Publications
Showing 136 results for Author: Andre O. Desjarlais
Aug, 2026
ORNL Report
Next-Generation Wall Retrofit Panels with Integrated VIPS: Post-Retrofit Final Report
Aug, 2026
Conference Paper
Durability Assessment of Retrofitted VIP Insulated Cladding System in a Hot-Humid Climate
Aug, 2026
ORNL Report
Measured Baseline of a Double-Wide Manufactured Home Testbed: Hygrothermal and Energy Performance
A 1990 double-wide manufactured home (MH) dimensioned 26 ft × 40 ft with an area of 1,040 ft2 and total volume of 8,320 ft3 was installed and instrumented on Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) main campus in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to establish baseline (“as-is”) performance for envelope, airtightness, and space-conditioning energy use. The unoccupied test facility was in…
Jul, 2026
Conference Paper
Updating the Building Science Advisor (BSA): A Tool to Assist in the Design of Durable Building Envelopes
Predicting the moisture durability of building envelope components remains challenging due to multiple influencing factors, including material selection, assembly positioning, local climate conditions, air tightness, interior environment, and construction quality. Building codes increasingly emphasize energy efficiency through enhanced insulation and tighter envelopes but…
Jul, 2026
Conference Paper
Thermal Performance of Spandrel Assemblies in Glazed Wall Systems: Laboratory Test Design – Challenges and Test Results
Accurate thermal performance calculation procedures for opaque spandrel areas in curtain wall and window wall systems are essential for rating systems when comparing spandrel systems. However, there is a lack of consensus in thermal modeling needed for accurately characterizing heat transfer through spandrel assemblies due to the complex arrangement of materials and struct…
Jul, 2026
Conference Paper
Advancing Mass Timber Buildings: Novel Methods Improve Thermal Assessment and Material Use
For nearly a century, thermal demand calculations for buildings have relied on simplified models developed to match the technical constraints of their era. The first standards, introduced in Germany and Austria in 1929, established climate zones and material conductivity coefficients that, with only incremental updates, still underpin many current assessments. Yet, methods…
Apr, 2026
Conference Paper
Assess The Water Resistance And Thermal Performance Of Pre-flashing Methods When Adding Continuous Insulation During Re-siding (AIRS)
Retrofitting existing buildings by adding continuous insulation during re-siding projects has become a popular method for enhancing energy efficiency, especially given the aging building stock and stricter energy codes. When properly integrated with existing window systems, continuous insulation can significantly improve thermal performance, but it also presents challenges…
Apr, 2026
Conference Paper
Hygrothermal Performance of Bio-Based Materials in Residential Building Wall Envelope Systems
In the United States, building envelope systems contribute approximately 28% of building energy consumption, with walls being a primary factor. As the construction industry explores new approaches to lower the energy intensity needed to manufacture materials and, in turn, reduce energy consumption, bio-based materials are gaining attention as a promising alternative. While…
Mar, 2026
Conference Paper
Thermally Anisotropic Building Envelope Integration into Panelized Metal Construction: Laboratory Evaluation in Guarded Hot Box
The Thermally Anisotropic Building Envelope (TABE) is an active building envelope system that can exchange thermal energy with a storage medium to reduce the building’s energy demand. TABE redirects thermal energy along thin conductive layers in the building envelope to hydronic loops that are connected to thermal energy storage (TES), where it will be available to offset…
Mar, 2026
Conference Paper
Evaluating the Thermal and Hygrothermal Efficacy of Wood Fiber Insulation in Diverse Climate