consortia for the Building America Program. 

Available at www.buildingamerica.gov in the publication section. 

• DOE, Office of Building Technology. 2002. Technology Fact Sheet: Basement 

Insulation. Available at www.buildingamerica.com in the publication section. 

• IBACOS. 2002. Don’t Forget About the Basement. Prepared by IBACOS for 

the Building America Program. Available at www.buildingamerica.gov in the 

publications section. 

Frame Walls 

Best Practice: Best practice for frame wall construction involves advanced framing 

techniques. However, these techniques are not required to achieve 30% space 

conditioning energy savings in the marine climate. If you want to gain greater 

efficiency, more information on advanced framing can be found in the guidance 

provided in this document for code officials, in the EEBA Builders Guides, in DOE’s 

Fact Sheet on Wall Insulation, and on the Web at www.buildingscience.com/ 

designsthatwork/advancedframing/default.htm. If advanced framing is to be used, a 

detailed plan should be developed showing framing placement. 

ADVANCED FRAMING 

Consider advanced framing 

techniques when contructing walls. 

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Building America sponsored work by the Building Science Consortium and the U.S. 

Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory to develop an inset shear panel 

for advanced framing in seismic regions. Information on the inset shear panel is 

available at www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/default.htm. 

External walls with 2x6 framing are typical in the marine climate. These walls should 

include the following features: 

•	 Exterior sheathing, preferrably foam insulating sheathing with joints taped to 

provide a water and air barrier. Use insulating sheathing that does not have a 

film facing.

•	 Insulation may be R-19 friction-fit, kraft-faced fiberglass 

insulation or blown-in cellulose insulation.

•	 Frame walls between the garage and the conditioned space, including bonus 

rooms, should have unfaced or kraft-faced insulation.

•	 Rim joists: kraft-faced R-19 friction-fit batt insulation cut to fit. 

•	 Penetrations: Foam seal or caulk all top-plate penetrations and exterior 

wall penetrations.

•	 In addition to sealing all penetrations, air leakage through the walls should be 

controlled by sealing the gypsum board. Pay particular attention to air-sealing 

penetrations to garages and porches.

Masonry Walls 

Masonry walls may be finished with stucco, wood, or other claddings. 

Best practices to improve thermal efficiency include the following: 

•	 Semi-vapor permeable rigid insulation should be installed on the interior of FIGURE 11: Masonry Walls wall assemblies and should be unfaced. Foil facing and polypropylene skins with Interior Rigid Insulation should be avoided. Exterior insulation may also be installed. 

•	 Wood furring should be installed over rigid insulation. The rigid insulation 

should be continuous over the surface of the wall, except for a 2x4 furring at 

the intersection with the ceiling. This blocking attaches directly to the masonry 

block and serves as draft and fire stop. The rigid insulation abuts the blocking 

but does not cover it or extend behind it. 

•	 Foam seal or caulk all top plate penetrations and exterior wall penetrations. 

•	 Electrical boxes can be surface mounted to the masonry, avoiding chipping 

or chiseling. The rigid insulation, furring, and gypsum board will build up 

around the box for a flush finish.

•	 Use pressure treated lumber to frame out sub-jambs and spacers within 

window and door rough openings.

•	 As with other walls, penetrations to the exterior or through top and bottom 

plates should be foam sealed or caulked.

•	 In addition to sealing all penetrations, air leakage through the walls should be 

controlled by sealing the gypsum board. Pay particular attention to air sealing 

penetrations to garages and porches.

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•	 When pouring the slab take care to create a seat in the concrete to accept the 

block and seats in the concrete to act as drain pans where exterior doors and 

sliding doors will be located. 

More information on masonry construction can be found in the Builders Guides 

(Lstiburek 2002) and on the Web at the Building America Houses that Work section of 

the Building Science Corporation Web site www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/ 

hothumid/profiles/orlando.htm. Look for the Orlando Profile. Window flashing details 

can be found in the ASTM standard entitled Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior 

Windows, Doors, and Skylights (ASTM 2002) and the EEBA Water Management Guide. 

The Water Management Guide also contains information on other approaches to draining 

masonry assemblies. The Trades chapter contains a building tips sheet for masonry walls. 

Concrete Walls 

Some builders are beginning to use poured concrete walls for residential construction. 

For more information on this approach see Builder System Performance Package Targeting 

30%-40% Savings in Space Conditioning Energy Use prepared by CARB (CARB 2004). 

Windows 

Best Practice: Specify efficient windows to control solar energy gains and to help reduce 

heating and cooling loads. Some Building America experts recommend that, nationwide, 

windows be used with a U-factor of 0.35 or lower and a SHGC of 0.35 or less. The 

tradeoff in using a smaller SHGC is that the sun is blocked in both winter, when the 

sun helps to heat the house, and summer, when the sun works against air conditioning. 

In the Pacific Northwest marine climate, the heating season is longer than the air 

conditioning season so some solar-heating energy may be lost with low SHGC windows. 

In some parts of the California marine climate, air conditioning may be a bigger load 

than heating and a low SHGC is helpful. Note that ENERGY STAR qualification can 

be met with windows at less stringent ratings. 

Windows are a prominent feature of any wall. High-performance windows can be an 

easy way to achieve ENERGY STAR qualification. Efficient windows will add expense 

to your project, but will provide tremendous value in comfort, durability, and energy 

savings. High-performance windows add so much to energy efficiency that smaller 

cooling and heating equipment can often be specified, which may recapture much of 

the cost. A voluntary rating system developed by the National Fenestration Rating 

Council (NFRC) provides performance information for about half the windows 

sold. The NFRC label contains ratings for the following features. You can find more 

information about the NFRC on the Web at www.nfrc.org. 

• U-factors take into account the entire window assembly and rate how well 

the window prevents heat from passing through the window. The lower the 

U-factor the better the window performs at stopping heat flow. U-factors are 

the inverse of R-values used to measure the effectiveness of insulation. U-factor 

values for windows generally fall between 0.20 and 1.2. 

• SHGC is the solar heat gain coefficient, which measures how well the window 

blocks heat caused by sunlight. The lower the SHGC rating the less solar heat 

the window transmits. This rating is expressed as a fraction between 0 and 1. 

Les Bluestone, owner of Blue Sea 

Development Company in New 

York, said modeling of thermal 

bridging performed by Building 

America helped him cut heat loss 

at a multifamily development in 

New York that used precast concrete panels for exterior walls and 

wood framing for interior walls. 

“The heat was being transferred 

through the studs to the outside 

walls, and that caused a considerable amount of heat loss,” said 

Bluestone.“So, before we did any 

of the interior framing, we put 

up a layer of rigid insulation (1⁄2-

inch expanded polystyrene board). 

We wrapped the entire inside 

of the building with this rigid 

insulation, creating a real thermal 

break for minimal transference. 

This made a big, big difference.” 

WINDOWS 

Specify efficient windows to control 

solar energy gains and to help 

reduce heating and cooling loads. 

FIGURE 12: NFRC Window Label 

Energy efficient windows are 

comfortable to sit near and 

provide protection for furniture 

and window treatments. 

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• Visible transmittance (VT) measures how much light comes through a 

window. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The bigger the 

number the more clear the glass. 

• Air leakage through a window assembly is included on most manufacturers’ 

labels, but is not required. The AL rating is expressed as the equivalent cubic 

feet of air passing through a square foot of window area (cfm/sq.ft.) The lower 

the AL, the less the window leaks. A typical rating is 0.2. 

• Another optional rating is Condensation Resistance (CR), which measures 

the ability of a product to resist the formation of condensation on the interior 

surface of that product. The higher the CR rating, the better that product 

is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict 

condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential 

of various products for condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number 

between 1 and 100, with a higher value representing more resistance to the 

formation of condensation. 

The Efficient Windows Collaborative operates a Web site that can help designers and 

consumers choose windows. The Web site includes a tool that allows users to analyze 

energy costs and savings for windows with different ratings. Visit the Web site at 

www.efficientwindows.org/index.cfm. 

The Web site also has fact sheets with comparisons for each state. These fact sheets 

could make effective marketing tools. Also described on the Web site is a book entitled 

Residential Windows: A Guide to New Technologies and Energy Performance (Carmody 

et al. 2000), which offers homeowners, architects, designers, and builders a fascinating 

look at the state of the art in window technology. Emphasizing energy performance, 

the book covers every aspect of window design and technology: the basic mechanisms 

of heat transfer; new products and rating systems; the effects of window frame material 

and installation; and how to make the best decisions when purchasing windows. 

Overhangs 

Best Practice: Design roofs with overhangs to shade and protect windows and doors. 

Overhangs may take the form of eaves, porches, or other design features such as 

awnings, pergolas, or trellises. 

Single glazing is not recommended, but when a house has clear single glazing, lightcolored interior shades, overhangs, and combinations of shading devices significantly 

reduce energy costs. 

Reliance on any form of shading is not nearly as important when windows with a 

low solar-heat-gain coefficient are used. Using a low-solar-gain low-E coating in areas 

dominated by air conditioning results in great energy cost reductions for all conditions 

even with no shading. This is because the glazing itself provides much of the control 

of solar radiation, so shading measures become less important in terms of energy use. 

For a description of the interactions between window performance and shading, see the 

Efficient Windows Collaborative Web site at www.efficientwindows.org. 

Solar gain can be substantial 

in inland portions of the 

marine climate 

OVERHANGS 

Design roofs with overhangs 

to shade and protect windows 

and doors. 

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One advantage to using overhangs is that they can be designed to allow solar gain 

in the winter. Low SHGC glass blocks the sun year round. Overhangs should be 

sized to account for differences in the angles of the sun during winter and summer. 

Precise overhang dimensions should be calculated for each latitude. Free and 

low-cost computer programs and tools are available to help. For example, a free 

program telling you the angle of the sun for any point in the country is available at 

www.susdesign.com/sunangle/. Latitude, longitude, and elevation data can be obtained 

at www.wunderground.com. Overhang dimensions can be calculated at 

www.susdesign.com/overhang/index.html. For a listing of free and available-forpurchase energy models, including solar design tools, see DOE’s Building Technology 

Program Web site at - www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/. Click on 

Software Tools on the lower right side. A low-cost sun angle calculator is available from 

the Society of Building Science Educators at www.sbse.org/resources/sac/index.htm. 

Overhangs also provide protection from rain, hail, and the effects of overheating and 

ultraviolet radiation on siding and windows. 

Ceilings and Roofs 

As indicated earlier, ceilings, roofs, and attics represent complex building assemblies. In 

addition to the sealing and insulation approaches shown in the Air Sealing section, here 

are additional insulation guidelines. These guidelines apply to traditionally ventilated 

attics. Unvented attics must be tightly sealed and are not described in detail in this guide. 

Carefully installed ceiling insulation helps to prevent ice dams. 

• If attic access is provided, it must be insulated and weather-stripped. 

• Use baffles to allow ventilation air to freely flow past insulation. 

• Install an “energy” truss for more headroom at the eave to avoid compressing 

insulation and allow for complete attic insulation coverage. 

• Use dams to hold insulation away from openings and storage areas. Thick batt 

insulation makes an excellent dam. Waxed cardboard, foam sheathing, and 

other sheet goods can also be used as dams. 

• Only recessed lights rated for “insulated ceiling and airtight” (ICAT) should 

be installed in ceilings. See the section on electrical for more information. 

Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 

Best Practice: For the best results in comfort, efficiency, and durability, HVAC system 

design for both equipment and ducts must be integrated in the overall architectural 

design. Work closely with your HVAC engineer, HVAC contractor or HERS rater to 

properly design, size, and select your HVAC equipment. If done properly, you will save 

money and go a long way with this single step toward improved energy efficiency and 

comfort and substantial cost savings. 

A well-designed house should have an HVAC system properly sized to its demands. 

Proper equipment sizing ensures a comfortable environment and provides opportunities 

to recapture some of the expense of an efficient building envelope. Rules of thumb for 

equipment sizing do not work in modern homes and should not be used. 

FIGURE 13: Overhangs 

Summer 

Sun Winter 

Sun 

66o 

21o 

4 ft. 

Sun angles for Portland, Oregon. 

A four foot window would need 

an overhang extending 31 inches 

with 12 inches of wall above 

the window. 

HVAC 

Integrate HVAC system design in 

the overall architectural design. 

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Unfortunately, rules of thumb are still prevalent. A Florida survey points out some of 

the practices of HVAC contractors (Viera, Parker, Klonbergo, Sonn, and Cummings 

1996). Although only a small percentage of Florida’s HVAC contractors responded, 

the survey found that about one-third of respondents size air conditioning and 

duct capacities based on square footage or other rules of thumb. Compounding the 

problem, the rules were not consistently applied. Some respondents provided twice 

as much capacity as others for a given square footage of floor area. Over one-third of 

respondents indicated intentional oversizing of HVAC equipment on some jobs, in 

order to avoid complaints, accommodate future expansions, enable quicker cooling 

down of homes, and to allow for lower cooling set points by homeowners. 

Sizing Furnaces and Air Conditioners 

Best Practice: Right-size air conditioners and other HVAC equipment. 

One estimate states that a Manual J calculation takes about 30 to 60 minutes for 

an average home, using the measurements from construction drawings. Manual S 

calculations require an additional 15 to 30 minutes (SBIC 2003). A single calculation 

can work for multiple use of the same plans. 

Four Sources for HVAC Design 

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has published simple but 

effective methods for determining loads and sizing ductwork and heating and 

cooling equipment. 

• Manual J tells you how to calculate loads. 

• Manual D tells you how to size ducts. 

• Manual S guides you through the selection of appropriate heating and 

cooling equipment to meet identified loads. 

• Manual T gives you the basics for small buildings. 

For more information or to purchase these documents on the Web, go to www.acca.org. 

Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Ratings 

Best Practice: Central air conditioners should be rated at a minimum of 13 Seasonal 

Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for air cooling and heat pumps should be rated at a 

minimum of 7.7 Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) for heating. 

In September 2006 DOE will begin enforcing a 13 SEER standard for all 

residential central air conditioners. For more information on this standard, visit 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards. 

Consider using SEER-14 air conditioning equipment to achieve performance levels greater 

than 30% savings. Equipment with SEER ratings up to 20 are now available. Currently, 

ENERGY STAR-labeled central air conditioners have a minimum rating of SEER 12. 

“‘The recommended changes in 

our practices meant we were able 

to downsize our equipment by a 

half-ton,’ explains Andrew Nevitt, 

Medallion’s head architect. ‘Our 

contractors were concerned that 

they’d experience increased callbacks 

because of comfort issues.’ That 

hasn’t been the case. Medallion 

is building all its homes to reach 

ENERGY STAR performance 

levels and is working with Building 

America to learn practices that will 

push the performance of its homes 

even further.” 

As reported in Professional Builder 

3/1/03. 

RIGHT-SIZING 

Right size air conditioners and other 

HVAC equipment. 

FIGURE14: ACCA Manuals 

Photos by ACCA 

RATINGS 

Central air conditioners should be 

rated at a minimum of 13 SEER and 

heat pumps should be rated at 

a minimum of 7.7 HSPF. 

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Heat Pumps 

Heat pumps are preferable to electric resistance heating in the marine climate. A unit 

with a HSPF of 7.7 or more will reduce the electric consumption during heating by more 

than 50% relative to electric resistance heating. The new standard will require that central 

heat pumps have a minimum rating of 7.7 HSPF. Lists of all ENERGY STAR-rated 

appliances can be found at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_appliances. 

In colder areas where temperatures often fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), typical air 

source heat pumps require an electric resistance system to properly heat a home. This can 

be an extremely costly method of supplemental heating; a backup gas or propane furnace 

may be a cost-effective alternative. A newly-designed cold climate heat pump is under 

development but not readily available. 

Central Gas-Fired Furnace 

Best Practice: Sealed combustion gas furnaces should be specified for central gas-fired 

heating systems. ENERGY STAR-labeled furnaces meet a minimum Annual Fuel 

Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 90. 

Sealed Combustion 

Sealed combustion means than an appliance acquires all air for combustion through 

a dedicated sealed passage from the outside, to a sealed combustion chamber, and all 

combustion products are vented to the outside through a separate, dedicated sealed vent. 

Mechanical Ventilation 

Best Practice: Building America recommends that whole-house mechanical ventilation 

be provided as specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.2. Recommended ventilation 

systems for indoor air quality include mechanical exhaust, systems that supply air, or a 

combination of the two. 

• Base Rate Ventilation: controlled mechanical ventilation at a minimum base 

rate of 15 CFM for the master bedroom, plus 0.01 CFM for each square foot 

of conditioned area, and 7.5 CFM for each additional bedroom, should be 

provided, as listed in ASHRAE 62.2. 

• Spot Ventilation: intermittent spot ventilation of 100 CFM should be 

provided for the kitchen; all kitchen range hoods must be vented to the outside 

(no recirculating hoods). Intermittent spot ventilation of 50 CFM or continuous 

ventilation of 20 CFM, should be provided for each washroom/bathroom. 

Fans should be quiet, with a sound rating of less than 1.5 sonnes. 

Central fan-integrated supply ventilation can be an easy and inexpensive way to 

provide outside air to the HVAC system. This system provides fresh, filtered, 

outside air in a controlled amount using the existing HVAC delivery system for even 

distribution and mixing. 

GAS FURNACES 

Specify sealed combustion gas 

furnaces for central gas-fired systems. 

Efficiency Measures for Air 

Conditioners, Heat Pumps, 

and Furnaces 

The Annual Fuel Utilization 

Efficiency (AFUE) measures the 

amount of fuel converted to heat 

at the furnace outlet in proportion 

to the amount of fuel entering 

the furnace. This is commonly 

expressed as a percentage. A 

furnace with an AFUE of 90 could 

be said to be 90% efficient. 

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency 

Ratio (SEER) is a measure of 

equipment energy efficiency over 

the cooling season. It represents 

the total cooling of a central 

air-conditioner or heat pump (in 

Btu) during the normal cooling 

season as compared to the total 

electric energy input (in watt-hours) 

consumed during the same period. 

The Heating Season Performance 

Factor (HSPF) is a measure of a heat 

pump’s energy efficiency over one 

heating season. It represents the 

total heating output of a heat pump 

(including supplementary electric 

heat) during the normal heating 

season (in Btu) as compared to the 

total electricity consumed (in Watthours) during the same period. 

VENTILATION 

Whole-house mechanical 

ventilation should be provided as 

specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.2. 

Recommended ventilation systems 

for indoor air quality include 

continuous low-speed exhaust 

fans or balanced ventilation. 

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A New Standard in Residential Ventilation 

In Autumn 2003, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating And Air-Conditioning 

Engineers (ASHRAE) established a new standard for indoor ventilation in residences. The 

standard is ASHRAE 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential 

Buildings (ASHRAE 2003). The following information is adapted from the forward that is 

published with the standard: 

The standard contains three main sets of requirements and a host of secondary 

ones. The three primary sets involve whole-house ventilation, local exhaust, and 

source control. Whole house ventilation is intended to dilute the unavoidable 

contaminant emissions from people, materials, and background processes. Local 

exhaust is intended to remove contaminants from specific rooms, such as kitchens 

and bathrooms, where pollutant sources are produced. And source control measures 

are included to deal with other anticipated sources. The standard’s secondary 

requirements focus on properties of specific items, such as sound and flow ratings 

for fans and labeling requirements. 

The standard is principally about mechanical ventilation, but its purpose is to provide 

acceptable indoor air quality. The most effective way for keeping exposure to pollutants 

low is to keep them from being released to the general indoor environment in the first place. 

ASHRAE has published a guidance document on meeting this standard called 62.1 

User’s Manual, 2005. 

Most of the Building America teams have designed and field-tested these ventilation 

systems. The systems involve exterior air intakes, ductwork running to the return air 

side of the HVAC system, dampers to allow control of the air intake, and electronic 

controls to ensure that the HVAC fans operate frequently enough to draw in adequate 

fresh air. For an example of these systems, see www.buildingscience.com/resources/ 

mechanical/fancycling/air_distribution.pdf for more detailed information. 

FIGURE 15: Outside Vents 

Source: Building Science Consortium 

“Everyone in Oklahoma has 

allergies and asthma. I love to see 

comments on our surveys like ‘we 

really believe we have less allergies 

and asthma in this house.’” 

Vernon McKown, the co-owner 

of Ideal Homes in Oklahoma, who 

adds that he believes the fresh air 

ventilation system with the fan 

recycler is the product his 

customers appreciate the most. 

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Washington Mechanical Ventilation Requirements 

The Washington State Building Code Council has implemented a “Ventilation and Indoor 

Air Quality Code” (WAC 51-13). WAC 51-13 is required for all residential occupancies of 

four stories or less. The code has both source and whole-house ventilation requirements. 

Ventilation is required in rooms where excess water vapor, or cooking odor is produced – for 

example in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and spas. Fans will take excess water vapor or 

cooking odor and vent it to the outdoors, either with a continuous fan or with intermittent, 

manually controlled fans. Fans must have a minimum flow rating of 50 cfm for bathrooms, 

laundries or similar rooms, and a minimum flow rating of 100 cfm for kitchens. 

Whole House ventilation is required in all residential units. Required ventilation rates 

are based on the building floor area and the number of bedrooms. For example a 3 

bedroom, 2000 sq ft house would require between 80 and 120 cfm of outdoor air. All 

Whole House ventilation systems must be capable of continuous operation and must 

have a manual and an automatic control, such as a clock timer. 

For more information, visit the Washington State Building Code Council. www.sbcc.wa.gov 

Compact Air Distribution System FIGURE 16: Duct Run Configurations 

Best Practice: Make duct runs as short as 

possible. Duct may also be run through 

a conditioned crawlspace, conditioned 

basement, or conditioned attic. 

An efficient building envelope and 

efficient HVAC equipment allow 

for a compact air distribution system. 

Conditioned air may be discharged from 

walls (see the discussion in the next section 

on chase design) or from ceiling diffusers 

up to 12 feet from the window wall in most 

cases without compromising comfort. Such 

“inside throw” layouts cut ductwork runs, 

saving money and reducing the amount 

of ductwork that may run in unconditioned space. 

