Resources for Builders for Disaster Recovery and Building Reconstruction
Research conducted by DOE and others has resulted in proven methods for building homes that are energy efficient and less vulnerable to hurricane and flood damage. These resources support the application of energy-efficient, cost-effective, and durable rebuilding strategies. Please also view the Resources for State and Local Officials and the Resources for Consumers for additional relevant information.
Residential
National Resources
Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 1: Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Hot and Humid Climate — Helps builders develop durable, comfortable homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in hot and humid climates.
National Association of Home Builders Disaster Resources — How to contribute to the recovery effort, help reestablish businesses, and help community rebuild and repair homes.
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy — Provides comprehensive information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
Regional Resources
The Disaster Contractor's Network — Helps connect contractors and homeowners/business owners before, during and after disasters strike.
Louisiana Speaks: Newsletter — Will keep you involved in the recovery process and long-range planning for South Louisiana.
Disaster Preparedness
Fortified... for safer living® Program — Details construction, design, and landscaping guidelines that can increase a new home's resistance to natural disasters. Enter your zip code to view building recommendations from the foundation to the roof.
"S" Marks the Spot — New hurricane protection guide focuses on five areas of the home (soffits, shingles, shutters, seals and surroundings) where engineers noted frequent weaknesses under high wind conditions.
Keep Wind and Water Out: A Guide to High Wind Protection — Outlines various shutter materials and explains how to install them so windows and doors are well protected from hurricane-force winds. Find your community on the wind speed map.
FEMA: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series — Provides technical guidance and recommendations for constructing coastal residential buildings, including information on improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments.
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes — A nonprofit that promotes life safety, property protection, and economic well-being by strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters.
Flood and Mold Cleanup
FEMA Recovering From and Coping with Flood Damaged Property — Provides information on how to deal with flood damaged items, remvoing mold from your home, and how to check for hazards.
FEMA Rebuild Smarter and Stronger — Tips for how to make your home or business property less suseptible to future losses.
Flood Damage Assessment: Procedures for Cleaning Out a House or Building Following a Flood — Discusses flood water damage and recovery and provides basic clean-up procedures, including warnings on what to do before beginning clean-up efforts.
Building Media Inc.: Education — As a resource for the building industry, it provides construction education with e-learning software, distance training, web site content, and interactive software and database management services.
Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings — Includes information on how to care for wet plaster, problems with foundations, treatment for saturated wood-framed walls and floors, exterior paint problems, cleaning out mud, and where to go for assistance. (PDF 884 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Fact Sheet: Flood Cleanup - Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems — Discusses problems caused by microbial growth, as well as other potential effects of flooding, on long-term indoor air quality and the steps that can be taken to lessen these effects.
Checklist for Tornado/Hurricane Damaged Structure Inspection — Describes the damage signs that should be noted for a wood frame structure (exterior and interior), steel frame or load bearing walls, or concrete frame, slab.
Water Damage Recovery Guide — Will help you understand how to properly prevent, or deal with, water damage in your home, following a natural disaster or other moisture-related problem.
Louisiana Floods — What you need to know in the event of a flood, including flood proofing your home, cleaning up after the flood, and funding sources for flood proofing.
Tools and Training
Building Energy Software Tools — Provides information on 301 building software tools for evaluation energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability in buildings.
Building Media Inc.: Education — As a resource for the building industry, it provides construction education with e-learning software, distance training, web site content, and interactive software and database management services.
Commercial
National Resources
National Association of Home Builders Disaster Resources — How to contribute to the recovery effort, help reestablish businesses, and help community rebuild and repair homes.
Sustainable Building Industry Council — Discusses the council's efforts in the fields of architecture, engineering, building systems and materials, product manufacturing, energy analysis, and "whole building" design.
U.S. Green Building Council — Describes council's work to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.
ASHRAE, Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings, Achieving 30% energy savings over NASI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999 — Guide presents a simple approach to energy design for contractors and designers of office buildings up to 20,000 sq. ft.
Regional Resources
Southeast CHP Application Center — Provides application assistance, technology information, and educational support to facilitate decisions relating to combined heat and power systems in commercial buildings.
Gulf Coast CHP Application Center — Provides technical assistance and project support for the development, design, and implementation of combined heat and power technologies in commercial buildings.
The Disaster Contractor's Network — Helps connect contractors and homeowners/business owners before, during and after disasters strike.
Louisiana Speaks: Newsletter — Will keep you involved in the recovery process and long-range planning for South Louisiana.
Disaster Preparedness
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) — Conducts research and advocates for improved construction, maintenance, and preparation practices to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters.
FEMA: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series — Provides technical guidance and recommendations for constructing coastal residential buildings, including information on improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments.
Flood and Mold Clean Up
FEMA Rebuild Smarter and Stronger — Tips for how to make your home or business property less suseptible to future losses.
Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings — Presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold and moisture problems in schools and commercial buildings.
Fact Sheet: Flood Cleanup - Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems — Discusses problems caused by microbial growth, as well as other potential effects of flooding, on long-term indoor air quality and the steps that can be taken to lessen these effects.
Flood Damage Assessment: Procedures for Cleaning Out a House or Building Following a Flood — Discusses flood water damage and recovery and provides basic clean-up procedures, including warnings on what to do before beginning clean-up efforts.
Checklist for Tornado/Hurricane Damaged Structure Inspection — Describes the damage signs that should be noted for a wood frame structure (exterior and interior), steel frame or load bearing walls, or concrete frame, slab.
Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings — ncludes information on how to care for wet plaster, problems with foundations, treatment for saturated wood-framed walls and floors, exterior paint problems, cleaning out mud, and where to go for assistance. (PDF 884 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Tools and Training
Building Energy Software Tools — Provides information on 301 building software tools for evaluation energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability in buildings.
BetterBricks — Tools to help commercial building professionals use energy efficiency strategies to achieve sustainable high performance buildings.
High Performance School Design — Online training for architects and engineers interested in designing and building high performance schools.
Building Media Inc.: Education — As a resource for the building industry, it provides construction education with e-learning software, distance training, web site content, and interactive software and database management services.
Building Design
High Performance Buildings — Improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings in the United States, working with researchers at national laboratories as well as building owners, contractors, private sector engineers, architects, and others involved in commercial building construction to reduce the energy consumption of buildings while improving their quality, occupant comfort, and cost-effectiveness.
Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools — These energy design guidelines outline high performance school principles for the new or retrofit design of a K-12 school located in nine different climates zones. Schools can significantly reduce energy consumption and costs by incorporating energy improvements into their construction or renovation plans.
National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools — Helps school boards, administrators, and design staff make informed design decisions about energy and environmental issues important to school systems and communities. (PDF 8.1 MB) Download Adobe Reader.
Additional Information
Answers to Questions About Substantially Damaged Buildings, FEMA-213/May 1991 — Answers many of the questions regarding FEMA regulations and policy on substantial improvement as it applies to damaged structures.
A Guide to Deconstruction: An Overview of Destruction with a Focus on Community Development Opportunities — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's guide on the selective dismantling or removal of materials from buildings before or instead of some elements of demolition.
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