Designs That Work

House Design Recommendations by Climate Region

Designs That Work represents the latest Building Science Consortium experience and results under the Building America program. Specifically DTW includes:

Updated North American hygro-thermal regions map that is aligned with the Department of Energy Model Energy Code proposed climate zones and map
Climate-specific, building science and energy analysis for each house design
House plans based on climate.

House Design Recommendations by Climate

Designs and Plans for Affordable Housing

Additional Building Profiles

See the table below for a quick reference to additional building profiles in different hygro-thermal regions. A Building Materials Property Table* (populated with technical and performance specifications from product manufacturers and building research members of the Building Science Consortium) can also be used for reference.

Climate/Building Profile	# stories	Wall Type	Foundation	Wall Cladding	Roof	Roof Cladding
Very Cold
Aspen	2	Stick- framed	Conditioned crawlspace	Fiber cement battened panels	Unvented cathedral	Standing seam metal
Concord	1	Stick- framed	Full basement	Wood siding	Vented unconditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Cold
Beacon Hill	1.5	Stick- framed	Full basement	Brick veneer	Unvented cathedral	Slate roof
Boston	2	Stick- framed	Full basement	Fibercement panels and battens	Conditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Chicago	2	Stick- framed	Full basement/ cast concrete	Vinyl siding	Vented unconditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Denver	2	Stick- framed	Full basement w/ sub-crawl	Brick veneer/wood siding	Vented unconditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Minneapolis	1.5	Stick- framed	Slab-on-grade	Stucco	Vented cathedral	Asphalt shingle
Vineyard	2	Stick- framed	Full basement	Cedar shingle siding	Unvented cathedral	Cedar shingle
Mixed-Humid
Atlanta	2	Stick- framed	Slab-on-grade	Fibercement siding	Vented unconditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Charlotte	2	Stick- framed	Conditioned crawl/ block wall	Brick veneer	Vented unconditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Louisville	1	Stick- framed	Full basement/ cast concrete	Vinyl siding	Vented cathedral	Asphalt shingle
Hot-Dry/Mixed-Dry
Albuquerque	1	Stick- framed	Slab-on-grade	Stucco	Vented unconditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Sacramento	2	Stick- framed	Post-tensioned slab-on-grade	Fibercement siding	Vented unconditioned attic	Tile
Tucson	1	Stick- framed	Slab-on-grade	Stucco	None	Low-slope membrane
Hot-Humid
Houston	2	Stick- framed	Slab-on-grade	Brick/ Fibercement	Conditioned attic	Asphalt shingle
Maitland	2	Block/ stick frame	Block stem wall & slab	Stucco	Conditioned attic	Tile
Orlando	2	SIPS	Block stem wall with slab	Cement board siding / brick veneer	Conditioned attic	Metal roof
Montgomery	1	Stick- framed	Conditioned crawl/ cast concrete wall	Vinyl or aluminum lap siding	Vented unconditioned attic	Standing seam metal

¹ The table is under continual development with new data and materials being added. Comments and questions about the table should be directed to: info@buildingscience.com.