Seal All Ducts and Air Handlers 

Best Practice: Seal all ductwork seams 

and connections to air handlers with 

UL181-approved water-based mastic 

and seal drywall connections with caulk 

or foam sealant. 

Sealing ductwork is very important. Leaky 

ductwork in an unconditioned attic or 

crawlspace can draw unhealthy air into the 

air distribution system. Sealing ducts with 

COMPACT AIR 

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 

Make duct runs as short as 

possible. 

DUCT SEALING 

Seal all ductwork and air handlers 

with mastic and seal duct boots to 

sheetrock connections. 

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mastic is desirable even for ducts located in conditioned spaces. Properly sealed ducts 

make sure air gets to the spaces intended, rather than leaking into a plenum space. It 

also minimizes the chances of creating pressure differentials from space to space that 

would induce airflow through the envelope. The process of sealing each joint reduces 

the chances of unconnected ductwork, a surprisingly common mistake. 

Mastic provides the most reliable duct sealing method for new construction. All 

ductwork, including the air handler compartment (which typically has many leaky 

joints), should be mastic sealed. 

DOE research has found that some tapes perform adequately for sealing ducts, 

particularly fiberglass duct board. However, good performing tapes may be difficult to 

identify and traditional duct tape (cloth-backed rubber adhesive tapes) should never be 

used to seal ducts, even if it meets UL ratings. Do not use sealing tapes for structural 

purposes. Tapes have low tensile strength and should not be used to mechanically 

support ducts. A technical report (Walker, Sherman, Modera, and Siegel 1998) on duct 

sealants can be found on the Web at http://ducts.lbl.gov/Publications/lbl-41118.pdf 

and a less technical article (Sherman and Walker 1998) on similar research can be 

found at www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/98/980710.html. 

California Title 24 residential building standards requires that duct sealants meet UL 181, 

UL 181A, UL 181B, or UL 723 (for aerosol sealants). The California Energy Commission 

has approved a cloth-backed duct tape with a special butyl adhesive (CEC 2005). 

Standards for Duct Sealants 

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) publishes several standards that relate to duct 

sealants, the most important of which is UL 181. It deals with ducts in general, with UL 

181A covering field-assembled duct-board, and UL 181B covering flex duct systems. 

Each standard includes test procedures for sealants. Duct tapes and packing tapes that 

pass UL 181B are labeled “UL 181B-FX.” Mastics can pass 181A or B and 

are labeled “UL 181A-M” or “UL 181B-M.” Foil tapes are designated with a P. 

Most tapes that are labeled 181B-FX are duct tapes. UL 181A and 181B appear to do a 

good job of testing for safety, tensile strength, and initial adhesion. However, they may 

not do a good job of rating how well sealants seal typical duct leaks or how well they stay 

sealed under normal conditions. 

The California Energy Commission has approved a cloth-backed duct tape with a special 

butyl adhesive (CEC 2005). 

Adapted from Sherman and Walker 1998 

Ducts and Air Handlers in Conditioned Space 

Best Practice: Ducts and air handlers should be placed in conditioned spaces or buried 

in insulation to the extent possible. High temperatures can be found in unconditioned 

spaces and create an unfavorable environment for ducts and air handlers. California 

recognizes crawlspace placement of ducts as preferable to putting ducts in attics. 

FIGURE 17: Mastic 

Mastic provides the most reliable duct 

sealing method for new construction. 

“Sealing the ducts with mastic 

is I think the single most 

important thing that anyone 

should do. Sealing gets leakage 

rates down to about 2%. 

Not doing duct sealing on 

new construction is extremely 

short sighted. Mastic will last 

the life of the system, while 

conventional duct tape can fail 

within a year.” 

Lucian Kragiel, Co-owner of 

Atlantic Design and Construction 

DUCT RUNS 

Ducts and air handlers should be 

placed in conditioned spaces or 

buried in insulation. 

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Best Practice: As an alternative to placing ductwork in conditioned space, Building 

America research has shown that in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates, burying attic 

ducts in insulation is acceptable. California code (Title 24) does not restrict the use 

of buried ducts in the marine climate. The approach is described in California’s 2005 

Building Energy Efficiency Standards Residential Compliance Manual (CEC 2005). 

Where cooling is used in areas of high humidity, condensation could form on 

duct surfaces. 

Ducts and air handlers perform best when placed within conditioned space. Keeping 

ducts inside conditioned space may require one of several strategies, such as: 

1) Placing ducts in a chase designed to run through a central corridor below 

the attic or on top of the ceiling through the attic. If the chase runs 

through the attic, it must fit within the roof truss design and will be 

covered with insulation. For more information on designing and building 

an interior chase see the report, Design and Construction of Interior Duct 

Systems (McIlvaine, Beal, and Fairey 2001), available on the Web at 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/baihp//pubs/interior_ducts.pdf. 

2) Insulating and sealing the underside of the roof sheathing to create a 

conditioned attic. This strategy requires tightly sealing the roof structure, 

especially where it connects with the walls, to avoid the entry of outside air. 

This technique essentially requires building a non-vented roof assembly. For 

more information on this technique see www.buildingscience.com/resources/ 

roofs/unvented_roof_summary_article.pdf. This approach may require a 

variance from local code officials. 

3) In houses with a crawlspace, insulating and sealing the exterior walls of 

the crawlspace so that it becomes a conditioned space, such as a mini 

basement. This strategy requires treating the crawlspace much like a living 

space with conditioned air supply, moisture control, and air returns to 

the HVAC system. More information on this approach can be found at 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/hothumid/profiles/montgomery.htm. 

Air handlers should be placed inside conditioned space. One approach is to build 

a conditioned closet with sealed access from the garage. In addition to improving 

the efficiency of the equipment, this approach adds additional square footage to the 

conditioned space. 

California Title 24 residential building standards requires that duct sealants meet UL 181, 

UL 181A, UL 181B, or UL 723 (for aerosol sealants). The California Energy Commission 

has approved a cloth-backed duct tape with a special butyl adhesive (CEC 2005). 

Duct Insulation 

Best Practice: Ducts in unconditioned spaces must be insulated. 

To the extent possible, ducts should be placed inside conditioned space. In conditioned 

spaces, they require minimal insulation. If the ducts are placed in unconditioned spaces, 

due to the extreme summer temperatures in these spaces, 10% to 30% of the energy 

used to cool the air can be lost to conduction through the duct surfaces. Therefore, 

they must be insulated. Codes typically require R-8 insulation levels for ducts in 

unconditioned attics and crawlspaces. 

Properly sized and sealed ducts, kept 

inside conditioned space, improve 

performance and reduce cost. 

Source: IBACOS 

DUCTS BURIED IN INSULATION 

Based on Building America 

research, California’s Title 24 

includes provisions for buried and 

deeply buried ducts in attics. 

INSULATING DUCTS 

Ducts in unconditioned spaces 

must be insulated. 

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FIGURE 18: Approaches to Pressure Balancing 

Source: Building 

Science Corporation

Transfer Grilles and Jump Ducts 

Best Practice: Use jump ducts and transfer grilles and other return pathways to 

maintain balanced pressure in rooms that are often isolated from the rest of the house 

by a closed door, such as a bedroom. 

To maintain balanced pressure, air must be returned from each room to the central 

HVAC equipment. One way to do this would be to add a ducted return from each 

room. However, this would be expensive and consume a lot of space. A cost-effective 

approach is to provide a central return and make sure that there are transfer grilles or 

transfer ducts, of adequate size, that allow air to pass from individual rooms to the 

central return even when doors are closed. Figure 18 illustrates different approaches 

to creating paths to equalize air pressure and allow air to return to HVAC equipment. 

When designing registers and transfer grilles, place them high on the wall in areas 

where furniture may block air movement. 

Draw Duct Layouts on Plans 

Best Practice: Clearly identify on plans and drawings the locations, sizes, and types for 

all duct work and registers, including the heating and cooling supply ducts, passive 

return air ducts or transfers, the locations for the mechanical ventilation air inlet (at 

least 8 feet away from any exhausts or condensers), and all exhaust outlets. If chases or 

other spaces are to be dedicated to duct runs, indicate this on the plans. 

This level of detail can be referenced in contract documents so you know exactly what you 

will be getting. These documents can provide guidance in the field for proper installation. 

Energy Performance and Commissioning 

Best Practice: The Site Supervisors

inspections and tests that cover all phases of construction. 

chapter includes a list of commissioning 

Building Science Corporation has identified performance testing as a key reason for 

substantial reductions in callbacks (BSC 2003). 

“The biggest source of leakage 

in the ducts is when there is no 

caulking between the drywall 

and the “can” which holds the 

duct to the register. If the can 

is not sealed to the drywall, 

we estimate 40% leakage can 

occur there alone.” 

Doug Dryer, ConSol’s national 

sales manager

BALANCED PRESSURE 

Use jump ducts and transfer 

grilles and other return pathways 

to maintain balanced pressure in 

bedrooms and other isolated rooms. 

FIGURE 19: Jump Ducts 

Source: IBACOS 

DUCT WORK LOCATION 

Clearly identify on plans and 

drawings the locations, sizes, and 

types for all duct work and registers. 

EVALUATION 

Specify commissioning and 

test procedures. 

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Occupant Health and Safety 

The following best practices should be included in the house design: 

• All combustion appliances in the conditioned space must be sealed combustion 

or power-vented. Specifically, any furnace inside conditioned space shall be 

a sealed-combustion 90%+ (AFUE of 90 or greater) unit. Any water heater 

inside conditioned space shall be power vented or power-direct vented. 

Designs that incorporate passive combustion air supply openings or outdoor 

supply air ducts not directly connected to the appliance should be avoided. 

• Gas cooking ranges should be tuned to a blue flame and should be equipped 

qith an exhaust fan. Typically there is no requirement for make-up air. 

• Use sealed-combustion gas fireplaces to eliminate the threat of harmful 

combustion gases from entering the house. All fuel-burning fireplaces should 

have sealed combustion and be properly vented to the outside. If not properly 

vented and sealed, the fireplace can produce harmful combustion pollutants that 

may be emitted into the home, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, 

and sulfur dioxide. 

• Provide filtration systems for forced air systems that provide a minimum 

atmospheric dust spot efficiency of 30% or MERV of 6 or higher. MERV 

(Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is a measure of an air filter’s 

efficiency at removing particles. A fiberglass panel filter may have a MERV 

of 4 or 5. Critical areas in hospitals may use a MERV 14 filter. Electronic air 

cleaners should be used with caution because the ozone they produce may 

affect sensitive individuals. 

• Indoor humidity should be maintained in the range of 25% to 60% by 

controlled mechanical ventilation, mechanical cooling, or dehumidification. See 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/moisture/relative_humidity_0402.pdf. 

• Carbon monoxide detectors (hard-wired units) shall be installed (at one per 

every approximate 1,000 square feet) in any house containing combustion 

appliances and/or an attached garage. 

• Maximize hard surface areas (tile, vinyl, hardwood) to better manage dust for 

health purposes. For slab-on-grade houses, it also reduces the cooling loads. 

• Information relating to the safe, healthy, comfortable operation and 

maintenance of the building and systems that provide control over space 

conditioning, hot water, or lighting energy use shall be provided to occupants. 

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Mechanicals Management and Appliances 

Plumbing 

Water heater efficiency is described by the energy factor rating. The Consumers’ Directory 

of Certified Efficiency Ratings, Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) provides 

a concise listing of energy factors for water heaters of all fuel types at www.gamanet.org. 

FIGURE 20: Additional Plumbing Air Best Practice: Do not install plumbing 

Sealing Building Tips can be found in exterior walls. Seal around plumbing 

in the Trades Chapter. penetrations in all exterior surfaces, surfaces that 

border on unconditioned spaces, and between 

floors. Use fire-resistant sealant in plates 

between floors. 

Best Practice: Water heaters can be located 

in the basement or a conditioned crawlspace 

(space permitting) or enclosed within a closet. 

If enclosed, ventilation grilles may be needed to 

provide combustion air. Water heaters located 

in conditioned spaces should be power vented 

or power-direct vented. 

Air admittance vents may be accepted in some 

jurisdictions and can help reduce the quantity 

of needed vent pipes. More information can 

be found at www.toolbase.org. 

Water Heaters 

Water heaters come in many shapes, sizes, and efficiencies. The Oregon Department of 

Energy maintains a list of high-efficiency water heaters that qualify for state tax credits. 

The list contains high-efficiency gas combustion water heaters, instantaneous (tankless) 

water heaters, and water heating heat pumps. You may consider these products for your 

projects. The tax credits only apply to Oregon installations by Oregon taxpayers. See the 

list at: www.energy.state.or.us/res/tax/appheat.htm. 

Best Practice: Be sure to specify insulation requirements for pipes, especially pipes 

that will be covered by the slab, or will otherwise be inaccessible. 

Best Practice: Design plumbing runs to be as short as possible. “Homerun” type 

systems also effectively serve baths and other areas with hot water demands. Avoid 

the use of recirculating pumps. If used, the pumps should be controlled by timers or 

on-demand to stop continuous operation. 

PLUMBING SEALING 

Seal plumbing penetrations in 

exterior surfaces and keep plumbing 

out of exterior walls. 

WATER HEATERS 

Water heaters located in a 

conditioned spacemust be powervented or power-direct vented. 

FIGURE 21: 

Hot Water Distribution Systems 

Traditional Trunk System 

UTILITY 

ROOM 

KITCHEN BATH II 

More Efficient Manifold System 

BATH I 

HEATER

HEATER

MANIFOL

BATH II D

KITCHEN 

UTILITY 

ROOM 

BATH I 

SPECIFY INSULATION 

REQUIREMENTS 

Be sure to specify insulation 

requirements for pipes, especially 

pipes that will be inaccessible. 

EFFICIENT PLUMBING RUNS 

Keep runs short or use homerun 

systems and avoid the use of 

recirculating pumps. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Designers

Electrical 

Best Practice: Seal around wires penetrating FIGURE 22: Additional Electrical Air 

all exterior surfaces, surfaces that border on Sealing Building Tips are available in 

unconditioned spaces, and between floors. the Trades chapter. 

Use fire-resistant sealants between floors. 

If recessed downlights are to be used they 

should be rated for insulated ceilings and 

airtight (ICAT). 

ICAT is a combination of two standards. 

The first is ASTM E283, the standard for 

testing restricted air movement (ASTM 

2004) and the second is Underwriters 

Laboratory standard for direct burial in 

insulation contained in the Luminaires 

standard (UL 1598). The ICAT standard 

originated in the State of Washington 

building code and now, as part of the 

International Energy Efficiency code, 

covers almost 75% of the country’s 

population. See the Trades chapter 

for Building Tips for electricians for 

more information. 

Consider the use of recessed downlights and other fixtures that qualify for ENERGY 

STAR labels. Highly energy-efficient recessed downlight fixtures that have undergone 

stringent testing are available for purchase at the following DOE sponsored Web site: 

www.pnl.gov/cfldownlights/. The lights featured are ICAT rated and hard-wired for 

compact fluorescent bulbs. Fixed prices have been negotiated for the featured fixtures. 

Using compact fluorescent lamps in lighting fixtures will reduce energy usage and 

produce less heat. 

Appliances 

Major appliances meet high-energy efficiency standards using current appliance ratings. 

Only those appliances in the top one-third of the DOE Energy Guide rating scale 

should be selected (see list at: www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/ 

appliances.html). One approach is to use appliances with the ENERGY STAR label. 

ELECTRICAL SEALING 

Seal all wire penetrations. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Designers

Sources & Additional Information 

• Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Manual D: Residential Duct Systems. ACCA, Arlington, VA. www.acca.org. 

• Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Manual J: Residential Load Calculation, Eighth Edition. ACCA, 

Arlington, VA. www.acca.org. 

• Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Manual S: Residential Equipment Selection. ACCA, Arlington, VA. 

www.acca.org. 

• Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Manual T. Air Distribution Basics for Residential and Small 

Commercial Buildings. ACCA, Arlington, VA. www.acca.org. 

• The American Society of Civil Engineers standard (number 32-01). Design and Construction of Frost-Protected 

Shallow Foundations. 

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc (ASHRAE). 2005. 62.1 User’s 

Manual. ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA. 

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc (ASHRAE). 2003. ASHRAE 

Standard: Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings. ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA. 

• ASTM 2002. Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors, and Skylights. ASTM E2112-01. 

• ASTM 2003. WK2469 New Standard (Formerly E1465-92) Guide for Radon Control Options for the Design and 

Construction of New Low Rise Residential Buildings. 

• ASTM 2004. Standard Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, 

and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences across the Specimen. ASTM E283-04. 

• Broniek, John. 2003. Builder System Performance Packages Technical Report. Prepared by IBACOS for the Building 

America Program. www.buildingamerica.gov 

• Building Energy Codes Resource Center. Details for Mechanically Vented Crawlspaces - Code Notes.

www.energycodes.gov/support/code_notes.stm

• Building Science Corporation (BSC). 2002. 10. Case Study Material: Conditioning Air in the Humid South. National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO. 

• Building Science Corporation (BSC). 2003. 9. BSC Final Report: Lessons Learned from Building America 

Participation, February 1995-December 2002. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO. 

• Building Science Corporation (BCS). 2003b. 1.C.2.1 Report Expert Meeting Summary. National Renewable 

Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO. 

• Building Science Corporation (BCS). 2004. Houses that Work. www.bsc.com 

• Building Science Corporation (BCS). 2006. Vapor Barriers and Wall Design. 

• Building Science Corporation (BCS). 2006. Vapor Barriers and Wall Design. 

Available at www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/Vapor_Barriers_Wall_Design.pdf.

• California Energy Commission. 2005. 2005 Residential Compliance Manual. Sacramento, CA. 

www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-400-2005-005/CEC-400-2005-005-CMF.pdf.

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2005 • DES-3 
Designers

• CARB (Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings). 2004. Builder System Performance Package Targeting 

30%-40% Savings in Space Conditioning Energy Use: NREL/SR-550-34560. National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory, Golden, CO. Available at www.buildingamerica.gov. 

• Carmody, John, Stephen Selkowitz, Dariush Arasteh and Lisa Heschong. 2000. Residential Windows: 

A Guide to New Technologies and Energy Performance. W. W. Norton and Company, New York. 

www.wwnorton.com/npb/welcome.htm.

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 2000. Technology Fact Sheet on Weather Resistive Barriers. DOE/GO-102000-

O769, Washington D.C. Available on the Web at www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/28600.pdf. 

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Building Technology. 2002. Technology Fact Sheet: Basement Insulation. 

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 2000. Energy Savers Fact Sheet on Vapor Diffusion Retarders and Air Barriers 

www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/bd4.html 

• Edminster, Ann, Betsy Pettit, Kohta Ueno, Stephanie Menegus, and Steven Baczek. 2000. “Case Studies 

in Resource-Efficient Residential Building: The Building America Program.” 2000 ACEEE Summer Study 

Proceedings. ACEEE, Washington, D.C. 

• Garrison, Tim. 2004. Nation’s Building News Online, 27 April 2004. www.nbnnews.com. 

• IBACOS. 2002. Best Practices: Consider the Crawlspace. 

• IBACOS. 2002. Don’t Forget About the Basement. Prepared by IBACOS for the Building America Program. 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

• Institute for Business and Home Safety. The IBHS has building guidelines and public information. www.ibhs.org. 

• Karagiozis, Achilles. 2002a. “A North American Research Approach to Moisture Design by Modeling.” 

Proceedings of Building Physics 2002 – 6th Nordic Symposium. Gustavsen, A. and J.V. Thue, editors, Norwegian 

University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 

• Karagiozis, Achilles. 2002b. Building Enclosure Hygrothermal Performance Study Phase I. Prepared by the Oak 

Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2001. EEBA Builders Guide: Mixed-Humid Climates. EEBA, Minneapolis, MN. www.eeba.org/bookstore. 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2002. EEBA Builders Guide: Hot and Humid Climates. EEBA, Minneapolis, MN. 

www.eeba.org/bookstore.

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2003. EEBA Water Management Guide. EEBA, Minneapolis, MN. www.eeba.org/bookstore. 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2004. Builder’s Guide to Hot-Dry/Mixed-Dry Climates. Building Science Press, Westford, MA. 

www.buildingsciencepress.com 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2004. Builder’s Guide to Mixed-Humid Climates. Building Science Press, Westford, MA. 

www.buildingsciencepress.com 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2004. Builder’s Guide to Hot/Humid Climates. Building Science Press, Westford, MA. 

www.buildingsciencepress.com

• McIlvaine, Janet; David Beal; and Philip Fairey, III. 2001. Design and Construction of Interior 

Duct System. Report Number FSEC-PF-365-01, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/baihp//pubs/interior_ducts.pdf.

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2005 • DES-3 
Designers

• Murry, Chuck. 2005. Comparing the Moisture Performance of Wood Framed Wall Systems in the Pacific Northwest. 

WSUEEP05-020 9/26/2005. Prepared for the Roof Consultant Institute/Building Envelope Institute 2005 Symposium 

on Building Envelope Technology. Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Olympia, WA. 

• Parker, D.S.; J. R. Sherwin; and M. T. Anello, 2001. “FPC Residential Monitoring Project: New Technology 

Development — Radiant Barrier Pilot Project,” Contract Report FSEC-CR-1231-01, Florida Solar Energy Center, 

Cocoa, FL. www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/rbs/index.htm. 

• Rudd, Armund. 2003. Refrigeration System Installation and Startup Procedures, and Air Conditioning System 

Efficiency. Building Science Corporation, Westford, MA. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/mechanical/air_conditioning_equipment_efficiency.pdf. 

• Sherman, Max and Iain Walker. 1998. “Can Duct Tape Take the Heat?” Home Energy, Berkeley, CA. 

www.homeenergy.org/898ductape.title.html.

• Straube, John. 2001. Canadian Architect. “Wrapping it Up”. May, 2001. www.cdnarchitect.com. 

