Skip to content

Resource Library

DOE: Building Science Advisor Tool: Evaluate wall durability risk

Website

Overview

The BSA Tool is a no-cost, web-based tool that provides expert guidance on the moisture durability and energy efficiency of new and retrofit wall assembly designs.

Get expert guidance on a wall assembly’s moisture durability and energy efficiency.

The Building Science Advisor (BSA) Tool, is provided by Oakridge National Laboratories. BSA is a no-cost, web-based tool that provides expert guidance on the moisture durability and energy efficiency of new and retrofit wall assembly designs.  Click here to watch a CEU webinar on the benefits of this tool and how to navigate it.

Building Science Advisor (BSA) allows users to compare the performance of different combinations of wall components, providing rapid feedback and guidance on the design of a wall assembly based on expert knowledge and thousands of pre-simulated hygrothermal models.

Assess a wall assembly

Get estimates of the thermal efficiency, mold resistance, and moisture durability of different wall assemblies within different climate zones in the United States. Additionally, gain insights into what type of retrofit and what retrofit components will be most beneficial in any chosen climate zone.

Access the BSA Tool

Related Resources

Download this BPA resource

NEEP: Affordable Housing and Building Energy Codes

This resource addresses the misconception that energy codes negatively impact affordable housing.

Hyperlink icon to reveal a BPA Resource Video

Passive House Accelerator: 10 Steps to Designing a Multifamily Passive House

The architect discusses the crucial steps to designing a successful, large-scale multifamily passive house.

Hyperlink icon to reveal a BPA Resource

ACEEE: SmarterHouse Guide to Home Energy Efficiency

The SmarterHouse online guide is a helpful resource for homeowners seeking to reduce their energy use by making their homes more efficient, tightening the building shell, or selecting more-efficient products, including appliances, heating equipment, air conditioning, lighting, and electronics.