Research & Development Services

SWA has authored Best Practice handbooks providing assistance to a wide range of design and construction professionals from affordable housing builders and developers to large residential and multifamily project teams. Regardless of the project or size, selecting the right materials and installation techniques before construction begins can save time and money. Avoiding costly litigation and call-backs is often reason enough to challenge “old” practices.

To that end, our research focuses on new and emerging building technologies that improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of America’s housing stock. Our recent projects have been focused on optimizing mechanical systems, such as condensing boilers, air conditioners, heat pump water heaters, solar thermal collectors, ground-source heat pumps, and space conditioning/ventilation distribution. SWA has also worked with the country’s top manufacturers of building materials to develop and evaluate new and emerging technologies and products.

The Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) is one of fifteen residential research teams (and one of the original six teams) that is funded through The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building America Program, with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) as the lead team member. The CARB team is focused on innovative market delivery and cost-effective demonstrations of high performance retrofits and new homes. Read here about CARB's recent research projects.

SWA’s extensive research capability and projects are featured in our newsletters CARBNews, WinterGreen, and Party Walls.

Services

• Building Science Consulting
• Product Evaluation & Development

Clients

• Government Agencies
• Builders & Developers
• Utilities
• Manufacturers