• (SBIC) Sustainable Buildings Industry Council. 2003. Green Building Guidelines: Meeting the Demand for LowEnergy, Resource-Efficient Homes. U.S. DOE. Washington, D.C. document available at www.SBICouncil.org. 

• Treidler, B.; M.P. Modera; R.G. Lucas; J.D. Miller. 1996. Impact of Residential Duct Insulation on HVAC Energy 

Use and Life-Cycle costs to Consumers. ASHRAE Transactions: Symposia, AT-96-13-4. American Society of 

Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, GA. 

• University of Minnesota, Building Foundations Research Program. Frost Protected Shallow Foundations Design 

Specifications. www.buildingfoundation.umn.edu/MHFAfrostFoundation.htm 

• University of Minnesota, Building Foundations Research Program. Minnesota Energy 

Code Building Foundation Rule: Amendment Proposal Development Project Final Report. 

www.buildingfoundation.umn.edu/FinalReportWWW/Section-A/A-recs-main.htm 

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994. Model Standards and Techniques for Control of Radon in New 

Residential Buildings. 

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2000. Duct Insulation: Air Distribution System Improvements. EPA 430-

97-028. Washington, D.C. www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features/DuctInsulation1-17-01.pdf. 

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2001. Building Radon Out: A Step by Step Guide on How to Build Radon 

Resistant Homes. www.epa.gov/radon/images/buildradonout.pdf. 

• Viera, Robin K.; Parker, Danny S.; Klongerbo, Jon F.; Sonne, Jeffrey K.; Cummings, Jo Ellen. 1996. 

“How Contractors Really Size Air Conditioning Systems.” Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/ACsize/index.htm.

• Walker, I.; M. Sherman; M. Modera; and J. Siegel. 1998. Leakage Diagnostics, Sealant Longevity, sizing and 

Technology Transfer in Residential Thermal Distribution Systems. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, 

CA. http://ducts.lbl.gov/Publications/lbl-41118.pdf. 

• Washington State Building Code Council. www.sbcc.wa.gov 

• Yost, Nathan. May 2003. “The Case for Conditioned Unvented Crawlspaces.” Building Safety Journal. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/articles/24-27_Yost_for_author.pdf.

• Yost, Nathan, and Joseph Lstiburek. 2002. Basement Insulation Systems. Prepared by the Building Science 

Consortia for the Building America Program. www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Designers

Web Sites Not Included with Published Documents Above 

(See Appendix V for more information on Web sites.) 

• www.blueprintforsafety.org 

• www.buildingamerica.gov 

• www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/airsealing/default.htm 

• www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/advancedframing/default.htm 

• www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/buildingmaterials.htm 

• www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/hothumid/profiles/montgomery.htm 

• www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/hothumid/profiles/orlando.htm 

• www.buildingscience.com/resources/mechanical/advanced_space_conditioning.pdf 

• www.buildingscience.com/resources/moisture/relative_humidity_0402.pdf 

• www.buildingscience.com/resources/roofs/unvented_roof_summary_article.pdf 

• www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/problems_with_housewraps.htm 

• www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/default.htm 

• www.certainteed.com/pro/insulation 

• www.crawlspaces.org 

• www.eere.energy.gov/buildings 

• www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/appliances.html 

• www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11340 

• www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/landscape.html 

• www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/hazard_workshop.html 

• www.efficientwindows.org/index.cfm 

• www.energycodes.gov 

• www.energy.state.or.us/res/tax/appheat.htm 

• www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bop.pt_bop_index 

• www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.hm_earn_star 

• www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html 

• www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html 

• www.fema.gov 

• www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/science/basics/index.htm 

• www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/rbs/index.htm 

• www.gamanet.org 

• www.ibacos.com/bestprac.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/Aug03/Sug2003_bp_brick.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/Aug04/Aug2004_Water.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/Jan04/bestpractice.pdf 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/Jan04/Jan_BPWebBasements.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/June03/wtrhtr.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/March03/march03_bestpractices_roofflashing.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/March03/march03_cover.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/March04/Mar_BPRoofs.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/March04/Mar_Tech_VentedAttics.html 

• www.ibacos.com/qhome/Oct03/duct.html 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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• www.ibacos.com/qhome/Winter05/winter05_bestpractices_drainage_plane.html 

• www.ibacos.com/hpl.html 

• www.ibacos.com/pubs/Newsletter-July02.pdf 

• www.ibacos.com/pubs/Newsletter-July02.pdf#page=3 

• www.nahbrc.org/docs/mainnav/moistureandleaks/792_moisture.pdf 

• www.natresnet.org 

• www.nfrc.org 

• www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_16.html 

• www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/radiant/rb_01.html 

• www.pnl.gov/cfldownlights/ 

• www.sbcc.wa.gov 

• www.sbse.org/resources/sac/index.htm 

• www.susdesign.com/sunangle 

• www.toolbase.org 

• www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts.htm 

• www.wunderground.com 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors 

Tools to help with project management 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • SUP-1 

In the chain of events that results in a finished home, the site supervisor (or project 

manager) has the critical job of turning ideas into reality. The site supervisor’s job is 

to make sure everything happens. Plans must be correct, permits must be in order, 

contracts must be signed, subconractors must be scheduled, materials must be on site, 

and it all must happen on schedule. Successful construction of an energy-efficient 

home is essentially the same as other homes, although a few details are different and 

can demand more careful scrutiny because of the interdependencies in a systemsdesigned house. 

Site supervisors working to build energy-efficient homes can generally do their jobs 

as they already know how, with a few simple but important changes. There are 

three keys to constructing any quality home—managing expectations, managing 

the schedule, and controlling quality and costs. This section will explain how to 

incorporate those three keys into your construction process. 

An energy-efficient home built using these Building America recommendations 

looks a lot like any other home. It will maintain its visual appeal and style. The key 

points at which it differs typically involve more efficient heating, ventilating, and air 

conditioning (HVAC) equipment (including ducts), an engineered HVAC system 

design, a supply of outside air for ventilation, humidity control, better windows, 

better insulation, and better air sealing. The Designers chapter contains best 

practices recommendations on the features energy-efficient homes should include. 

Many builders make the comment that it’s not the quantity of changes that make an 

energy-efficient home, but the quality that is put into building the home. 

Of course, it is not always easy for a 

site supervisor to control all aspects of a 

subcontractor’s work. It may be necessary, 

especially while these best practices are 

new ideas, to prioritize activities and “pick 

your battles.” In the marine climate, the 

top priorities are: 1) window selection and 

installation, 2) HVAC sizing and installation. 

Managing Expectations 

A project manager who can foster a set of shared expectations among the important 

players in his or her building team can successfully build efficient houses. Two goals 

should influence the project manager’s actions at the start of the project: 

• Make sure subcontractors and in-house workers understand what you want 

• Eliminate the need for unknowledgeable (and often unskilled) laborers to 

make design decisions. 

The following best practices will help meet these goals. 

“It’s not hard and it’s not expensive. 

You just need to make sure it’s done 

right. The cost is not a big issue. 

It just takes a little more work. 

It takes a little more attention. 

You’ve got to allow the time for 

testing and inspection.” 

Santos Alvarez, Vice-President of 

Operations, SummerHill Homes 
Site Supervisors 

Develop a Work Plan 

Decide who is going to do what. Will the plumber install insulation behind the tub 

or will the framer, or some other trades person? Develop a schedule for the order that 

activities should occur to be sure that actions are done in a reasonable order and that 

no actions will be forgotten. Be sure that all needed materials are on the site when the 

activity is scheduled to take place. More information on scheduling is included in the 

Managing Execution section. 

Plans – Get Them Right 

Best Practice: Before starting a project ensure that plans are correct and that you have 

everything you need to go forward. Once you have the plans you need, follow them. 

Existing stock plans will likely need to be modified to both include necessary changes 

and to add details not commonly included in residential prints. See the Designers 

chapter for a description of design best practices. 

A well-designed home should have well-designed plans that include everything necessary 

to explain expectations to the subcontractors. Some points that should be included are: 

• HVAC design details and duct layout. The duct layout must be included on 

a floor plan. The duct and diffuser sizes, quantities, and locations must be 

installed as specified. Subcontractors should be contractually obligated to these 

specifications. Performance requirements, such as seasonal energy efficiency 

ratio (SEER) and annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE), for system 

components should be specified on the plans. 

• Framing plan. A detailed plan is needed (especially if advanced framing is 

to be incorporated in the design) showing how framing techniques will be 

applied. These should detail the placement of studs to ensure proper “stacking” 

in two-story homes and should show details of window and door framing. 

The framing plan should be used to coordinate plumbing, mechanical, and 

electrical runs. Advanced framing is not required to achieve 30% energy 

savings in the marine climate but is an important money and time-saving 

measure for more highly efficient homes. 

• Other details or specifications. Details and specifications should be written 

or drawn to specify how particular measures will be installed, including both 

the techniques and the materials to be used. Of particular importance are 

specifications and details for items that differ from local standard practice 

such as caulking; draft stops behind bathtubs, stairs, and dropped ceilings; 

duct sealing requirements; gasket materials; window schedules specifying 

U-factors and solar heat gain coefficients (SHGCs); and product performance 

metrics. Also specify items that should not be done, such as caulking ceiling 

penetrations under conditioned attics. 

Plans — Keep Them Right 

Best Practice: Avoid plan changes. When they are required, document the changes as 

you would the original contract. 

“It is just as easy to do things 

right as it is to do things 

wrong. Once the contractors 

and subcontractors understand 

what our definition of right 

is, then it is not a problem 

[building to Building America 

standards].” 

Les Bluestone, owner of Blue Sea 

Development Company in New York

PLANS 

Make sure they are correct 

and follow them closely. 

“With production builders, 

nothing is simple, everything is 

challenging to roll out smoothly 

in a high-quality way. But 

there are ways to make energyefficiency happen that are cost 

effective, that make sense from 

a dollar perspective.” 

Jeff Jacobs, Project Manager, 

Centex, Northern California division 

AVOID CHANGES 

Thoroughly document 

any changes to plans.

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors 

Numerous difficulties can be avoided with correct building plans. If the plans have 

been properly developed, with the proper sizing of equipment, you must be sure that 

changes will not undo this good work. The practice of verbally communicating changes 

is always risky and is potentially disastrous for a systems-designed home where highperformance features interact to achieve energy efficiency, comfort, and durability. 

Before making any changes ask yourself these questions: 

• Why are the changes being made? If there are no clear benefits from the 

change, don’t do it. 

• What effect will the change have on building performance? Will the change 

deviate from best practice recommendations? Will you need to change HVAC 

sizing or system selection? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, ask 

your designer, engineer, or home energy rating system (HERS) professional. 

Be sure to adjust all the systems related to the change. 

• Are new drawings or specifications needed to clearly document your 

expectations? Be clear in your expectations.

Contracts – Write Them Down 

Best Practice: Prepare or update formal contracts with key subcontractors that clearly show 

what you expect of them and what they can expect from other subcontractors. Relevant 

details, plans, and specifications described in the last section should be referenced in the 

contracts. If the subcontractor is providing materials, list the specific materials that you 

want. Here are some examples of materials that a subcontractor may supply: 

• Recessed downlights, which should be air-tight and rated for insulation contact 

• Water-based mastic, to seal ducts 

• High-density fiberglass insulation 

• Sealants and caulks to seal penetrations 

• Windows which are typically ordered along with other major purchases, but if a 

subcontractor is supplying them, be sure they are rated as called out in the plans 

• Draft-stopping sheathing to seal large air leaks. 

If you have expectations for a subcontractor, such as sealing certain types of holes, 

or installing insulation in some space that may become inaccessible, be sure these 

expectations are spelled out in the contract. The scope of work should cover things 

like equipment size, duct sizes, identification of who is responsible for sealing which 

holes, etc. The scope of work should state who is to provide what materials and when, 

and how materials will be stored on the construction site. Contract specifications and 

written assignments of responsibility can greatly simplify the ordering of materials. 

Duct installers, for example, will know exactly what kind of duct material will be used 

and how much; and with this knowledge may be able to prefabricate many of their 

assemblies back at the shop, rather than in the field. These pre-assembled pieces tend to 

be of higher quality thanks to the proximity of tools and materials and better working 

conditions in the shop. 

The Trades chapter contains instructions that you may consider incorporating 

into your contracts. Other sources of useful contracting tools include statements of 

WORKING WITH 

SUBCONTRACTORS 

Always prepare formal 

contracts and be clear 

about your expectations. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • SUP- 
Site Supervisors 

work that were developed by ConSol, one of the organizations that lead a Building 

America team. Here is a partial listing of statements of work, designed for California, 

that are available on the Web at www.comfortwise.com/installationprotocols.shtml or 

at www.thebii.org/rpsw.asp: 

• Quality caulking and sealing 

• HVAC system design and installation 

• Quality installation of insulation 

• Sliding door installation 

• Window installation. 

Pre-Construction Meeting – Have One 

Best Practice: A final strategy to manage expectations among the subcontractors 

is to hold a pre-construction meeting that includes as many of the subcontractors 

as possible. At this meeting you can emphasize the changes in workflow, shifts in 

responsibilities, and newly introduced building details. Tell your subcontractors about 

your goals for energy-efficient houses. 

Give the subcontractors drawings and instructions on how to accomplish their jobs. 

Sample instructions are included in the Trades chapter. This meeting will go a long 

way toward helping people to understand their roles and responsibilities. Make sure 

that your subcontractors are aware that you will be conducting inspections and that 

both the ductwork and the building envelope will be tested for air tightness. 

It may be necessary, especially when starting your first energy-efficient homes, to hold 

additional training sessions with key subcontractors. More on this is discussed in the 

Managing Quality section below. 

Permits – Grease the Skids 

A home built according to the instructions contained in this document for the marine 

climate does not violate any provisions of the national model codes or, usually, of 

local regulations. However, many local code officials are unfamiliar with some of the 

recommended construction techniques. It is well worth your while to raise these issues 

yourself before construction begins so that you’re not surprised by a red tag later. 

Best Practice: Ensuring that the “new” techniques are clearly delineated on the building 

plans can also help flag these issues during plan review rather than during inspection. 

Best Practice: A meeting with the building department before construction is welladvised. Your code official may need information in support of the new techniques you 

may use in an energy-efficient home. 

Appendix III contains a sample of a draft code note that may be helpful. A set of draft 

code notes is available on DOE’s Building Energy Codes Resource Center. These draft 

documents are written for codes officials and provide a description of energy efficiency 

techniques, citations to relevant codes, and guidance for plan reviews and field 

inspections. The sample in Appendix III is the last one on the list below and is entitled 

Rigid Board Insulation Installed as Draft Stop in Attic Kneewall – Code Notes (Draft). 

PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING 

Include your subcontractors in 

pre-construction meeting to discuss 

changes associated with your 

energy efficiency goals. 

SHOW TECHNIQUES 

ON BUILDING PLANS 

Ensure that all “new” techniques 

are delineated on the building plans. 

PLAN A MEETING WITH THE 

BUILDING DEPARTMENT 

Your code official may need 

information about energy-efficient 

home techniques. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors 

Here is a list of available code notes that should help assure your local code official that 

the proposed techniques are both safe and in compliance with the model codes; the 

code notes are available at www.energycodes.gov/support/code_notes.stm. 

• Single top plate 

• No headers in nonbearing walls 

• Header hangers in bearing walls 

• Framing floor joists spaced at 24 inches on center 

• Framing studs spaced at 24 inches on center 

• Open spaces as return-air options 

• Details for mechanically vented (conditioned) crawl spaces 

• Ventilation requirements for condensing clothes dryers 

• Drywall clips 

• Rigid board insulation installed as draft stop in attic knee wall. 

Managing Execution 

If you’ve managed to establish clear expectations with your subcontractors and 

suppliers, you’re almost ready to begin construction. The final parts of the plan involve 

training subcontractors as necessary, scheduling everything, and monitoring progress. 

Training 

Best Practice: Attend and have your key subcontractors attend a training course on 

integrated system designed housing. 

One good way to accomplish this may be to let your HERS provider (see Quality 

Assurance below) conduct the necessary training. Information on general training is 

available from 

• Building America – www.buildingamerica.gov 

• Energy and Environmental Building Association – www.eeba.org 

• Building Science Corporation –www.buildingscience.com/workshops/default.htm 

• National Association of Home Builders Research Center – www.nahbrc.org 

• Southface Energy Institute – www.southface.org 

• IBACOS – www.ibacos.com. 

Other sources may include regional universities or Cooperative Extension Service 

programs, homebuilder associations, utilities, and codes programs. More specialized 

training is available at the above sources, plus trade organizations, such as: 

• Air Conditioning Contractors Association – offers technician certification 

– www.acca.org 

• American Architectural Manufacturers Association – offers window 

installation master certification – www.installationmastersusa.com.

The Web provides a free and easy method to train crews. The California Energy 

Commission offers on its Web site a series of brief videos, lasting only a few minutes 

each, that cover many installation processes. Visit www.energyvideos.com for access to 

“There is an education aspect 

both with the buyers and with 

the trades people. A lot of 

people do not really understand 

the real benefits of building 

to these Building America 

principles.” 

Michelle Horstemeyer, a lead 

builder for John Wieland Homes 

INTEGRATED SYSTEM 

DESIGNED HOUSING 

Be sure to attend a training 

on systems-designed housing.

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Site Supervisors 

dozens of videos. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pathnet 

Web site contains videos on buildings systems and new plumbing technologies. 

Visit www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=10787 to view PATH TV. PATH stands for the 

Partnership for Advanced Housing Technology.

Scheduling 

Constructing an energy-efficient home requires careful attention to scheduling. Several 

of the new construction techniques may require changing the order of subcontractors; 

some require (or benefit from) a shifting of responsibilities from one subcontractor 

to another; and some new activities will need to be added into the schedule. Here are 

some of the more important schedule considerations: 

• Schedule HVAC rough-in before plumbing and electrical. It is far more 

important for the ductwork to have un-constricted access and pathways than 

it is for wires or pipes. But be sure needs for other systems, such as drain pitch, 

are coordinated. 

• If using a conditioned attic, schedule insulating under the roof deck before 

HVAC rough-in. The insulators must be able to do their job without 

tromping on the carefully placed ductwork. 

• Don’t forget to schedule for pipe insulation under the slab. 

• Be sure to schedule pre-drywall insulation inspections, flashing inspections, 

and envelope and duct pressure tests. Inspect at key points to ensure that 

insulation and envelope sealing take place before areas become inaccessible. 

Inspections are much more likely to happen if scheduled. And subcontractors 

may be a bit more conscientious if they know their work will be evaluated. 

• Be sure to schedule caulking of electrical and plumbing penetrations after 

drywall is completed and the lines have been installed. 

Some situations that may require a shifting of responsibilities include: 

• If using advanced framing techniques that include two-stud corners and 

floating drywall corners (see the section on wall framing in the Designers 

chapter and Appendix III), someone must attach drywall clips. The framer 

is a more likely candidate than the drywall installer for framing modifications. 

• Some caulking work needs to be done by the HVAC subcontractor. In 

particular, main supply and return trunks that lead through walls need to 

be caulked by the person connecting them to the equipment. Don’t let the 

drywall finisher do this with mud—it is neither a good sealant nor durable 

enough. Also, all duct terminations, including jump ducts, must be sealed 

when registers are installed. 

• Some post-finish caulking can be avoided by having the electrician use 

pre-fabricated air-tight electrical boxes (see the Trades chapter for an 

electricians tip sheet). 

• If installation of windows and drainage planes are done by different 

subcontractors, the window installer must be careful to leave flashing 

unattached at the bottom so that the first row of building paper may be tucked 

under it (see the Trades chapter tip sheets for window flashing, house 

wrap, and sealants). 

Jeff Simon, Executive Vice 

President of Operations for 

Veridian Homes, offers this advice 

for builders considering Building 

America, “You need to have 

systems in place for scheduling 

and documentation so you can 

successfully recreate the home. 

If you don’t have good systems 

and good organization, it will be a 

challenge. You need to be willing 

to take a risk.” 

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Site Supervisors 

• If you are using insulated headers, the framer will need to install insulation 

inside any double headers (using sandwiched foam insulation). Open headers 

may be left for the insulation contractor. 

• Draft stops must be installed behind bathtubs, stairwells, chases, soffits, 

fireplaces, and other dual framed areas on exterior framed walls. The framer 

should do this, but be sure that insulation is installed before the draft-stop 

material goes on. 

• Innovative scheduling of subcontractors can bring huge rewards in reduced 

costs and improved quality. See our case study on Pulte Sun Lakes for 

more information. 

Quality Assurance 

The NAHB, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other 

sources of builder technical and management information offer guidance for improving 

quality assurance on job sites. The following sections contain quality assurance 

information related to energy efficiency. 

Inspections 

Best Practice: Conduct several inspections during the course of construction, always 

conduct pressure tests of both the whole house and the HVAC ductwork, and always check 

AC and heat pump refrigerant charging. Have the house rated by a certified HERS rater. 

Especially when energy-efficient systems-designed housing is new to your 

subcontractors, you should conduct multiple inspections to ensure that the 

subcontractors have understood what is required of them and how to implement it. 

After the process has become more routine, you might get by with just a couple of 

inspections. One key inspection should occur prior to installation of drywall. 

The pre-drywall inspection allows you to ensure that insulation and draftstopping have 

been properly installed before they get permanently enclosed. This is also the best time 

to conduct a pressure test on the ductwork. The duct pressure test should be conducted 

with the HVAC contractor present, at least for his or her first several energy-efficient 

homes. If the ductwork fails to meet the pressure criteria, a smoke test will reveal the 

worst leaks. It is crucial that this happen while the ductwork is still visible and the 

HVAC contractor is present to see what the problem areas are. Other commissioning 

activites should include duct flow testing and balancing, as well as return pressures in 

rooms with doors. 

Duct testing services can be most easily obtained through a certified HERS rater. 

The rater can also conduct whole-house pressure tests and assist with training. And 

the HERS Index itself can be a valuable marketing tool for an energy-efficient house. 

To identify a certified rater in your area, check the registry at the Residential Energy 

Services Network (RESNET) Web site: www.natresnet.org. 

The second important inspection comes after completion of the home, including all 

interior and exterior finishes. This pre-occupancy inspection should check for proper 

sealing of electrical and plumbing (fixtures and drywall penetrations), HVAC registers, 

and the HVAC closet. A whole-house air leakage test (aka “blower-door” test) is 

crucial. Again, your HERS provider is the easiest resource for this service, and this is 

“Building America is a way 

to manage risk, potential 

litigation issues, and building 

systems failures.” 

Josh Robinson, Pulte Sun Lakes 

project manager and a Pulte 

Vice President 

INSPECTIONS 

Conduct inspections throughout 

the construction process. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors

when he or she would be rating the home anyway. Also, if your HVAC contractor has 

not done it, a final check of the AC or heat pump refrigerant charge is crucial. Studies 

have shown that failure to check refrigerant charging results in the average system using 

13% too much energy (http://hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/001105.html). 

Energy Efficiency Checklists 

A successful energy-efficient building involves many details. It is worthwhile to 

maintain for each house a checklist of important features to keep track of what has 

been done. Although the best checklist is one you’ve made specific to the design(s) you 

are implementing, the three checklists on the following pages are a good baseline to 

work from and may be integrated with your existing checklists. 

SPOT-CHECK INSPECTION CHECKLIST 

These items should be checked if possible as they are installed because they may not be 

accessible at the pre-drywall inspection. 

Grading is sloped at 5% away from the house for at least 10 feet. 

Roof drainage is directed at least 3 feet beyond the building. 

A 6-mil polyethylene sheet is installed directly beneath the concrete 

slab, continuously wrapping the slab and the grade beam. 

Roof materials are installed to provide a continuous drainage plane 

over the entire surface of the roof. Wall/roof junctures should be 

appropriately flashed, including kick-out flashing at the bottom. 

HVAC system is appropriately sized and installed according 

to plans. No deviations should be made in the field. 

A mechanical ventilation system is installed as specified 

in the plans.

Each bedroom has a separate HVAC return duct, a transfer 

grille, or a jump duct. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors 

PRE-DRYWALL INSPECTION CHECKLIST 

Note: Some measures in this list are unnecessary depending on whether the house is 

sealed on the interior (e.g., air-tight drywall) or exterior (e.g., sheathing) of the wall. 

Bathtubs on exterior walls have insulation behind them and 

draftstops installed. 

Dropped ceilings, dropped-soffit cabinets, and stairwells on exterior 

walls have draftstops installed behind them (unless drywall was installed 

prior to framing-in). 

Windows and doors are sealed to framing using caulks, foams, backer 

rod, and/or similar. 

Window flashing is properly installed to shed water. 

All electrical and plumbing penetrations between conditioned 

and unconditioned spaces are caulked or otherwise sealed. 

All recessed lights beneath unconditioned spaces are air-tight and 

rated for insulated ceiling (IC). All kitchen and bathroom fans are 

appropriately rated (capacity and sound) and exhausted to the outside. 

All exterior penetrations (exterior light fixtures, phone and other 

service cables, etc.) are sealed with caulk, gaskets, or similar. 

All housewrap seams are overlapped and taped; top and bottom edges 

are sealed past the plates; housewrap is appropriately lapped under 

window flashing. 

Building paper seams are overlapped shingle style to shed water and 

appropriately lapped under window flashing. 

Batt insulation is kraft-faced or blown-in insulation or spray 

foam is used. 

Unless specifically required by code, no polyethylene vapor retarder is 

installed on the inside of the walls. 

Ductwork is sufficiently air-sealed as verified by a duct pressure 

test conducted by a HERS rater or other qualified building scientist. 

Ductwork leakage to the exterior should be not more than 5% of 

the total air handling unit capacity (at high speed) when tested at 

25 Pa pressure. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors 

PRE-OCCUPANCY INSPECTION CHECKLIST 

Entry of main supply/return ducts into air handling unit closet is 

appropriately sealed with foam, caulk, or similar materials (NOT with 

drywall mud). 

Plumbing penetrations are air sealed. 

Electrical switch and outlet boxes are sealed to drywall with caulk 

or gaskets. 

Light fixture boxes are sealed to drywall with caulk or gaskets. 

Bathroom and kitchen fans are sealed to drywall with caulk or gaskets. 

Bathroom and kitchen fans are drawing air-tested with a small piece 

of tissue; the fan should hold the paper against the grille. 

Duct boots/registers are sealed to floor or drywall with caulk or gaskets. 

Attic hatches and kneewall entries are weatherstripped and insulated. 

Refrigerant charge on air-conditioner/heat pump is verified in writing 

by installer to be within specs, using superheat method for nonThermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV) systems or subcooling method 

for TXV systems; this may require a return visit during warm weather. 

The whole-house envelope is sufficiently air-sealed as verified by a 

whole-house pressure test. Air leakage should be tested by a HERS rater 

and should be less than: 

2.5 in.

2 per 100 ft2 of envelope area (Canadian General Standards 

Board (CGSB), calculated at a 10-Pa pressure differential), or 

1.25 in.2 per 100 ft2 of envelope area (American Society for 

Testing and Materials [ASTM], calculated at a 4-Pa pressure 

differential), or 

0.25 CFM/ft2 of envelope area when tested at a 50-Pa pressure 

differential. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Site Supervisors 

Sources & Additional Information 

(See Appendix V for more information on Web sites.) 

• www.acca.com 

• www.buildingamerica.gov 

• www.buildingscience.com/workshops/default.htm 

• www.buildiq.com 

• www.comfortwise.com/installationprotocols.shtml 

• www.eeba.org 

• www.energycodes.gov/support/code_notes.stm 

• www.energyvideos.com 

• http://hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/001105.html 

• www.ibacos.com 

• www.installationmastersusa.com 

• www.nahbrc.org 

• www.natresnet.org 

• www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=10787 

• www.southface.org 

• www.thebii.org/rpsw.asp 

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Trades 

Professional tips for fast and easy installation 

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-1 

On the following pages you will find step-by-step, 

easy-to-follow illustrated instructions for implementing 

key energy efficiency technologies. 

These Building Tips are designed to be easily duplicated 

and distributed. 

• Slab Insulation - Marine Climate 

• Basement & Conditioned (Unvented) Crawlspace Insulation 

• Housewrap 

• Window Flashing 

• Air Sealing - Plumbing 

• Air Sealing - Electrical 

• Air Sealing - Drywall 

• Air Sealing - Glossary 

• Fiberglass Insulation 

• Masonry Construction 

• Radiant Barriers 

• Duct Sealing 
Building Tips 

= Sealant or Gasket 

Concrete 

slab 

Seal all slab 

penetrations 

Concrete footing below frost depth 

INTERIOR INSULATION 

FOR FLOATING SLAB 

EXTERIOR INSULATION 

PACKAGE 

Gravel base 

(4-6" deep coarse, no fines) 

Perforated 

drain pipe 

Hold drywall 

1/2” above floor 

Polyethylene or damp proofing capillary break 

Polyethylene vapor diffusion retarder 

Perforated drainage 

pipe embedded 

in gravel 

Use extruded (R-5 per inch) 

or expanded (R-4 per inch) 

polystyrene or rigid 

fiberglass insulation 

Cover insulation 

exposed above grade 

(see list on reverse) 

Rigid foam insulation 

(extends under entire slab 

and replaces polyethylene 

vapor retarder) 

Radon reduction 

3" plastic pipe vent stack 

Optional blower 

Sill gasket 

membrane 

(also serves as 

capillary break) 

Metal termite 

flashing 

Damp proofing Damp proofing

Roof flashing 

SHALLOW FROST-PROTECTED 

FOUNDATION 

(get code approval before proceeding) 

6 Mil. Polyethylene 

vapor diffusion retarder 

(extends under grade beam 

acting as a capillary break) 

Rigid insulation 

extends horizontally 

(horizontal distance 

equivalent to frost depth) 

Rigid insulation 

extends horizontally 2’ 

Damp proofing 

Cover insulation 

exposed above grade 

(see list on reverse) 

Slab Insulation 

Marine Climate 

* Slab insulation may not be needed to reach energy 

efficiency targets of these best practices 

See more information on the following page. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Building Tips: Slab Insulation - Marine Climate

Slab Foundation System Moisture and Air Leakage Control 

• Keep all untreated wood materials away 

from contact with earth and concrete. 

• Design the house structure with 

overhangs, gutters, drainage planes, 

and flashing to shed rainwater and 

conduct it away from the house. 

• Slope the earth away from the house 

and ensure that no irrigation strikes 

near the foundation. 

• Use a sill gasket for air sealing 

• Install a protective shield such as 

metal flashing, plastic L bracket, or 

a membrane (such as EPDM flexible 

roofing material*) to block capillary 

water wicking into the wall from the 

foundation. The protective shield may 

also serve as a termite shield. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Slabs require a foundation drain where 

the slab (or floor) is located below 

grade. Install a foundation drain 

alongside the footing (not above it). 

The drain should rest in a bed of coarse 

gravel (no fines) that slopes away from 

the foundation and is covered with 

filter fabric. 

• Exterior rigid fiberglass insulation 

may provide a drainage plane that will 

channel water to the foundation drain 

and relieve hydrostatic pressure. 

• Exterior foundation wall insulation 

requires a protective coating at 

above-grade applications. Examples 

of protective coverings for exterior, 

above-grade insulation include 

flashing, fiber-cement board, parging 

(stucco type material), treated 

plywood, or membrane material 

(EPDM* flexible roofing). 

• Note that some code jurisdictions 

may require a gap between exterior 

insulation and wood foundation 

elements to provide a termite 

inspection area. 

• Install damp proofing or a 

polyethylene sheet over the footing 

to block capillary water wicking into 

the foundation side wall. 

• Install a capillary break and vapor 

retarder under the entire slab consisting 

of at least a 6-mil polyethylene sheet 

or continuous rigid foam insulation 

approved for below grade applications, 

on top of 4 to 6 inches of coarse gravel. 

• Install radon control measures 

(check local requirements and EPA 

recommendations). 

*EPDM stands for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer. 

• U.S. DOE, Technology Fact Sheet on Slab Insulation (www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/29237.pdf). 

• U.S. EPA, Building Radon Out: A Step-By-Step Guide oni How to Build Radon Resistent Homes (www.epa.gov/199/iaq/radon). 

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheets #29: Insulating Foundation and Doors 

(www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/29_insulatefloors4PDF.pdf). 

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheets #30: Radon-Resistant Construction for Builders 

(www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/30_radonresistantconst.pdf). 

• Building Science Consortium. Introduction to Building Systems Performance: Houses that Work II. www.buildingscience.gov 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Building Tips 

Sill gasket membrane 

(also serves as capillary break) 

Metal termite flashing 

Concrete footing 

below frost depth 

Polyethylene or damp 

proofing capillary break 

Rigid fiberglass insulation 

Polyethylene vapor barrier 

Damp proofing 

Perforated drainage 

pipe embedded in 

coarse gravel 

Treated wood nailer 

(bring vapor barrier 

up to grade level) 

Cavity insulation 

= Sealant or Gasket 

Cover insulation 

exposed above grade 

Rigid Insulation 

Continuous 

polyethylene 

Damp proofing 

Rigid insulation 

Treated 

wood nailer 

Polyethylene or 

damp proofing 

capillary break 

Rigid insulation 

Rigid insulation 

Damp proofing 

Continuous 

polyethylene 

Polyethylene or 

damp proofing 

capillary break 

Sill gasket membrane 

(also serves as capillary break) 

Metal termite flashing 

Concrete footing 

below frost depth 

Polyethylene or damp 

proofing capillary Break 

Rigid fiberglass insulation 

Polyethylene vapor 

diffusion retarder 

Damp proofing 

Perforated drainage 

pipe embedded in 

coarse gravel 

Radon reduction 

3” plastic vent pipe 

Cavity insulation 

Cover insulation 

exposed above grade 

Rigid insulation 

with foil facing 

Damp proofing 

Cavity 

insulation 

Polyethylene or 

damp proofing 

capillary break 

Basement & Conditioned (Unvented) 

Crawlspace Insualtion 

EXTERIOR CRAWLSPACE INSULATION INTERIOR CRAWLSPACE INSULATION 

If depth does not extend two feet below grade, place 

remaining insulation horizontally along the ground. 

See more information on the following page. 

EXTERIOR BASEMENT INSULATION 

INTERIOR BASEMENT INSULATION 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Building Tips: Basement & Conditioned Crawlspace Insulation

Installation Tips 

• Exterior and interior insulation approaches may be combined to provide needed insulation levels. 

• Properly installed exterior rigid fiberglass insulation provides the best moisture management properties of the available insulation types. 

• Interior nailing strips for finished walls should be installed over rigid foam (extruded polystyrene is more moisture tolerant 

than expanded polystyrene) insulation so that the foam is sandwiched between the nailing strip and the basement wall. 

• Seal joints with adhesive or mastic on interior foam insulation applied directly to foundation walls. 

• If interior blanket or batt insulation is used, it should be combined with exterior or interior rigid insulation attached 

directly to the foundation wall. The blanket or batt insulation should be unfaced or have a facing that allows moisture 

to pass through, and should be used in a conditioned basement. The drywall should be tightly air sealed to keep interior 

moist air from condensing on the foundation wall. 

• Foil-faced rigid insulation is a good interior insulation choice for unfinished basements. 

Crawlspace and Basement Foundation System Moisture and Air Leakage Control 

• Keep all untreated wood materials away • Crawlspaces require a foundation drain • Note that some code jurisdictions 

from contact with earth and concrete. when the crawlspace floor is located may require a gap between exterior 

below grade. Always install a foundation insulation and wood foundation 

• Design the house structure with drain in basements. Install a foundation elements to provide a termite overhangs, gutters, drainage planes, and drain alongside the footing (not above inspection area. flashing to shed rainwater and conduct it it). The drain should rest in a bed of away from the house. coarse gravel (no fines) that slopes away 

• Install damp proofing or a polyethylene 

• Slope the earth away from the house from the foundation and is covered with sheet over the footing to block capillary 

and ensure that no irrigation strikes filter fabric. water wicking into the foundation 

side wall. near the foundation. 

• Exterior rigid fiberglass insulation 

• Damp-proof all below grade portions of may provide a drainage plane that will • Install a capillary break and vapor 

retarder under slabs and basement

the exterior foundation wall to prevent channel water to the foundation drain 

the absorption of ground water. and relieve hydrostatic pressure. floors consisting of at least a 6-mil 

polyethylene sheet or continuous rigid 

• Use a sill gasket for air sealing • Exterior foundation wall insulation foam insulation approved for below 

requires a protective coating at grade applications, on top of 4 to 6 • Install a protective shield such as above-grade applications. Examples inches of coarse gravel. metal flashing, plastic L bracket, or of protective coverings for exterior, a membrane (such as EPDM flexible above-grade insulation include • Install radon control measures 

roofing material*) to block capillary flashing, fiber-cement board, parging (check local requirements and EPA 

water wicking into the wall from the (stucco type material), treated recommendations). 

foundation. The protective shield may plywood, or membrane material *EPDM stands for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer. also serve as a termite shield. (EPDM* flexible roofing). 

Sources & Additional Information 

• IBACOS. 2002. Consider the Crawlspace (www.buildingamerica.gov) 

• IBACOS. 2002. Don’t Forget About the Basement (www.buildingamerica.gov) 

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2004. Builders Guide to Cold Climates (www.eeba.org/bookstore) 

• U.S. DOE, Technology Fact Sheet: Basement Insulation (www.buildingamerica.gov) 

• U.S. DOE, Technology Fact Sheet: Crawlspace Insulation (www.buildingamerica.gov) 

• U.S. EPA, Building Radon Out: A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Build Radon Resistent Homes 

(www.epa.gov/1999/iaq/radon)

• Yost and Lstiburek. 2002. Basement Insulation Systems (www.buildingamerica.gov) 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Building Tips 

Housewrap 

Unroll around house 

Fasten flaps of window "T-cut" 

to the inside of the framing. 

(* See Window Flashing Building Tips) 

electrical box and 

sheathing 

Caulk 

Sill Gasket 

Minimize cuts in housewrap and caulk or tape to seal all penetrations 

Seal spigot 

at opening 

Tape housewrap according to manufacturers specifications at top plate,

 band joist, and horizontal seams, and secure with plastic-capped nails 

Housewrap should 

be overlapped shingle-style 

Seal overlap with tape 

Seal housewrap to foundation 

below bottom plate in basement 

or crawlspace. 

Caulk under housewrap 

and seal gap between 

Seal floodlight 

at opening 

HOUSEWRA

HOUSEWRA

P

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRA

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRA

HOUSEWRAP

P

P

P

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRA

HOUSEWRAP

P

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

CAULK 

CAULK 

CAULK 

WINDOW 

Housewrap 

Plastic-capped Nails 

Housewrap Tape 

Sheathing 

= Another trade may have completed this step. Confirm with the site 

 supervisor. If not, and you need to complete the step yourself, ensure 

that the necessary materials are available on site. 

Tape 

Housewrap 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheets #8 Air Sealing (www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/8_airsealing.pdf) 

• U.S. DOE. Technology Fact Sheet on Air Sealing (www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/26448.pdf). 

• See also the Building Tips on Air Sealing and Window Flashing 

• See: http://construction.tyvek.com/en/productServices/HomeWrap/index.shtml 

• Straube, John. 2001. Canadian Architect. “Wrapping it Up”. May, 2001. www.cdnarchitect.com. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-6 
Building Tips 

Window Flashing 

>12" >10" 

Housewrap 

Cap Nails 45 ̊ 6"

6" 

CAULK 

STEP 1- If Housewrap Has Not Been Installed STEP 1- If Housewrap Has Been Installed 

STEP 2 - Sill Flashing STEP 3 - Jamb Caulking 

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRA

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

Self-adhesive 

Window Flashing 

Tape 

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRA

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

EWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUS HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

OUSEWRAP

HOUSEWR

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

The apron should extend at least 10 inches past the sides of the 

window opening, or to the first stud in open wall construction. 

Attach only the apron’s top edge with cap nails. 

Apply at least a 12-inch flap, or apron, of building paper 

or housewrap just below the windows sill. 

Install self-adhesive flashing to the sill, ensuring that 

flashing extends up jambs at least 6 inches. 

One commercial product comes with two removable strips 

over the adhesive. Remove the first strip to expose half the 

adhesive and apply this area to the sill. Begin pressing in the 

middle of the sill and work towards the sides. Remove the 

second strip to expose the adhesive that will be used to apply 

the flashing below the window to the outside wall. 

Tape down the bottom corners of the flashing 

Caulk the outside edges of the head and side jambs 

Do not caulk across the sill 

Install the window using corrosion-resistant nails and 

following manufacturer's specifications. 

If the window sill is close to the sill plate, the apron 

can extend all the way to the sill plate. 

Above the window opening, cut a head flap and 

flip up to expose sheathing, and loosely tape in place 

out of the way. 

Cut the housewrap covering the rough opening in the 

shape of a modified "Y." 

Fold the side and bottom flaps into the window 

opening and secure. 

Example of window flashing details for home with housewrap and plywood or OSB wall sheathing. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD- 
Building Tips: Window Flashing

Sources & Additional Information 

• Lstiburek, J.W. (2002). Water Management Guide. Minneapolis, MN: Energy and Environmental Building Association 

(ww.eeba.org). 

• U.S. DOE Technology Fact Sheet on Weather-Resistive Barriers 

(www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/28600.pdf). 

• Standard Practice for Installation of Exterior Windows, Doors, and Skylights. ASTM E2112-01, September 2002. 

CAULK

4" 1"

STEP 4 - Jamb and Head Flashing STEP 5 - Seal Rough Opening Gap 

STEP 6 - If Apron was Installed STEP 6 - If Head Flap was Created 

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUS

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

OUSEWRAP

HOUSEWR

Self-adhesive 

Head Flashing 

Fold Down 

Head Flap 

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

Housewrap 

secured to 

window flange 

with tape HOUSEW

HOUSE

HOUSEWRAP

HOUSEWRAP

If housewrap has been installed, be sure that the head flap, 

when it is folded down, will cover the top of the flashing. 

Install self-adhesive jamb flashing extending 4 inches above the top 

of the head flange and even with the bottom of the sill flashing. 

If an apron was installed under the window, slip the housewrap 

or building paper under the apron. 

Tape the edges where the housewrap meets the window flange 

if housewrap is installed after flashing. 

If building paper is used, embed the edges in a bead of sealant 

where the paper meets the window flange. 

If headflap was created, fold it over the head flashing 

and tape across the top window flange and the 

45o angle seams. 

Install self-adhesive head flashing extending 1 inch beyond 

the jamb flashing. 

On the interior side of the window, seal gap 

between the window and the rough opening with 

appropriate sealant. 

Self-adhesive 

Jamb Flashing 

Existing 

Apron 

Head flap 

secured with tape 

West Conshohocken, PA. 

• www.ibacos.com/ghome/Jan03/jan03_windows.html 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD- 
Building Tips 

Air Sealing - Plumbing 

Plumbing 

Vent 

Wall 

Top Plate 

Sealant between 

gasket and plate 

Staples 

Caulk/sealant 

Caulk/ 

Sealant 

Floor Insulation 

Pipe 

Exterior Wall 

Rim 

Joist 

Another trade may have 

completed this step. 

Confirm with the site 

supervisor. If not, and 

you need to complete 

the step yourself, ensure 

that the necessary 

materials are available 

on site. 

Seal tub penetration 

Vent pipe may be eliminated with an air-admittance valve in some jurisdictions. 

Seal all plumbing and electrical penetrations. 

Insulate and airseal behind tub. 

Draft stop behind enclosure. 

Keep pipes out of exterior walls and seal 

penetrations through floor. 

Seal penetrations through rim joists. 

Insulate pipes 

exposed to 

unconditioned 

areas 

Be careful not to compress or disrupt floor 

insulation, if it is present, keeping pipe runs 

parallel and close to studs leaving more room 

for insulation. 

Prefabricated roof-vent pipe flashing can be adapted as air sealing gaskets. 

Continuous bead 

of sealant or 

adhesive 

Thin sheet 

goods as draft 

stop behind tub 

or enclosure 

Blocking 

CAULK

Exterior Wall

Draft Stop 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Lstiburek, J. W. 2000. Builders Guides. Minneapolis, MN. Energy and Environmental Building Association. www.eeba.org. 

• U.S. DOE Technology Fact Sheet on Air Sealing (www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/26448.pdf). 

• www.toolbase.org: click on New Building Technology > Plumbing > Distribution Systems > Air Admittance Vents 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD- 
Building Tips 

Electrical Air Sealing 

Seal standard plastic 

electrical box at face 

to drywall with joint 

compound or cover 

the plate gasket 

with caulked foam. 

Sources & Additional Information 

Ceiling fans should be wired to a wall switch. 

Seal all exterior penetrations, such as 

porch light fixtures, phone, security, 

cable and electric service holes, with 

caulk, spray foam, or gaskets - note 

that foam degrades in sunlight. 

Use air-tight outlet boxes 

or seal standard boxes. 

Seal light fixture boxes to drywall with caulk or foam. 

Seal bath fan box to drywall 

with caulk or foam. 

Caulk/seal/foam all electrical wires penetrating 

top and bottom plates of exterior walls. 

Run wiring along bottom plate at exterior wall. 

NOTE: Some codes require wires to be held up from 

bottom plates 6"-8" to protect from future drilling through plates. 

Run wiring 

along side 

of stud at 

exterior wall 

and along 

plates 

Recessed light fixtures should be rated for Insulated Ceiling Air Tight (ICAT). 

AIR TIGHTNESS 

LABEL 

Airtight Wire 

Connection From 

Seal Wire 

AIRTIGHTNESS LABEL 

Junction Box 

Airtight Can 

EXTERIOR WALL 

Caulk 

Connection 

Sealant 

Support Sheathing 

Electrical

Panel 

Flange for sealing to 

drywall air barrier 

Nailing 

Flange 

Built-in 

Gasket 

Built-in 

Sealant 

Caulk 

Caulk at wire 

penetrations 

Decorative 

Cover 

CAULK 

CAULK

Standard Plastic 

Electrical Box 

Air Sealed 

Electrical Box 

• Lstiburek, J.W. 2000. Builder Guide Hot-Humid Climates. Minneapolis, MN: Energy and Environmental Building 

Association (ww.eeba.org).

• U.S. DOE. Technology Fact Sheet on Air Sealing (www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/26448.pdf). 

• See also Air Sealing Building Tips in the chapter. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-10 
Building Tips 

Air Sealing Drywall 

MEASURE 

FRAMERELECTRICIANDRYWALLERPLUMBERWINDOWINSTALLER 

EXTERIOR WALLS 

Install gaskets or caulk at top and bottom plates of exterior walls. 

Seal between the bottom plate and subflooring. 

Install gaskets behind coverplates.  

Seal large holes behind bathtubs or stairs with sheathing.  

PARTITION WALLS 

Seal the drywall at the intersection with the top or bottom plate. 

Seal penetrations through the top and bottom plates for plumbing, wiring, 

and ducts using fire-resistant sealants.  

Knee walls can be insulated and sealed at either the roofline or along the line formed by the 

roof, wall, and floor. Rigid foam insulation, taped at the seams with housewrap tape, can be 

used to seal the backside of the knee wall and the underside of the roof. Sealing along the 

roofline is preferred in new construction. 

 

WINDOWS & DOORS 

Caulk or glue drywall edges to either framing or jambs. 

Fill rough opening with foam backer rod and caulk (preferred) or low-expanding foam sealant. 

Caulk window and door trim to drywall with clear or paintable sealant.  

CEILING 

Seal the junction between the ceiling and walls. 

Whenever possible, use continuous drywall sheets for the ceiling 

and walls to minimize joints to be sealed. 

Seal all penetrations in the ceiling for wiring, plumbing, ducts, and attic access openings.   

*Actual assignments to be made by site 

supervisor. The supervisor may choose to 

work with a sealing specialist instead. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-11 
Building Tips 

Air Sealing Glossary 

Caulk 

Seals gaps of less than 1/2 inch. Select grade (interior, 

exterior, high temperature) based on application. 

Expanding Spray Foam 

Fills large cracks and small holes. Expanding foams are 

messy but useful for filling large holes or cracks. The 

material expands 2 to 3 times in volume after application. 

It comes in one-part cans that require no mixing or in 

two-part systems for larger jobs. It degrades in sunlight 

and users should be careful not to get the foam on their 

skin. DO NOT USE near flammable applications (e.g., 

flue vents). DO NOT USE on windows and doors. 

In large applications, a two-part system is used, which 

involves mixing the sealant on site. For small jobs, onepart spray cans are used. 

Low-Expanding/Non-Expanding Spray Foam 

These latex-based spray foams come in one-part spray 

cans. They expand very little or not at all and will not 

pinch jambs or void window treatments. 

Backer Rod 

Closed-cell foam or rope caulk. Press into crack or gap 

with screwdriver or putty knife. Often used with caulk 

around window and door rough openings. 

Gaskets 

Apply under the bottom plate before an exterior wall is 

raised or use to seal drywall to framing instead of caulk 

or adhesive. 

Housewrap 

Installed over exterior sheathing. Must be sealed with 

housewrap tape or caulk to act as an air retarder. 

Resists water, but is NOT a vapor barrier. 

Sheet Goods 

(Plywood, Drywall, Rigid Foam Insulation) These 

materials form an air retarder. Air leaks only at unsealed 

seams or penetrations. 

Sheet Metal 

Used with high-temperature caulk for sealing hightemperature components, such as flues, chimneys, 

and framing. 

Polyethylene Plastic 

This inexpensive material for air sealing also stops vapor 

diffusion. All edges and penetrations must be completely 

sealed for an effective air retarder. Poly is fragile, and 

proper placement is climate specific. 

Weatherstripping 

Used to seal moveable components, such as doors, 

windows, and attic accesses. 

Mastic 

A thick paste that can be used on all duct materials that 

provides a permanent seal. Seals air handlers and all duct 

connections and joints. UL-181-approved water-based 

mastic is best. 

UL-181 or Foil-Faced Tape 

Tapes approved for ducts and air handlers. Temporarily 

seals the air handler. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• U.S. DOE. Technology Fact Sheet on Air Sealing (www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/26448.pdf). 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-12 
Building Tips 

Fiberglass Insulation 

INSTALLING FIBERGLASS BATT INSULATION

ALWAYS: 

Avoid gaps, tight turns, and compression 

• Cut insulation to fit snugly in non-standard spaces. 

• Slit batts to fit around wiring and plumbing. 

• Notch out around electrical boxes and use scraps 

to fill in behind.

Install long runs first – then use scraps to fill in 

smaller spaces and gaps. 

Use unfaced batts in hot and humid climates. 

Even if blown-in insulation is to be generally applied, 

use fiberglass batts to insulate areas that will be 

inaccessible to the blown-in insulation, such as 

behind bath enclosures. 

Walls: 

Friction-fit the batts in place until covered by drywall 

or sheathing. 

Insulate before installing stairs and tubs and other 

features that will block access. 

Knee Walls: 

Seal knee wall to create a continuous air barrier. Knee 

walls can be sealed following the wall itself and attic 

floor or along the sloping edge of the attic roof. Rigid 

foam insulation, taped at the seams with housewrap 

tape, can be used to seal the backside of the kneewall 

and the underside of the roof. Sealing along the 

roofline is preferred in new construction. 

Insulate and air seal the rafter space along the sloping 

ceiling of the knee wall attic space or insulate and air 

seal the roofline wall and floor. 

Rafters should receive R-19 or R-30 insulation. 

Cover rafters with a sealed air barrier (such as drywall 

or foil-faced hardboard). 

Caulk the barrier to the top plate of the wall below the 

attic space and to the top plate of the knee wall itself. 

Seal all other cracks and holes. 

Ceilings: 

Insulate and seal the attic access door

Install insulation over ICAT-rated recessed cans.

Verify ventilation pathways.

Install insulation baffles.

Band Joists: 

Place insulation in the cavities between 

joists and subfloor.

Caulk bottom plate to subfloor.

Caulk band joist to subfloor and plates and insulate.

Caulk bottom plate to subfloor.

Under Floor Insulation: 

Metal stays, lathe, or stainless steal wire support 

insulation in joist cavities. 

In new construction it is preferred that crawlspace 

walls are insulated. If underfloor insulation is to be 

used, it can be held in place with metal staves, lathe, 

stainless steel wire, or twine. 

If truss systems are used under floors, an approach 

better than batt insulation is to install netting or rigid 

insulation to the underside of the floor trusses and fill 

the joist cavity with blown-in insulation. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Energy Efficient Building Association’s Builder’s Guide 

Hot-Humid Climates, 2000. 

• U.S. DOE Technology Fact Sheet on Attic Access. 

• U.S. DOE Technology Fact Sheet on Crawlspace Insulation. 

* Refer to the Air Sealing Building Tips in this chapter 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-1 
Building Tips 

Masonry Construction 

Semi-vapor permeable rigid insulations used on the interior 

of wall assemblies should be unfaced or faced with permeable 

skins. Foil facings and polypropylene skins should be avoided. 

Rigid Insulation 

(Minimum 1/2" Thick) 

Wood Furring 

(Minimum 3/4" Thick) 

Gypsum Board 

Masonry Wall 

Shallow Electrical Box 

(surface-mounted On 

Masonry Interior) 

Continuous 2x4 or 2x2 Horizontal Furring 

(acting as draft or fire stop; seal all 

service/wiring penetrations) 

Interior Gypsum Board with 

permeable or semi-permeable finish 

Semi-Permeable Rigid Insulation 

(Expanded Polystyrene, Extruded Polystyrene, 

Fiber-faced Isocyanurate) 

Wood Furring 

Gypsum Board 

Concrete 

Slab 

Latex Paint or other permeable or 

semi-permeable interior finish 

Masonry 

Wall 

Sloping Precast Masonry 

Sill with Precast Rib 

Treated Wood Spacer/Mounting 

Block to support window 

Sealant forming 

end dam 

Wood Sub-Jamb 

(Positioned Toward Wall Exterior So That 

Face Of Interior Window Frame Is Flush With 

Center Point Of Rib In Precast Masonry Sill) 

Treated Wood 

Sub-Jamb 

Mounting Member 

("back-caulked") 

Sealant between 

masonry opening and 

treated wood sub-jamb 

Wood furring should be installed over rigid insulation; the 

rigid insulation should be continuous over the surface of the wall, 

except for the 2x4 furring near the ceiling. This blocking attaches 

directly to the masonry block and is above the insulation, not behind it. 

Electrical boxes can be surface-mounted 

WINDOW SILL DRAINAGE 

Source: EEBA 9.5 

Source: EEBA 9.7 

Source: EEBA 9.1 

eliminating chiseling/chipping masonry ELECTRICAL BOX 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Lstiburek, J. W. 2000. Builders Guides. Minneapolis, MN. Energy and Environmental Building Association. www.eeba.org. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-1 
Building Tips 

Radiant Barriers 

If installed after roof sheathing, 

install from inside the attic by 

stapling the radiant barrier to 

the bottom of the rafters. 

If installed before roof sheathing, drape the radiant barrier 

foil-face down between the roof rafters. 

AFTER ROOF SHEATHING 

BEFORE ROOF SHEATHING 

*foil-face down* 

Roof Rafters 

Radiant Barrier 

*foil-face down* 

Radiant Barrier 

Roof Sheathing 

1" 

Air 

Space 

Radiant Barriers are appropriate for hot climates. 

NOTE: Some roof sheathing products have a radiant barrier Allow the material to droop between preinstalled; in this case, ensure the shiny side faces the attic. attachment points to make at least a 

1-inch air space between the radiant 

barrier and the bottom of the roof. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• U.S. DOE. EREC Brief on Radiant Barriers (www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/refbriefs/bc7.html). 

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheet #14 Radiant Barriers (www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/14radiantbarriers.pdf). 

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheet #25 Ceiling and Attic Insulation and Ventilation

(www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/25_insulateceilings_4pdf.pdf).

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-15 
Building Tips 

Duct Sealing 

AIR HANDLER	 SUPPLY & RETURN PLENUMS 

Mastic all corners 

of metal plenums 

Mastic plenum

to air handler 

Mastic 

Mastic exterior of collars 

Mastic or tape

exterior of duct board 

RETURN

SUPPLY

Mastic collars to 

metal plenum on

inside or outside 

Mastic or caulk 

Mastic 

Collar with strap; 

mastic on take-off 

Mastic or caulk Filter Rack 

Mastic to seal 

refrigerant and 

condensate line 

Mastic 

Mastic 

FLEX DUCT	 BOOTS 

Use wide straps to support flex duct	 REGISTER 

Strap inner liner and 

outer insulation 

spaced at 5-foot intervals 

Run lines straight 

using metal elbows at 

bends and corners 

Mastic 

boot seams 

Mastic before 

attaching flex 

duct 

Seal 

joints

in boots 

Seal boots to sheet goods (drywall/subfloor) 

with caulk, mastic or spray foam 

Seal metal or flex to boot or elbow 

and joints in elbow with mastic 

Never puncture inner liner. If repair is 

needed; install a coupling and seal properly 

Mastic is a gooey adhesive that is applied wet. It fills gaps and dries to a soft solid. Mastics may or may 

not contain reinforcing fibers, and they may be used with reinforcing mesh tape. 

Sources & Additional Information 

• Energy Efficient Building Association Builder’s Guide Hot and Humid Climates, 2000. 

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheet #2 Ductwork Questions & Answers 

(www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/2duct_q&a.pdf).

• Southface Energy Institute. Fact Sheet #18 Energy Checklist (www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/checklist.pdf). 

• www.ibacos.com/ghome/Oct03/bpflexduct.html 

* Diagrams courtesy of Southface Energy Institute Fact Sheet #2 Ductwork Questions & Answers. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • TRD-16 
Fort Lewis Army Base

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

Washington State 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE A-1 

Energy-Efficient Housing for Our Nation’s Military 

More than 850 new homes are 

rising from the misty landscape of 

the Ft. Lewis Army Base in western 

Washington State, and all of them 

are energy efficient, thanks in part to 

support from the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s Building America program. 

High-efficiency 90% AFUE furnaces, 

high-performance windows, extra 

attention to caulking and sealing, and 

ENERGY STAR® appliances and 

lighting will help the homes achieve 

energy savings of at least 20% to 

30% over the Pacific Northwest’s 

already strong building energy codes, 

according to Michael Lubliner of the Washington State University Energy Office, 

part of Building America’s Industrialized Housing Partnership. 

Military Housing Privatization a Boon to Energy Efficiency 

The 864 homes are being built by Equity Residential as part of a 50-year housing 

privatization contract Equity has entered into with the U.S. Army to assume 

ownership of all 4,000 existing houses and future homes including the 458 now under 

construction and another 404 slated for construction starting in 2007. “The Army 

strongly encourages energy-efficient construction as part of its push for sustainability,” 

said Boyd Lucas, Equity’s executive development manager for the project. 

“Building America’s building science practices help improve our project’s energy 

efficiency, indoor environment, and durability. This is very important to us since we 

own the houses. Equity will be maintaining and operating these houses in partnership 

with the U.S. Military over the next 50 years. But we will be paying the utility bills, 

so energy efficiency is definitely to our benefit;” said Lucas. 

Equity Residential and Champion Homes have 

started construction on 864 energy efficient 

homes on the (WSU) Ft. Lewis Army Base in 

Washington State. 

“The military has a tremendous 

program nationwide to 

improve sustainability. Energy 

efficiency is not required but it 

is always encouraged.” 

Boyd Lucas, 

Equity Residential, Executive 

Development Manager for the 

Ft. Lewis project 

The Ft. Lewis project is the first military housing project to use modular construction. With modular 

construction energy efficiency can be implemented cost effectively on a large scale. 
•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Case Study: Fort Lewis Army Base

WSU staff conduct blower door and duct 

blaster testing on the homes, test insulation 

density, and verify installation of ENERGY 

STAR appliances and lighting on site to 

certify that the homes meet Northwest 

ENERGY STAR requirements, the 

energy efficiency level the project chose to 

meet. WSU also trained the HVAC subcontractor in proper installation, sealing, 

and testing of the ducts and helped solicit 

rebates with Puget Sound Energy and locate 

ENERGY STAR appliance suppliers. 

Initial testing and duct leakage estimates 

by the WSU Energy Office using Energy 

Gauge software showed that the energyefficient homes would use 377 therms/year 

for space heat, compared to similar standard 

construction homes, which were estimated 

to use 442 therms/year for space heat. So 

the improved sealing of ducts could net 

savings of 65 therms per year. “And in 

future construction, if the ducts were put in 

conditioned space, rather than in the crawl 

space or attic,” said Lubliner, “we estimate 

savings could approach 100 therms per year.” 

WSU Energy is working with the Oregon 

Department of Energy (ODOE) which 

provided initial technical assistance to 

Champion and Equity and assisted with 

heating system design on the project. 

ODOE staff also inspect the components of 

each home at the factory to make sure that 

all of the energy efficiency specifications are 

implemented, according to ODOE energy 

analyst Tom Hewes. WSU and ODOE 

are working with Champion and Equity 

to evaluate further energy improvements 

for future project phases, with US DOE 

Building America support. 

Fort Lewis was one of the first four bases 

in the country to privatize its housing 

in response to the Military Housing 

Privatization Initiative established by 

Congress in 1996. This is the first military 

base project for Equity Residential, which 

is one of the country’s largest real estate 

investment trusts, with more than 225,000 

units nationwide, according to Lucas. 

Researchers from Washington State University 

are evaluating how the bumps and vibrations 

of highway travel affects the settling of attic 

insulation installed in the factory. 

THE ENERgy PaCkagE IS: 

Insulation: 

R21 batt insulation in walls 

R33 batt insulation in floors

 R38 loose fill cellulose in ceilings 

Windows: double paned lowemissivity, vinyl-framed windows 

with a U value of 0.35 

Doors: metal, foam core with 

thermal break and U value of 

0.2 doors 

HVAC: 90% AFUE condensing 

natural gas furnace located in 

mechanical room 

Ducts: located in attic and 

crawlspace, insulated to R8 

Ducts tested at below target, with 

total leakage of less than 6% CFM/ft2 

@50 PA (field tests indicate tighter) 

Blower door testing: less than 7.0 air 

changes per hour at 50PA (field tests 

indicated tighter) 

Domestic Hot Water: Powered vent 

natural gas with an efficiency rating 

of 0.61 

Crawlspace Ventilation: Humidity 

controlled, fan in vented crawlspace 

Whole-house Ventilation: Quiet 

exhaust fan in central hallway 

ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent 

lamps (CFLs) in 50% of fixtures 

ENERGY STAR Dishwasher 

BUILDER PROFILE 

Lewis Communities 

Where: 

Fort Lewis Army Base, 

Washington State 

(south of Seattle, between Olympia 

and Tacoma) 

Owner: 

Fort Lewis Communities LLC 

Developer: 

Equity and Lincoln Properties 

Modular Builder: 

Champion Homes of Oregon 

Number of Homes: 

864 

Project Start: 

January 2005 

Project Complete: 

Spring 2008 

Home Models: 

“The Lincoln” 

3 BR, 2-1/2 bath, triplex, 

2 story, 1776 SF/unit, 

“The Madison” 

4 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath, duplex, 

two story 1016 SF 

“The Monroe” 

3 bedroom, 2 bath, “adaptable” 

1 story 1635 SF/unit. 

“The Roosevelt” 

4 bedroom 2 bath “adaptable” 

1 story 1784 SF/unit.

“For us it’s no more difficult 

to build energy efficiently 

than our standard construction process. There was a 

learning curve, but now 

it’s just part of our normal 

production process.” 

Steve Matus, 

Champion Silverton’s 

Quality Control Manager

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE A-2 
Case Study: Fort Lewis Army Base 

Energy-Efficient Modular Construction a First for Base Housing 

Fort Lewis is probably not the first base to invest in energy-efficient housing under the Defense 

Department’s recent push toward sustainability. But the project is the first to use ENERGY 

STAR modular construction for energy efficient housing, according to Lucas. House 

components are being built by Champion Homes at their Silverton, Oregon plant. 

Lucas said Equity chose modular construction for several reasons. With so many units going 

up at one time, wall and roof components can be put together in the factory with significant 

economies of scale, the preassembled components make for faster set up time on site, and 

assembling components inside the factory helps them stay drier for less likelihood of damage 

and mold in Washington State’s moist marine climate. 

Modular construction was also a first for Champion’s Silverton plant, although other 

Champion plants do a considerable amount of modular construction. The Silverton plant 

builds primarily manufactured homes and according to Steve Matus, Champion Silverton’s 

quality control manager, Champion has been offering energy-efficient manufactured homes 

for several years. “For us it’s no more difficult to build energy efficiently than our standard 

construction process. There was a learning curve, but now it’s just part of our normal 

production process.” 

“There is no question energy-efficient construction is catching on. Maybe 5 or 6 years ago 

it made up 1% to 2 % of our total sales, now its one-fourth to one-third of sales, and some 

months it’s up to half,” said Matus. 

Modules are numbered for placement. Housewrap and window flashing has been carefully applied 

at the factory to exterior walls. Housewrap flaps are provided for overlap with surrounding modules. 

The housewrap is overlapped shingle-style to create a drainage plain beneath exterior cladding. The 

foundation wall for the crawlspace can be seen at the base of the walls. 

The Bottom Line 

Equity’s Lucas said the whole experience of building energy-efficient homes has been 

a positive one. “We are always looking to make a better product, in terms of energy 

efficiency, architecture, design, and cost or value engineering. We know this was the 

right move for us on this project.” 

“There are 4000 units on 

post, we own them, we pay 

the utility bill. So energy 

efficiency is to our benefit.” 

Boyd Lucas, 

Equity Residential, Executive 

Development Manager for the 

Ft. Lewis project 

“There is no question energyefficient construction is 

catching on. Maybe 5 or 6 

years ago it made up 1% to 

2% of our total sales, now its 

one-fourth to one-third of sales, 

and some months it’s up to half.” 

Steve Matus, 

Champion Silverton’s 

Quality Control Manager

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE A- 
SummerHill Homes

MANAGERS 

Putting building 

science to work for 

your bottom line 

INTRODUCTION 

Taking action in 

your community 

CASE STUDIES 

Bringing it all together 

SITE PLANNERS 

& DEVELOPERS 

Properly situated houses 

pay big dividends 

SITE SUPERVISORS 

Tools to help with 

project management 

DESIGNERS 

Well-crafted designs 

capture benefits for builders, 

buyers, and business 

TRADES 

Professional tips for fast 

and easy installation 

MARKETERS 

Energy efficiency 

delivers the value that 

customers demand 

HOMEOWNERS 

Shopping for value, 

comfort, and quality 

San Francisco Bay Area 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE B-1 

Every Home an Energy-Efficient Home 

SummerHill Homes, based in California’s San Francisco Bay area, doesn’t offer 

energy efficiency as an upgrade option, it’s a standard feature of every home they 

build. “We just think it’s the right thing to do,” said Santos Alvarez, SummerHill’s 

vice president of operations. 

According to Alvarez, 

SummerHill builds about 250 

homes per year and the homes 

typically exceed California’s 

energy code by 18% to 22%. 

“Our goal is 20%” said Alvarez. 

They achieve that savings 

through better insulation, a 

higher efficiency furnace, an 

engineered duct system, and 

more attention to details like 

caulking and sealing. 

Alvarez also attributes the savings to training and on-site inspections. Building America 

team leader ConSol is one of the inspectors SummerHill works with, using ConSol’s 

ComfortWise version of ENERGY STAR®. “Their field inspectors are sometimes 

on our job every day. Teaching, training, keeping us up to date—these are some of 

the things they do for us. They provide formal classroom training and on the job 

training, including classes for assistants and supervisors, to make sure we are meeting 

requirements and installing things correctly. They’ll also do walk-throughs with our 

supervisors at the site, pointing out what needs to be paid attention to,” said Alvarez. 

SummerHill moved to a consistent policy of energy-efficient construction shortly 

after Alvarez joined the company four and a half years ago. Alvarez had known about 

ConSol from previous jobs. “Every where I’ve worked I’ve pursued energy efficiency,” 

said Alvarez. 

Careful duct sealing with mastic helps improve comfort and energy efficiency at low cost. 
•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Case Study: SummerHill Homes 

The policy seems to be a winner for the company as well as the environment. “The sales 

associates love it,” said Alvarez “they look forward to talking to home buyers about it.” 

Alvarez also noted that callbacks have gone down since they started building to 

ComfortWise standards. “I would attribute this to the additional third-party 

inspections and training,” said Alvarez. 

Installing window and roof flashing is critical 

for long-term durability and must happen at 

the correct stages of construction. 

Housewrap provides a drainage plain behind 

stucco and other finishes. 

Key Features: 

Field certification with two inspections of each model and each floor plan per release 

using diagnostics: blower door test, duct blaster test, air flow measurements at each 

register, insulation density measurements; visual inspection that specified components 

are installed correctly. 

Caulking and sealing of all joints and penetrations 

Engineered HVAC system and duct layout 

Sealed ducts with duct blaster testing 

Correct sizing of air conditioning equipment 

Dual-paned vinyl windows with Low-E glass for improved energy savings 

All exterior doors feature full weather stripping 

Dual-zone high-efficiency forced air gas furnace with electronic ignition and energy 

efficient electronic set-back thermostat 

Energy saving 100-gallon gas water heater with recirculation pump to all fixtures 

BUILDER PROFILE 

SummerHill Homes, 

a division of Marcus 

& Millichap 

Where: 

San Francisco Bay Area, 

California 

Founded: 

1976 

Employees: 

120 

Development: 

Villa Savona Homes in 

Fremont, California 

Number of Homes: 

26 

Square Footage: 

3,545 - 3,889 sq. ft. 

3 - 5 bedrooms 

3.5 - 4.5 baths 

Price Range: 

from the mid $1,500,000’s 

High efficiency windows improve 

comfort and help protect furnishings from solar radiation. This 

National Fenestration Rating 

Council label shows a U-factor 

of 0.35 and solar heat gain 

coefficient of 0.31. The window 

also qualifies as an ENERGY 

STAR product. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE B-2 
Case Study: SummerHill Homes 

Innovations 

SummerHill has gone beyond the 

ENERGY STAR standards to incorporate 

green building practices in their homes 

as well. Alvarez said this started about 

two years ago with their Sycamore 

Heights development located in Alameda 

County. They implemented several 

green building features including using 

recycled materials, protecting native soil, 

minimizing disruption of existing plants 

and trees, recycling at the construction 

site, using formaldehyde-free insulation, 

and installing gas water heaters with a 

recirculation pump to all fixtures. Several 

of these features were required by Alameda 

County as part of the county’s Green 

Building Guidelines. Sycamore Heights 

achieved the county’s Gold Level Status 

for green construction. Now SummerHill 

incorporates these features in all of its new 

construction. 

“When we looked at what was required to achieve Gold Level Status, 90% of it we were 

already doing,” said Alvarez. 

SummerHill’s efforts have been recognized by the building community. SummerHill 

developments have received several coveted Best In American Living Awards from 

the National Association of Home Builders, and SummerHill was the winner of two 

Golden Nugget Grand Awards and five Gold Nugget Merit Awards at the 2005 Pacific 

Coast Builders Conference. 

Don’t Duck Duct Details: 

ConSol contends that sealing HVAC ducts is a key to improving a home’s 

energy efficiency. ConSol aims for a duct leakage goal of less than 6% leakage. 

“The biggest source of leakage in duct systems is from not sealing the can that 

holds the AC duct to the register. The can should be sealed to the drywall with 

caulk. We estimate that 40% of duct leakage is due to that omission alone,” 

said Doug Dryer, ConSol’s national marketing director. To ensure that ducts 

are tight, ConSol performs field inspections and diagnostics including duct 

blaster tests and measurements of air flow at each register in the home. ConSol’s 

mechanical engineers design the HVAC system for each floor plan to determine 

the correct size for the heating and air conditioning equipment and to optimize 

the duct layout. “The ideal is a perfectly balanced house, pressure wise, with a 

correctly sized HVAC system and adequate air flow into each room,” said Dryer. 

Green Features 

In addition to energy efficiency, 

SummerHill Homes’s Sycamore 

Heights development meets 

the requirements of Alameda 

County’s Green Building 

Program. These include: 

Materials & Products 

• 15% fly ash in concrete 

• Engineered lumber for 

floors, structural beams 

and headers 

• Wood I-joists for floors 

and ceilings 

• OSB for subfloors and 

sheathing 

• Finger-jointed trim 

• Non-chromium/arsenic 

treated wood 

• Fiber-cement exterior siding 

(James Hardie Hardiplank 

and Hardishingle) 

• Durable concrete roof tiles 

(Monier Lifetile) 

Other Green Features 

• 75% recycling of 

construction waste 

• Reused form boards 

• Built-in recycling center 

• Stormwater management 

and soil protection during 

construction 

• High-efficiency irrigation 

system and resourceefficient landscapes 

• Range hoods vented 

to outside 

• Low-VOC* interior paint 

(*volatile organic compunds) 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE B- 
Case Study: SummerHill Homes

ConSol’s ComfortWise ENERGY STAR promotes Building America’s 

Common Sense Building Science Principles 

ConSol is the team lead for the Building Industry Research Alliance, one of 

Building America’s research consortia. ConSol’s ComfortWise ENERGY STAR 

program is based on the common sense building science principles that Building 

America has developed and promotes. By following this whole house systems 

approach, builders can build high-quality durable homes that use at least 30% 

less energy for space heating and cooling than homes built to meet the National 

Model Energy Code or 15% savings over homes built to the California Energy 

Code. ConSol provides builders with an HVAC layout and design as well as full 

energy code and lender documentation. ConSol specifies spectrally selective lowemissivity windows and tight ducts and provides on-site third-party inspections 

and diagnostic testing including duct blaster, blower door, insulation density, 

air flow, and other measurements. ConSol also provides marketing support and 

materials, sales staff and contractor training, and information on energy-efficient 

mortgages to help builders implement energy efficiency practices and use them 

to expand markets and increase profitability. 

The Bottom Line 

According to Alvarez: “Cost is not a big issue. It’s not hard and it’s not expensive. It’s 

just a little more work. It takes a little more attention. And you’ve got to allow the time 

for testing and inspection.” 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • CASE B- 
Appendix I

Homebuyer’s Checklist 

Below is a more detailed list of building features for those who really want to investigate their house. 

To really see how some of these measures are installed, visit houses that are under construction. 

MEASURE Building America 

Recommendations 

Builder 

#1 

Builder 

#2 

Builder 

#3 

HEATING AND COOLING EQUIPMENT 

ENERGY STAR qualified air conditioning of SEER* 13 or greater 

(SEER 14 starting Jan 2006) Yes 

ENERGY STAR qualified heat pump Yes 

ENERGY STAR qualified boiler Yes 

ENERGY STAR qualified furnace of AFUE* 90 Yes 

ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat Yes 

Ductwork sealed with mastic (no duct tape) Yes 

5% or less duct leakage found with pressure test Yes 

Duct Insulation: 

R-4 in conditioned space, R-8 in attic, R-6 in crawlspace Yes 

House plans show duct layouts Yes 

Ducts located in conditioned space as much as possible Yes 

Ducts sized according to industry standards in Manual D Yes 

Heating and cooling equipment sized according to industry 

standards in Manual J Yes 

House pressure balanced with jump ducts Yes 

HVAC* equipment and duct work was inspected 

and tested after installation Yes 

INSULATION (take a look at a house under construction before sheetrock is installed) 

Insulation installed behind tubs, landings, and other hard to 

reach places Yes 

Insulation fills entire cavities – no voids or compressed batts – 

Attic insulation level without gaps and covers entire attic floor 

Yes 

Where fiberglass batt insulation is used it is high-density Yes 

Rim joists are insulated Yes 

WINDOWS (take a look at a house under construction before exterior siding is installed) 

ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights Yes 

Windows flashed to help repel water Yes 

Windows rated to 0.35 U-factor and SHGC Yes 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX I-1 
Appendix I: Homebuyer’s Checklist

MOISTURE MANAGEMENT (take a look at a house under construction before exterior siding is installed) 

Ground slopes away from house Yes 

Housewrap or building paper covers exterior sheathing in 

wood framed houses Yes 

Roof flashing in valleys, where walls and roofs intersect, and 

at other places where water may enter the house – the more 

complex the roof, the more flashing you should see 

Yes 

Overhangs for shade and to direct water away from walls Yes 

AIR BARRIERS 

All penetrations through exterior walls sealed Yes 

Careful sealing of sheetrock or exterior sheathing Yes 

Canned lights rated as airtight and for insulated ceiling (ICAT) Yes 

Electrical boxes on exterior walls caulked or gasketed Yes 

Holes into attic sealed Yes 

Attic hatch weather-stripped and insulated Yes 

Air leakage determined with house depressurization test Yes 

Wall-roof intersection carefully sealed to avoid ice dams Yes 

Draft stops installed behind tubs, showers, stairs, and fireplaces Yes 

FOUNDATION MEASURES 

Radon control measures installed Yes 

4 to 6 inch gravel base under slab and basement floors Yes 

Polyethylene (plastic) vapor barrier between gravel and slab Yes 

Conditioned crawlspace Yes 

Exterior wall insulation Yes 

PLUMBING 

No pipes in exterior walls Yes 

Pipe insulation Yes 

YOUR FEATURES FOR COMPARISON 

*SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 

*AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 

*HVAC: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning 

If you want to know more about any of these or other house features review the other chapters of the Best 

Practices guide. Other chapters are designed to help site planners, designers, site supervisors, and crafts 

people design and build efficient, comfortable, and durable homes. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX I-2 
Appendix II 

Energy & Housing Glossary

Accreditation 

The process of certifying a Home Energy Rating System 

(HERS) as being compliant with the national industry 

standard operating procedures for Home Energy 

Rating System. 

AFUE Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)

 Measures the amount of fuel converted to space heat in 

proportion to the amount of fuel entering the furnace. 

This is commonly expressed as a percentage. A furnace 

with an AFUE of 90 could be said to be 90% efficient. 

AFUE includes any input energy required by the pilot 

light but does not include any electrical energy for 

fans or pumps. 

Air Flow Retarder 

Sealants used to keep outside air and inside air out 

of the building envelope. Four common approaches 

to retarding air flow include careful sealing using the 

following building components: drywall and framing, 

plastic sheets (should not to be used in hot and humid 

climates) between drywall and framing, exterior 

sheathing, and building paper. Air flow retarders define 

the pressure boundary in a house that separates indoor 

and outdoor air. 

Building Envelope 

The outer shell, or the elements of a building, such 

as walls, floors, and ceilings, that enclose conditioned 

space. See also Pressure Boundary and Thermal 

Boundary. 

Btu (British Thermal Unit) 

A standard unit for measuring energy. One Btu is the 

amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 

one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit from 

59 to 60. An Inches-Pounds unit. 

CABO (Council of American Building Officials) 

A national organization of building code officials and 

interested parties, which, through a national consensus 

process, developed, adopted and promulgated the 

national Model Energy Code (MEC). CABO has 

recently become CABO International and has taken on 

the administrative responsibility for the development 

of a uniform international building code through an 

International Code Council (ICC). 

Capacity 

The rate at which a piece of equipment works. Cooling 

capacity is the amount of heat a cooling system can 

remove from the air. For air conditioners total capacity 

is the sum of latent capacity, the ability to remove 

moisture from the air, and the sensible capacity, the 

ability to reduce dry-bulb temperature. Heating system 

capacity indicates how much heat a system can provide. 

Heating and cooling capacities are rated in Btu per hour. 

Chase 

An enclosure designed to hold ducts, plumbing, 

electric, telephone, cable, or other linear components. 

A chase designed for ducts should be in conditioned 

space and include air flow retarders and thermal barriers 

between it and unconditioned spaces such as attics. 

Closed Combustion 

See Sealed Combustion, Direct Vent, and Power Vent. 

Construction Documents 

The drawings (plans) and written specifications that 

describe construction requirements for a building. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX II-1 
Appendix II: Energy & Housing Glossary

Cooling Degree-Day 

A cooling degree-day is a measure of how hot a location 

is over a period of time relative to a base temperature, 

most commonly specified as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The 

measure is computed for each day by subtracting the 

base temperature (65 degrees) from the average of the 

day’s high and low temperatures, with negative values 

set equal to zero. Each day’s cooling degree-days are 

summed to create a cooling degree-day measure for a 

specified reference period. Cooling degree-days are used 

in energy analysis as an indicator of air-conditioning 

energy requirements or use. 

COP (Coefficient of Performance) 

A measure of efficiency typically applied to heat pumps. 

The COP for heat pumps is the ratio, at a given 

point in time, of net heat output to total energy input 

expressed in consistent units and under designated 

conditions. Heat pumps result in a COP greater than 

1 because the system delivers or removes more heat 

energy than it consumes. Other specific definitions of 

COP exist for refrigeration equipment. See HSPF for a 

description of a unit for seasonal efficiency. 

Debt-to-Income Ratio 

The ratio, expressed as a percentage, which results 

when a borrower’s total monthly payment obligations 

on long-term debt are divided by their gross monthly 

income. This is one of two ratios (housing expenseto-income ratio being the other) used by the mortgage 

industry to determine if a prospective borrower qualifies 

(meets the underwriting guidelines) for a specific 

home mortgage. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA 

underwriting guidelines set an upper limit of 36% on 

this value for conventional loans but increase (“stretch”) 

the ratio by 2% for qualifying energy efficient houses. 

Direct Vent 

A sealed ventilation system for combustion appliances 

that draws combustion air from outside the structure 

and vents combustion exhaust outside the structure. 

These systems may be combined with power vent 

exhausts. See Power Vent and Sealed Combustion. 

Dry-Bulb Temperature 

The temperature of air indicated on an ordinary 

thermometer, it does not account for the affects 

of humidity. 

ECM (Energy Conservation Measure) 

An individual building component or product that 

directly impacts energy use in a building. 

EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgage) 

Specifically, a home mortgage for which the borrower’s 

qualifying debt-to-income and housing expense-toincome ratios have been increased (“stretched”) by 

2% because the home meets or exceeds CABO’s 1992 

version of the Model Energy Code (MEC). This socalled “stretch” mortgage is nationally underwritten 

by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing 

Administration (FHA). This term is often used 

generically to refer to any home mortgage for which the 

underwriting guidelines have been relaxed specifically 

for energy efficiency features, or for which any form of 

financing incentive is given for energy efficiency. 

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) 

A measurement of the instantaneous energy efficiency 

of cooling equipment, normally used only for electric 

air conditioning. EER is the ratio of net cooling 

capacity in Btu per hour to the total rate of electric 

input in watts, under designated conditions. The 

resulting EER value has units of Btu per watt-hour. 

EF (Energy Factor) 

A standardized measurement of the annual energy 

efficiency of water heating systems. It is the annual hot 

water energy delivered to a standard hot water load 

divided by the total annual purchased hot water energy 

input in consistent units. The resultant EF value is a 

percentage. EF is determined by a standardized U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE) procedure. 

Energy (use) 

The quantity of onsite electricity, gas or other fuel 

required by the building equipment to satisfy the 

building heating, cooling, hot water, or other loads or 

any other service requirements (lighting, refrigeration, 

cooking, etc.) 

Energy Audit 

A site inventory and descriptive record of features 

impacting the energy use in a building. This includes, 

but is not limited to: all building component descriptions 

(locations, areas, orientations, construction attributes 

and energy transfer characteristics); all energy using 

equipment and appliance descriptions (use, make, model, 

capacity, efficiency and fuel type) and all energy features. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX II-2 
Appendix II: Energy & Housing Glossary

ENERGY STAR® Home 

A home, certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA), that is at least 30% more energy 

efficient than the minimum national standard for home 

energy efficiency as specified by the 1992 MEC, or as 

defined for specific states or regions. ENERGY STAR 

is a registered trademark of the EPA. 

Envelope 

See Building Envelope 

Fannie Mae 

(FNMA - Federal National Mortgage Association)

A private, tax-paying corporation chartered by the U.S. 

Congress to provide financial products and services that 

increase the availability of housing for low-, moderate-, 

and middle-income Americans. 

FHA (Federal Housing Administration) 

A division of the U.S. Department of Housing and 

Urban Development (HUD). FHA’s main activity is 

the insurance of residential mortgage loans made by 

private lenders. 

Freddie Mac 

(FHLMC - Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation)

A stockholder-owned organization, chartered by the 

U.S. Congress to increase the supply of mortgage funds. 

Freddie Mac purchases conventional mortgages from 

insured depository institutions and HUD-approved 

mortgage bankers. 

Grade Beam 

A foundation wall that is poured at or just below the grade 

of the earth, most often associated with the deepened 

perimeter concrete section in slab-on-grade foundations. 

Heating Degree-Day 

A heating degree-day is a unit of measure of how cold 

a location is over a period of time relative to a base 

temperature, most commonly specified as 65 degrees 

Fahrenheit. The measure is computed for each day 

by subtracting the average of the day’s high and low 

temperatures from the base temperature (65 degrees), 

with negative values set equal to zero. Each day’s 

heating degree-days are summed to create a heating 

degree-day measure for a specified reference period. 

HERS (Home Energy Rating System) 

A standardized system for rating the energy-efficiency 

of residential buildings. 

HERS Energy-Efficient Reference Home (EERH) 

The EERH is a geometric “twin” to a home being 

evaluated for a HERS rating and according to a newlyrevised system, is configured to be minimally compliant 

with the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code. 

HERS Provider 

An individual or organization responsible for the 

operation and management of a Home Energy 

Rating System (HERS). 

HERS Rater 

An individual certified to perform residential building 

energy efficiency ratings in the class for which the rater 

is certified. 

HERS Index 

A value between 0 and 100 indicating the relative 

energy efficiency of a given home as compared with the 

HERS Energy-Efficient Reference Home as specified by 

the HERS Council Guidelines. The greater the score, 

the more efficient the home. A home with zero energy 

use for the rated energy uses (heating, cooling and hot 

water only) scores 100 and the HERS Reference Home 

scores 80. Every one point increase in the HERS score 

amounts to a 5% increase in energy efficiency. 

Housing Expense-to-Income Ratio 

The ratio, expressed as a percentage, which results when 

a borrower’s total monthly housing expenses (P.I.T.I.) 

are divided by their gross monthly income. This is 

one of two ratios (debt-to-income ratio being the 

other) used by the mortgage industry to determine if a 

prospective borrower qualifies (meets the underwriting 

guidelines) for a specific home mortgage. Fannie Mae, 

Freddie Mac and FHA underwriting guidelines set an 

upper limit of 28% on this value for conventional loans 

but increase (“stretch”) the ratio by 2% for qualifying 

Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM). 

Housewrap 

Any of several spun-fiber polyolefin rolled sheet goods 

for wrapping the exterior of the building envelope. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX II- 
Appendix II: Energy & Housing Glossary

HSPF (Heating Season Performance Factor) 

A measurement of the seasonal efficiency of an electric 

heat pump using a standard heating load and outdoor 

climate profile over a standard heating season. It 

represents the total seasonal heating output in Btu 

divided by the total seasonal electric power input in 

watt-hours (Wh). Thus, the resultant value for HSPF 

has units of Btu/Wh. 

Jump Duct 

A flexible, short, U-shaped duct (typically 10-inch 

diameter) that connects a room to a common space as 

a pressure balancing mechanism. Jump ducts serve the 

same function as transfer grilles. 

Load 

The quantity of heat that must be added to or removed 

from the building (or the hot water tank) to satisfy 

specific levels of service, such as maintaining space 

temperature or hot water temperature at a specified 

thermostat setting (see also the definitions of energy 

and thermostat). 

Low-E 

Refers to a coating for high-performance windows, the 

“E” stands for emissivity or re-radiated heat flow. The 

thin metallic oxide coating increases the U-value of 

the window by reducing heat flow from a warm(er) air 

space to a cold(er) glazing surface. Low-E coatings allow 

short-wavelength solar radiation through windows, but 

reflect back longer wavelengths of heat. 

MEC (Model Energy Code) 

A “model” national standard for residential energy 

efficiency. The MEC was developed through a 

national consensus process by the Council of American 

Building Officials (CABO) and is the accepted 

national minimum efficiency standard for residential 

construction. Since MEC is a model code, it does not 

have the “force of law” until it is adopted by a local code 

authority. The MEC is used as the national standard 

for determining Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) 

qualification, and it serves as the national “reference 

point” used by Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) 

in the determination of energy ratings for homes. 

Mechanical Ventilation 

The active process of supplying or removing air to or 

from an indoor space by powered equipment such as 

motor-driven fans and blowers, but not by devices such 

as wind-driven turbine ventilators and mechanically 

operated windows. 

Performance Test 

An on-site measurement of the energy performance 

of a building energy feature or an energy using device 

conducted in accordance with pre-defined testing and 

measurement protocols and analysis and computation 

methods. Such protocols and methods may be defined 

by national consensus standards like those of the 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air 

Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the American 

Society for Test and Measurement (ASTM). 

Perm 

A unit of measure of water vapor permeance. One 

perm equals one grain of water vapor per hour flowing 

through one square foot of material at a differential 

vapor pressure equal to one inch of mercury. The 

greater the number, the more water vapor that will pass 

through a given material. 

P.I.T.I. 

An abbreviation which stands for principal, interest, 

taxes, and insurance. These generally represent a 

borrower’s total monthly payment obligations on a 

home loan. The taxes and insurance portion are often 

paid monthly to an impound or escrow account and 

may be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the 

cost of each. 

Power Vent 

A sealed exhaust ventilation system for combustion 

appliances that uses a fan to move combustion exhaust out 

of the structure. See Direct Vent and Sealed Combustion. 

Pressure Boundary 

The point in a building at which inside air and outside 

air are separated. If a building were a balloon, the 

rubber skin would form the pressure boundary. Where 

inside and outside air freely mingle there is no 

pressure boundary. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

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Appendix II: Energy & Housing Glossary

Pressurization Test 

A procedure in which a fan is used to place a house, 

duct system, or other container, under positive or 

negative air pressure in order to calculate air leakage. 

RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) 

The national association of energy rating providers. 

Rated Home 

A specific residence that is evaluated by an energy rating. 

R-Value 

Measures a material’s ability to slow down or resist the 

transfer of heat energy, also called thermal resistance. 

The greater the R-value, the better the resistance, the 

better the insulation. R-values are the reciprocal of 

U-values. See U-values for more information. 

Sealed Combustion 

Sealed combustion means that a combustion appliance, 

such as a furnace, water heater, or fireplace, acquires all 

air for combustion though a dedicated sealed passage 

from the outside; combustion occurs in a sealed 

combustion chamber, and all combustion products 

are vented to the outside through a separate dedicated 

sealed vent. See Direct Vent and Sealed Combustion. 

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) 

A measurement similar to HSPF except that it measures 

the seasonal cooling efficiency of an electric air 

conditioner or heat pump using a standard cooling load 

and outdoor climate profile over a standard cooling 

season. It represents the total seasonal cooling output in 

Btu divided by the total seasonal electric input in watthours (Wh). The SEER value are units of Btu/Wh. 

Semi-Permeable 

The term vapor semi-permeable describes a material 

with a water vapor permeance between 1 and 10 Perms. 

Water vapor can pass through a semi-permeable 

material but at a slow rate. 

Shading Coefficient (SC) 

The ratio of the total solar heat admittance through 

a given glazing product relative to the solar heat 

admittance of double-strength, clear glass at normal 

solar incidence (i.e., perpendicular to the glazing surface). 

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) 

SHGC measures how well a window blocks heat caused 

by sunlight. The lower the SHGC rating the less solar 

heat the window transmits. This rating is expressed as 

a fraction between 0 and 1. The number is the ratio of 

a window’s solar heat admittance compared to the total 

solar heat available on the exterior window surface at 

normal solar incidence (i.e., perpendicular to the 

glazing surface). 

Sone 

A sound rating. Fans rated 1.5 sones and below are 

considered very quiet. 

Supply ducts 

The ducts in a forced air heating or cooling system that 

supply heated or cooled air from the air conditioner to 

conditioned spaces. 

Thermal Boundary 

The border between conditioned and unconditioned 

space where insulation should be placed. 

Thermostat 

A control device that measures the temperature of the 

air in a home or the water in a hot water tank and 

activates heating or cooling equipment to cause the air 

or water temperature to remain at a pre-specified value, 

normally called the set point temperature. 

Ton(s) of Refrigeration 

Units used to characterize the cooling capacity of air 

conditioning equipment. One ton equals 12,000 Btu/h. 

U-Value 

Measures the rate at which heat flows or conducts 

through a building assembly (wall, floor, ceiling, etc.). 

The smaller the u-value the more energy efficient an 

assembly and the slower the heat transfer. Window 

performance labels include U-values (calling them Ufactors) to help in comparing across window products. 

Vapor Diffusion 

Vapor diffusion describes the molecular process in 

which vapor moves moisture from areas of higher vapor 

pressure to areas of lower vapor pressure, and from areas 

of greater temperature to areas of lesser temperature. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX II-5 
Appendix II: Energy & Housing Glossary 

Sources & Additional Information 

• American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 1991. 

Terminology of Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. Atlanta, GA. 

• Building News. 2001. Construction Dictionary. BNi Publications, Los Angeles, CA. 

• Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). Energy-Efficiency Economics Terms and Definitions available 

on the Web at www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/fyh/ratings/e_terms.htm

• Lstiburek, Joseph. 2002. Builder’s Guide Hot and Humid Climates. Energy & Environmental Building 

Association. Minneapolis, MN www.eeba.org 

• Home Energy Magazine. 1997. “No-Regrets Remodeling: Creating a Comfortable, Healthy Home That Saves 

Energy.” Energy Auditor & Retrofitter, Inc. Berkeley, CA. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX II-6 
Appendix III 

Code Notes 

A meeting with the building department before construction is 

well-advised. Should your code official need information in support 

of the new techniques you may use in an energy-efficient home, 

this appendix contains Web sites and a sample document that 

may be helpful. A set of draft code notes are available on DOE’s 

Building Energy Codes Resource Center. These draft documents 

are written for codes officials, and provide a description of energy 

efficiency techniques, citations to relevant codes, and guidance 

for plan reviews and field inspections. The sample is the last one 

on the list below and is entitled Rigid Board Insulation Installed 

as Draft Stop in Attic Kneewall – Code Notes (Draft). Here is a 

list of available code notes that should help assure your local 

code official that the proposed techniques are both safe and in 

compliance with the model codes. The code notes are available at 

www.energycodes.gov/support/code_notes.stm. 

• Single Top Plate 

• No Headers in Nonbearing Walls 

• Header Hangers in Bearing Walls 

• Framing Floor Joists Spaced at 24 inches on Center 

• Framing Studs Spaced at 24 inches on Center 

• Open Spaces as Return-Air Options 

• Details for Mechanically Vented Crawl Spaces 

• Ventilation Requirements for Condensing Clothes Dryers 

• Drywall Clips 

• Rigid Board Insulation Installed as Draft Stop in Attic Kneewall 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX III-1 
Rigid Board Insulation Installed as Draft Stop in Attic Kneewall ­

Code Notes (DRAFT) 

Framing kneewall 

Rigid board insulation (foam plastic) is an effective draft stop and also increases the R-value of the attic 

kneewall if installed on the attic side of the kneewall, replacing the need for separate draft stop and insulation 

products. The IRC requires foam plastic insulation to be protected against ignition by using fiberglass batt 

insulation, gypsum board or other products that meet the flame and smoke density requirements. Foam 

plastic products rated for flame and smoke density can be installed without such a protective covering. 

Insulating attic kneewalls between a conditioned space with vaulted ceilings and the attic is important to 

reduce energy loss through the wall, especially in the summer months. To be effective, the insulation installed 

in the kneewalls must be supported so that it stays in contact with the gypsum board, and protected against 

air moving through the insulation. 

http://energycode.pnl.gov/cocoon/energy/ Page 1 of 3 
Kneewall sheathing insulation to increase R-value to equal the outside wall. 

Foam plastic insulation can be installed on the attic side of the attic kneewall (see Figure) to both act as a 

draft stop between the conditioned house and the unconditioned attic and to increase the insulation R-value of 

the attic kneewall. Installing such an insulating backing in the kneewall supports the fiberglass batt insulation 

between framing members, replaces an air barrier, and adds insulating value to the attic kneewall. 

Plan Review 

1. Verify that plastic insulation called out on the construction detail meets the ASTM E 84 requirements for 

flame spread and smoke development. Require manufacturer literature or an ICC Evaluation Service 

report. 

2. Verify that the insulation R-value of the foam plastic insulation called out on the building plans meets or 

exceeds the R-value requirements called for on the energy code compliance documentation (only if credit 

has been taken for the foam plastic insulation). 

Field Inspection 

1. Verify that the foam plastic insulation installed in the field is consistent with that called out on the building 

plans. 

2. Verify that the insulation R-value specified on the insulation meets or exceeds the R value called out on the 

plans or documentation. 

3. Verify that that sealant has been installed around the edges of the insulation and that any holes or 

penetrations in the foam plastic insulation are sealed. 

Code Citations 

http://energycode.pnl.gov/cocoon/energy/ Page 2 of 3 
IRC 2000, Section R318.2.3 and IRC 2003, Section R314.2.3 

Within attics and crawlspaces, where entry is made only for service of utilities, foam plastics shall 

be protected against ignition by 1 1/2-inch-thick (38 mm) mineral fiber insulation, 1/4-inch-thick (6.4 

mm) wood structural panels, 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) particleboard, 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) hardboard, 3/8-inch 

(9.5 mm) gypsum board, or corrosion resistant steel having a base metal thickness of 0.016 inch 

(0.406 mm). 

IRC 2000, Section R318.3 

Plastic foam not meeting the requirements of Section R318.1 and R318.2 may be specifically 

approved on the basis of one of the following approved tests: ASTM E 84, FM 4880, UL 1040, 

ASTM E152, or UL 1715, or fire tests related to actual end-use configurations. The specific 

approval may be based on the end use, quantity, location and similar considerations where such 

tests would not be applicable or practical. 

IRC 2003, Section R314.3 

Plastic foam not meeting the requirements of Section R318.1 and R318.2 may be specifically 

approved on the basis of one of the following approved tests: ASTM E 84, FM 4880, UL 1040, 

NFPA 286, ASTM E152, or UL 1715, or fire tests related to actual end-use configurations. The 

specific approval may be based on the end use, quantity, location and similar considerations where 

such tests would not be applicable or practical. 

http://energycode.pnl.gov/cocoon/energy/ Page 3 of 3 
Appendix IV 

Counties in the Marine Climate 

This section contains a list of all the counties, broken out by state, that are 

inside the marine climate. You can find a master list for the entire country at 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/climate_regions_us_county_rev02.pdf MARINE CLIMATE 

CALIFORNIA 

Alameda 

Del Norte 

Humboldt 

Marin 

Mendocino 

Monterey 

Napa 

San Benito 

San Francisco 

San Luis Obispo 

San Mateo 

Santa Barbara 

Santa Clara 

Santa Cruz 

Sonoma 

Ventura 

OREGON 

Benton 

Clackamas 

Clatsop 

Columbia 

Coos 

Curry 

Douglas 

Jackson 

Josephine 

Lane 

Lincoln 

Linn 

Marion 

Multnomah 

Polk 

Tillamook 

Washington 

Yamhill 

WASHINGTON 

Clallam 

Clark 

Cowlitz 

Grays Harbor 

Jefferson 

King 

Kitsap 

Lewis 

Mason 

Pacific 

Pierce 

Skagit 

Snohomish 

Thurston 

Wahkiakum 

Whatcom 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX IV-1 
Appendix V 

Web Site References 

This section lists all of the Web sites referenced in the Best Practices Series. It is intended to help readers in two ways. 

First, those interested in finding a reference without going back through the text may do so. Secondly, this list will 

be included as a live portion of the Building America Web site. The list will be updated periodically to incorporate 

changes in links. In this way, readers may visit the Building America Web site and click on a current link rather than 

monitoring and tracking down links on their own. The links are listed by chapter and for the Designers and Trades 

chapters, also by secondary headings. 

INTRODUCTION 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America is a private/public partnership that 

develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. 

HOMEOWNERS 

www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_16.html 

Easy to use R-value recommendation form uses input such 

as house status, fuel type and zip code to form analysis 

for installation. 

www.fanniemae.com 

Known for energy-efficient loans, Fannie Mae is the 

nation’s largest source of funding for mortgages. 

www.natresnet.org 

The Residential Energy Services Network’s (RESNET) 

mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s 

housing stock and to qualify more families for home 

ownership by expanding the national availability of 

mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. 

www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm 

Energy Efficient Mortgages Programs helps to achieve 

national energy-efficiency goals (and reduce pollution) 

as well as provide better housing for people who might 

not otherwise be able to afford it. 

www.eflhome.com/index.jsp 

The Environments for Living Program’s energy use and 

comfort guarantees promise potential savings, comfort 

and durability that were never thought possible. 

www.us-gf.com/engineered.asp 

An Engineered For Life® home is an energy-efficient home 

that has been designed, built and tested according to the 

principles of building science for optimal safety, durability, 

affordability, and comfort. 

www.artistichomessw.com/guarantee.htm 

Artistic Homes clearly marks every new home floor-plan 

with the annual amount of space heating and cooling 

energy that is expected to be used. Artistic Homes’ 

guarantee: If your actual space heating and cooling 

usage is less than guaranteed, you pay less. 

www.energystar.gov 

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping 

businesses and individuals protect the environment 

through superior energy efficiency. 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America is a private/public partnership that 

develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. 

www.housingzone.com 

Housingzone.com contains content for builders, remodelers, 

architects, suppliers, consumers, and manufacturers. 

The Web site includes material from Professional Builder, 

Professional Remodeler, and Custom Builder magazines 

www.buildiq.com 

BuildIQ, a provider of online training for construction 

professionals, has an extensive resource list on best 

practices in homebuilding for consumers in its Best 

Practices area of this site.

www.fypower.org/about/index.html 

Links to California utilities offering programs that can 

help builders meet ENERGY STAR standards. Some 

programs include financial incentives. 

www.northwestenergystar.com/index.php?cID=125 

Information on the Northwest ENERGY STAR program for 

Oregon and Washington 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V-1 
Appendix V: Web Site References

MANAGERS

www.energystar.gov 

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping 

businesses and individuals protect the environment 

through superior energy efficiency. 

www.housingzone.com 

Housingzone.com contains content for builders, 

remodelers, architects, suppliers, consumers, and 

manufacturers. The Web site includes material from 

Professional Builder, Professional Remodeler, and 

Custom Builder magazines

www.energyvideos.com 

The California Energy Commission Web site contains 

brief videos explaining how building homes beyond the 

levels required by code is good for business. Other videos 

provide training on meeting California code and installing 

energy efficient building measures. 

MARKETERS

www.energystar.gov 

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping 

businesses and individuals protect the environment 

through superior energy efficiency. 

www.nahbrc.org/tertiaryR.asp?CategoryID=1705& 

DocumentID=3404 

The EnergyValue Housing Award guide is a compilation 

of best practices of winners of the national EnergyValue 

Housing Award. It can be purchased from the NAHB 

Research Center Web site. 

www.efficientwindows.org/index.cfm 

The Efficient Windows Collaborative Web site provides 

unbiased information on the benefits of energyefficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and 

recommendations for their selection and use. 

www.builderonline.com/article-builder.asp?channelid= 

55&articleid=375&qu=consumer+survey 

Builder Online Web site presents a survey that reveals 

builders and buyers may be on different wavelengths 

when it comes to the choice of products and materials. 

www.housingzone.com 

Housingzone.com contains content for builders, remodelers, 

architects, suppliers, consumers, and manufacturers. 

The Web site includes material from Professional Builder, 

Professional Remodeler, and Custom Builder magazines 

SITE PLANNERS

www.efficientwindows.org 

The Efficient Windows Collaborative Web site provides 

unbiased information on the benefits of energyefficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and 

recommendations for their selection and use. 

www.lid-stormwater.net 

Sponsored by the EPA, this Web site contains information 

and low-impact urban design tools to help developers and 

watershed managers. 

www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/large-pubs 

/Sustainable_community_development.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications 

/technical_reports/pdfs/scanned/gtr1869.pdf 

PDF version of the Chicago’s Urban Forest Ecosystem: 

Results of the Chicago Urban Forest Climate Project 

from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Northeastern 

Research Station. 

www.BuilderBooks.com 

Purchasing Web site of books for the builder, bookstore of 

the National Association of Home Builders. 

www.SBICouncil.org 

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is an 

independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to 

advance the design, affordability, energy performance, and 

environmental soundness of America’s buildings. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/pf363/index.htm 

The Florida Solar Energy Center presents an article on 

housing in rural areas that could result in changes to local 

climate and increased energy bills. 

www.lid-stormwater.net 

Sponsored by the EPA, this Web site contains information 

and low-impact urban design tools to help developers and 

watershed managers. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V-2 
Appendix V: Web Site References

www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/xeric.html www.mbapierce.com 

The City of Albuquerque’s Web site provides information Tacoma-Pierce County Built Green: 

on xeriscaping strategies for dry climates. A homebuilders association. 

http://xeriscape.org 

Xeriscape Colorado, Inc. is a non-profit membership group DESIGNERS 

promoting creative approaches to water conserving 

landscapes. 

www.sustainabledesignguide.umn.edu/MSDG/site.html www.buildingamerica.gov 

A guide to sustainable development developed by the 

University of Minnesota. 

http://hort.ufl.edu 

A guide to environmentally friendly landscaping developed 

by the University of Florida. 

www.cagreenbuilder.org 

California Green Builder: A homebuilders association www.nbnnews.com 

www.stopwaste.org/fsbuild.html 

Green Building in Alameda County: the publications. 

A local government program. 

www.natresnet.org 

www.sfenvironment.org 

San Francisco Department of Environment, Green Building: 

A local government program. 

www.silcom.com/~sbcplan/ibdrc.html 

Innovative Building Review Program Santa Barbara 

County: A local government program. www.energycodes.gov 

www.earthadvantage.com 

Earth Advantage®: A non profit organization. www.ibacos.com/bestprac.html 

www.green-rated.org IBACOS, a Building America team member, offers 

G/Rated Green Building Incentive Program: 

A local government program. 

www.builtgreen.net with builders. 

Built Green of King and Snohomish Counties: 

A homebuilders association. 

www.cityofseattle.net/sustainablebuilding/ 

Seattle Sustainable Building: A local government program 

www.kitsaphba.com/bbk.html 

Built Green Kitsap: A homebuilders association 

www.builtgreennw.com/index.asp 

and health and a list of facts. 

Built Green of Southwestern Washington fo/your_home : www.eere.energy.gov/consumerin

A homebuilders association. 

Building Science and the Systems Approach 

Building America is a private/public partnership that 

develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/science/basics/index.htm 

The Florida Solar Energy Center presents the basics of 

building science for more efficient and powerful products. 

National Association of Home Builders offers an online 

newsletter center with a tool for accessing back issues of 

The Residential Energy Services Network’s (RESNET) 

mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s 

housing stock and to qualify more families for home 

ownership by expanding the national availability of 

mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. 

A Web site describing U.S. DOE’s Energy Codes Program. 

guidelines, including graphic details, for designing and 

implementing quality construction practices, based on 

IBACOS’ research and experience working in the field 

Site – Drainage, Pest Control, and Landscaping 

www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts.htm 

University of Kentucky Entomology site has a block 

of options to navigate which include field crops, fruit, 

livestock, misc., landscape plants, vegetables, home 

/landscaping/index.cfm/mytopic=11910 

This Department of Energy’s Web site includes information 

for energy efficiency landscaping. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V- 
Appendix V: Web Site References

Foundation Measures 

www.epa.gov/radon/images/buildradonout.pdf 

A guide to building radon-resistant homes is outlined 

by the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air at the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency.

www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html 

Environmental Protection Agency’s map of radon zones 

includes all states with a breakdown of zone information 

classified by region. 

www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html 

State and regional contact information for indoor air 

quality and radon control.

www.buildingscience.com/resources/articles 

/24-27_Yost_for_author.pdf 

An Article by Dr. Nathan Yost, M.D. is presented 

by buildingscience.com and offers information on 

conditioned, unvented crawl spaces.

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork 

/hothumid/profiles/montgomery.htm 

The Building Science Corporation leads a Building 

America team. Designs That Work provides drawings, 

specifications, materials characteristics for sample 

housing types in five 

climate zones.

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Aug04/Aug2004_Water.html 

This article from IBACOS discusses best practices for 

foundations in areas with expansive soils.

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Jan04/Jan_BPWebBasements.html 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Jan04/bestpractice.pdf 

www.ibacos.com/pubs/Newsletter-July02.pdf#page=3 

These articles from IBACOS present best practices for 

designing and building quality foundation systems.

Structural Moisture Control 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/28600.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on how to select and install housewrap and other 

types of weather-resistive barriers. 

www.fema.gov 

The Federal Energy Management Agency’s mission is to 

prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal 

response and recovery efforts following any national incident. 

www.blueprintforsafety.org 

Florida Alliance for Safe Homes’ building guidelines for 

hazardous areas. 

www.ibhs.org 

The Institute for Business and Home Safety has building 

guidelines and public information for surviving disasters. 

www.buildingcodeonline.com 

The Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance 

Office offers a searchable database of building materials 

approved for high-wind locations. 

www.ibacos.com/pubs/RoofFlashingGuidelines.pdf 

This document provides guidelines on roof flashing. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Aug03/Sug2003_bp_brick.html 

This article by IBACOS provides solutions for moisture 

issues in brick veneer homes. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Winter05 

/winter05_bestpractices_drainage_plane.html 

This article by IBACOS discusses the importance of 

providing a continuous drainage plane. 

www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/hazard_workshop.html 

U.S. DOE offers a training program for home inspectors to 

identify hazards. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls 

/brick_stucco_housewraps.pdf 

Website provides information on housewrap and building 

paper performance behind brick and stucco. 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork 

/buildingmaterials.htm 

The Building Science Corporation leads a Building 

America team. Designs That Work provides drawings, 

specifications, materials characteristics for sample 

housing types in five climate zones. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls 

/problems_with_housewraps.htm 

The function of a housewrap and the problems associated 

with them are laid out in a well written article on 

buildingscience.com. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V- 
Appendix V: Web Site References

www.cdnarchitect.com 

Canadian Architect is a magazine that offers information 

for architects and other professionals in related fields. 

www.nahbrc.org/docs/mainnav/moistureandleaks 

/792_moisture.pdf 

This document from the NAHB Research Center provides 

information to help control leaks. 

www.eeba.org/bookstore 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/airsealing 

/default.htm 

The Building Science Corporation leads a Building 

America team. Designs That Work provides drawings, 

specifications, materials characteristics for sample 

housing types in five climate zones. 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/26448.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on the benefits of sealing air leaks to save energy. 

Structural Thermal Performance 

www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_08.html 

What kind of insulation should you buy? An insulation fact 

sheet presented by the Department of Energy clarifies. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/rbs/index.htm 

The FPC Monitoring project has evaluated radiant barrier 

systems (RBS) as a new potential DSM program. 

www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/radiant/rb_01.html 

Provides descriptions and a fact sheet about radiant barriers. 

www.energystar.gov 

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping 

businesses and individuals protect the environment 

through superior energy efficiency. 

www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_16.html 

Easy to use R-Value recommendation form uses input such 

as house status, fuel type and zip code to form analysis 

for installation. 

www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers 

/r-value_map.html 

A detailed map represents recommended total R-Values 

for existing houses according to the Department of Energy. 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork 

/advancedframing/default.htm 

Advanced framing details the Building Science Corporation. 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/hothumid 

/profiles/orlando.htm 

The Building Science Corporation leads a Building 

America team. Designs That Work provides drawings, 

specifications, materials characteristics for sample 

housing recommendations in five climate zones. 

www.nfrc.org 

National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a non-profit, 

public/private organization created by the window, door 

and skylight industry which provides consistent ratings on 

window, door and skylight products. 

www.efficientwindows.org/index.cfm 

The Efficient Windows Collaborative Web site provides 

unbiased information on the benefits of energyefficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and 

recommendations for their selection and use. 

www.susdesign.com/sunangle/ 

Input and output variables form a calculation tool for sun angles. 

www.wunderground.com 

A weather forecasting and data Web site. 

www.susdesign.com/overhang/index.html 

Overhang design tool allows the shading performance of 

window overhangs to be easily analyzed using precise 

calculations and positioning. 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/ 

DOE’s Building Technologies Program works to improve 

the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings through 

innovative new technologies and better building practices. 

Site includes research and regulatory activities. 

www.sbse.org/resources/sac/index.htm 

Presented by the Society of Building Science Educators, 

this Web page offers general information and purchasing 

details on the sun angle calculator. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/March04/Mar_BPRoofs.html 

This article by IBACOS discusses best practices for an 

airtight, insulated roof system, and provides specific 

solutions insulating cathedral roofs.

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V-5 
Appendix V: Web Site References

www.ibacos.com/qhome/March04/Mar_Tech_ 

VentedAttics.html 

This article by IBACOS discusses insulating vented attics 

for performance. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Oct03/duct.html 

This article by IBACOS discusses controlling condensation 

on duct systems. 

Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning 

www.acca.org 

From technical topics to management tips, the Air 

Conditioning Contractors of America provide a wealth 

of knowledge and information useful for the successful 

contracting business, including selection and sizing 

manuals. 

www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-400-2005-

005/CEC-400-2005-005-CMF.pdf 

California Energy Commission’s 2005 Residential 

Compliance Manual 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/ 

DOE’s tips on saving energy and money at home. 

www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_appliances 

A list of appliances with an ENERGY STAR rating can be 

found on this Web page. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/mechanical 

/fancycling/air_distribution.pdf 

Examples of HVAC systems with detailed information 

on the energy and economic benefit is provided by 

buildingscience.com. 

www.ibacos.com/pubs/Newsletter-July02.pdf 

This article by IBACOS discusses best practices for 

achieving thermal comfort. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/March03/march03_cover.html 

This article by IBACOS presents HVAC optimization strategies. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/June03/wtrhtr.html 

This article by IBACOS discusses sizing strategies for 

water heaters. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/mechanical 

/conditioning_air.pdf 

The Building Science Consortium’s Houston study of 

dehumidifiers (BSC 2002) is available on the referenced 

Web page. 

http://ducts.lbl.gov/Publications/lbl-41118.pdf 

A technical report on duct sealants can be found on the 

referenced Web page. 

www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov 

/eehem/98/9807.html 

The magazine, Home Energy, contains an article describing 

duct sealants. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/baihp//pubs/interior_ducts.pdf 

Web page offers information on designing and building an 

interior chase. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/roofs 

/unvented_roof_summary_article.pdf 

The linked article summarizes the various papers on 

unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on the site. 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork/hothumid 

/profiles/montgomery.htm 

The Building Science Corporation leads a Building 

America team. Designs That Work provides drawings, 

specifications, materials characteristics for sample 

housing types in five climate zones. 

www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features 

/DuctInsulation1-17-01.pdf 

Recommendations for insulation levels for ducts in unconditioned spaces can be found on this site. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/moisture 

/relative_humidity_0402.pdf 

Relative humidity discussion. 

Mechanicals Management and Appliances 

www.toolbase.org 

This Web site contains PATH’s listing of building 

technologies, including air admittance vents and 

manifold water distribution systems. PATH stands for the 

Partnership for Advanced Housing Technology. To reach 

information about air admittance valves after reaching 

the Web site select new building technologies, plumbing, 

distribution systems, and finally, air admittance vents. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V-6 
Appendix V: Web Site References

www.gamanet.org 

GAMA, the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, is a 

national trade association of manufacturers of residential, 

commercial and industrial appliances and equipment, 

components and related products. 

www.energy.state.or.us/res/tax/appheat.htm 

A list of high-efficiency water heaters that qualify for state 

tax credits is presented by The Oregon Department of 

Energy. Only Oregon taxpayers qualify for the credits. 

www.pnl.gov/cfldownlights/ 

The purpose of the Residential Recessed Downlights 

Project is to increase the availability and use of highly 

energy-efficient recessed downlight fixtures for homes. 

Website provides highly energy-efficient recessed 

downlight fixtures that have undergone stringent testing 

available for purchase. 

www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers 

/appliances.html 

A list of major appliances with high-energy efficiency 

standards are documented by the Department of Energy. 

Only appliances in the top one-third of the DOE Energy 

Guide rating scale should be selected. 

www.ibacos.com/hpl.html 

Designed for builders, this High Performance Lighting Guide 

developed by IBACOS discusses high performance lighting 

strategies for new homes. 

Web Sites Listed Only in Designers Chapter References 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/mechanical 

/advanced_space_conditioning.pdf 

A Building Science Corporation document discussing 

system tradeoffs between building envelopes and heating 

and ventilation equipment. 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America is a private/public partnership that 

develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. 

www.wwnorton.com/npb/welcome.htm 

Norton Professional Books offers an online bookstore in 

subjects such as architecture/design. 

www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/28600.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on how to select and install housewrap and other 

types of weather-resistive barriers. 

www.eeba.org/bookstore 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/baihp/pubs/interior_ducts.pdf 

Web page offers information on designing and building an 

interior chase. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/rbs/index.htm 

The FPC Monitoring project has evaluated radiant barrier 

systems (RBS) as a new potential DSM program. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/mechanical 

/air_conditioning_equipment_efficiency.pdf 

A Building Science Corporation document providing 

procedures for refrigeration system installation and start up. 

www.homeenergy.org/898ductape.title.html 

Home Energy Magazine contains an article describing 

duct sealants. 

www.SBICouncil.org 

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is an 

independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to 

advance the design, affordability, energy performance, 

and environmental soundness of America’s buildings. 

www.energystar.gov/ia/new_homes/features 

/DuctInsulation1-17-01.pdf 

Recommendations for insulation levels for ducts in 

unconditioned spaces in the hot and humid climate can 

be found on this site. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/ACsize/index.htm 

The Florida Solar Energy Center presents a document 

on how air conditioning systems are sized. 

http://ducts.lbl.gov/Publications/lbl-41118.pdf 

A technical report on duct sealants can be found on the 

referenced Web page. 

www.buildingscience.com/resources/articles 

/24-27_Yost_for_author.pdf 

An Article by Dr. Nathan Yost, M.D. is presented 

by buildingscience.com and offers information on 

conditioned, unvented crawl spaces. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V- 
Appendix V: Web Site References

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/ 

DOE’s Building Technologies Program works to improve 

the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings through 

innovative new technologies and better building practices. 

Site includes research and regulatory activities. 

www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bop.pt_bop_index 

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping 

businesses and individuals protect the environment 

through superior energy efficiency. Index includes builder 

option packages referenced by state. 

SITE SUPERVISORS

www.comfortwise.com/installationprotocols.shtml 

ConSol leads a Building America team and developed the 

statements of work listed on this Web site for builders in 

California. These statements of work can be incorporated 

into contracts. 

www.thebii.org/rpsw.asp 

Statements of work developed by ConSol for builders 

in California are also available on this Web site. These 

statements of work can be incorporated into contracts. 

www.energycodes.gov/support/code-notes.stm 

DOE’s building codes program provides draft Code Notes 

to help code officials 

www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building America is a private/public partnership that 

develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.buildingscience.com/workshops/default.htm 

Building Science Corporation offers workshops and 

seminars that are tailored towards building professionals. 

www.nahbrc.org 

The National Association of Home Builders Research 

Center leads a Building America team and conducts 

training for builders. This Web site contains articles, 

schedules, and links describing technical materials and 

training opportunities. 

www.southface.org 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. 

www.ibacos.com 

IBACOS, Inc. (Integrated Building and Construction 

Solutions) was created to help enable the homebuilding 

industry to deliver Quality Homes®—homes of inherently 

higher performance that are safe, healthy, durable, 

comfortable and efficient. 

www.acca.org 

From technical topics to management tips, the Air 

Conditioning Contractors of America provide a wealth 

of knowledge and information useful for the successful 

contracting business, including selection and 

sizing manuals. 

www.installationmastersusa.com 

This Web site describes a window installation training 

program developed by the American Architectural 

Manu-facturers Association.

www.energyvideos.com 

The California Energy Commission Web site contains 

brief videos explaining how building homes beyond the 

levels required by code is good for business. Other videos 

provide training on meeting California code and installing 

energy efficient building measures. 

www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=10787 

This Web site contains training videos available from 

PATH TV. PATH stands for the Partnership for Advancing 

Technology in Housing. 

www.natresnet.org 

The Residential Energy Services Network’s (RESNET) 

mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s 

housing stock and to qualify more families for home 

ownership by expanding the national availability of 

mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. 

http://hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/001105.html 

Home Energy Magazine explores HVAC questions. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V- 
Appendix V: Web Site References

TRADES

Slab Insulation - Marine Climate 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/29237.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on how to improve comfort and save energy in 

homes with slab-on-grade floors. 

www.epa.gov/199/iaq/radon 

A guide to building radon-resistant homes is outlined 

by the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air at the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency.

www.southface.org/web/resources&services 

/publications/factsheets/29_insulatefloors4PDF.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.southface.org/web/resources&services 

/publications/factsheets/30_radonresistantconst.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.buildingscience.com/designsthatwork 

The Building Science Corporation leads a Building 

America team. Designs that Work provides drawings, 

specifications, materials characteristics for sample 

housing types in five climate zones.

Basement & Conditioned (Unvented) 

Crawlspace Insulation 

www.buidingamerica.gov 

Building America is a private/public partnership that 

develops energy solutions for new and existing homes. 

www.eeba.org/bookstore 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.epa.gov/199/iaq/radon 

A guide to building radon-resistant homes is outlined 

by the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air at the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency.

Housewraps 

www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts 

/8_airsealing.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/26448.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on the benefits of sealing air leaks to save energy. 

http://construction.tyvek.com/en/productServices 

/HomeWrap/index.shtml 

Tyvek® HomeWrap® is a weatherization membrane that 

provides a protective layer under a home’s siding and over 

the sheathing. 

www.cdnarchitect.com 

Canadian Architect is a magazine that offers information 

for architects and other professionals in related fields. 

Window Flashing 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/28600.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on how to select and install housewrap and other 

types of weather-resistive barriers. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Jan03/jan03_windows.html 

This document from IBACOS present window flashing and 

installation guidelines. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V- 
Appendix V: Web Site References

Air Sealing – Plumbing 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/26448.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on the benefits of sealing air leaks to save energy. 

www.toolbase.org 

This Web site contains PATH’s listing building 

technologies, including air admittance vents and 

manifold water distribution systems. PATH stands for the 

Partnership for Advanced Housing Technology. To reach 

information about air admittance valves after reaching 

the Web site select new building technologies, plumbing, 

distribution systems, and finally, air admittance vents. 

Electrical Air Sealing 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/26448.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on the benefits of sealing air leaks to save energy. 

Air Sealing Glossary 

www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents 

/pdfs/26448.pdf 

The Department of Energy presents a Technology Fact 

Sheet on the benefits of sealing air leaks to save energy. 

Masonry Construction 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

Radiant Barriers 

www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/refbriefs/bc7.html 

The Department of Energy presents an information fact 

sheet on radiant barriers. 

www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts 

/14radiantbarriers.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts 

/25_insulateceilings_4pdf.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

Duct Sealing 

www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts 

/2duct_q&a.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/checklist.pdf 

Located in Atlanta, Southface Energy Institute is a 501(c)(3) 

nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainable homes, 

workplaces and communities through education, research, 

advocacy and technical assistance. This URL contains a 

PDF version of the referenced document. 

www.ibacos.com/qhome/Oct03/bpflexduct.html 

This document by IBACOS provides guidelines for 

connecting flex duct to duct board. 

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V-10 
Appendix V: Web Site References

APPENDIX I

No Web sites 

APPENDIX II 

www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/fyh/ratings/e_terms.htm 

Terms and definitions for energy efficiency economics is 

offered in two organized lists: Energy-Efficiency, Code and 

Rating Terminology & Economic, Financial & Real Estate 

Terminology. Both lists are useful for Energy Raters to 

effectively perform their function as energy auditors. 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

APPENDIX III

www.energycodes.gov/support/code-notes.stm 

DOE’s building codes program provides draft Code Notes 

to help code officials 

www.eeba.org 

The Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) 

promotes the awareness, education and development of 

energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and 

communities. The EEBA Web site includes a bookstore 

where the referenced document may be purchased. 

www.fsec.ucf.edu 

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), A Research Institute 

of the University of Central Florida, conducts research 

and develops energy technologies that enhance Florida’s 

and the nation’s economy and environment. FSEC also 

educates the public, students and practitioners on the 

results of the research. 

www.e-star.com 

E-Star Energy Ratings allow homeowners and builders 

to create energy-efficient homes that are economical, 

comfortable, and better for the environment.

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5 – Builders and Buyers Handbook for 

Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate Version 1, 10/2006 • APPENDIX V-11 
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved 

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Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5. Builders and 

Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and 

Durability in the Marine Climate 

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 

DE-AC36-99-GO10337 

5b. GRANT NUMBER 

5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 

6. AUTHOR(S) 

Michael C. Baechler, Z. Todd Taylor, Rosemarie Bartlett, Theresa 

Gilbride, Marye Hefty, Heidi Steward, Pat Love, Jannifer Palmer 

5d. PROJECT NUMBER 

NREL/TP-550-38449 

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BET6.8004 

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7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 

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NREL/TP-550-38449 

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13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 

14. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 Words) 

This best practices guide is part of a series produced by Building America. The guide book is a resource to help 

builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space 

conditioning and water heating in the marine climate region. The savings are in comparison with the 1993 Model 

Energy Code. The guide contains chapters for every member of the builder’s team—from the manager to the site 

planner to the designers, site supervisors, the trades, and marketers. There is also a chapter for homeowners on how 

to use the book to provide help in selecting a new home or builder. 

15. SUBJECT TERMS 

Building America; Marine climate region; U.S. Department of Energy; energy-efficient houses; home comfort; house 

durability 

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION 

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Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98) Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18 

F1147-E(12/2004) 
Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable 

A Strong Energy Portfolio 

for a Strong America 

Energy efficiency and clean, renewable 

energy will mean a stronger economy, 

a cleaner environment, and greater 

energy independence for America. 

Working with a wide array of state, 

community, industry, and university 

partners, the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy invests in a 

diverse portfolio of energy technologies. 

Research and Development 

of Buildings 

Our nation’s buildings consume more 

energy than any other sector of the 

U.S. economy, including transportation 

and industry. Fortunately, the opportunities to reduce building energy use— 

and the associated environmental 

impacts—are significant. 

DOE’s Building Technologies Program 

works to improve the energy efficiency 

of our nation’s buildings through innovative new technologies and better 

building practices. The program 

focuses on two key areas: 

• Emerging Technologies 

Research and development of the 

next generation of energy-efficient 

components, materials, and 

equipment 

• Technology Integration 

Integration of new technologies 

with innovative building methods 

to optimize building performance 

and savings 

For more information contact: 

EERE Information Center 

1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463) 

www.eere.energy.gov 

An electronic copy of this publication is 

available on the Building America Web 

site at www.buildingamerica.gov 

U.S. Department of Energy 

Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy 

Building America Program 

George S. James • New Construction • 202-586-9472 • fax: 202-586-8134 • e-mail: George.James@ee.doe.gov 

Visit our Web sites at: 

www.buildingamerica.gov www.pathnet.org www.energystar.gov 

Research Toward Zero Energy Homes 

Terry Logee • Existing Homes • 202-586-1689 • fax: 202-586-4617 • e-mail: terry.logee@ee.doe.gov 

Lew Pratsch • Integrated Onsite Power • 202-586-1512 • fax: 202-586-8185 • e-mail: Lew.Pratsch@hq.doe.gov 

Building America Program • Office of Building Technologies, EE-2J • U.S. Department of Energy • 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. • 

Washington, D.C. 20585-0121 • www.buildingamerica.gov 

Building Industry Research Alliance (BIRA) 

Robert Hammon • ConSol • 7407 Tam O’Shanter Drive #200 • Stockton, CA 95210-3370 • 209-473-5000 • fax: 209-474-0817 • 

e-mail: Rob@consol.ws • www.bira.ws 

Building Science Consortium (BSC) 

Betsy Pettit • Building Science Consortium (BSC) • 70 Main Street • Westford, MA 01886 • 978-589-5100 • fax: 978-589-5103 • 

e-mail: Betsy@buildingscience.com • www.buildingscience.com 

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) 

Steven Winter • Steven Winter Associates, Inc. • 50 Washington Street • Norwalk, CT 06854 • 203-857-0200 • fax: 203-852-0741 • 

e-mail: swinter@swinter.com • www.carb-swa.com 

Davis Energy Group 

David Springer • Davis Energy Group • 123 C Street • Davis, CA 95616 • 530-753-1100 • fax: 530-753-4125 • 

e-mail: springer@davisenergy.com • deg@davisenergy.com • www.davisenergy.com/index.html 

IBACOS Consortium 

Brad Oberg • IBACOS Consortium • 2214 Liberty Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • 412-765-3664 • fax: 412-765-3738 • 

e-mail: boberg@ibacos.com • www.ibacos.com 

Industrialized Housing Partnership (IHP) 

Subrato Chandra • Florida Solar Energy Center • 1679 Clearlake Road • Cocoa, FL 32922 • 321-638-1412 • fax: 321-638-1439 • 

e-mail: subrato@fsec.ucf.edu • www.baihp.org 

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center 

Tom Kenney • National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center • 400 Prince George’s Boulevard • 

Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 • 301-430-6246 • fax: 301-430-6180 • toll-free: 800-638-8556 • www.nahbrc.org/ 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Ren Anderson • 1617 Cole Boulevard, MS-2722 • Golden, CO 80401 • 303-384-7433 • fax: 303-384-7540 • 

e-mail: ren_anderson@nrel.gov • www.nrel.gov 

Tim Merrigan • 1617 Cole Boulevard, MS-2722 • Golden, CO 80401 • 303-384-7349 • fax: 303-384-7540 • 

e-mail: tim_merrigan@nrel.gov • www.nrel.gov 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory 

Pat M. Love • P.O. Box 2008 • One Bethel Valley Road • Oak Ridge, TN 37831 • 865-574-4346 • fax: 865-574-9331 • 

e-mail: lovepm@ornl.gov • www.ornl.gov 

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 

Michael Baechler • 620 SW 5th, Suite 810 • Portland, OR 97204 • 503-417-7553 • fax: 503-417-2175 • 


e-mail: michael.baechler@pnl.gov • www.pnl.gov


Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory.


October 2006 • NREL/TP-550-38449


Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste.