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Library

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 251 - 300 of 326

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about sealing combustion appliances to ensure good indoor air quality.
Author(s)
Lisell,
Tetreault,
Watson
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying the important aspects of building design and construction to enable installation of solar photovoltaic and heating systems at some time after the building is constructed.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website describing how solar water heaters -- also called solar domestic hot water systems -- can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home.
Author(s)
Choi Jayne,
Ludwig Peter,
Brand Larry
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy,
CNT Energy,
Elevate Energy
Publication Date
Description
Report addressing barriers to information, contractor resources and cost savings associated with steam balancing multifamily buildings.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Document describing correct construction of swales, designed to trap particulate pollutants (suspended solids and trace metals), promote infiltration, and reduce the flow velocity of storm water runoff.
Author(s)
Burdick Arlan
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report about the impact on the loads when common safety factors are applied to the load calculation process using two houses that meet the 2009 IECC prescriptive path modeled as the accurate baseline.
Author(s)
Mallay David,
Del Bianco Marie
Organization(s)
Partnership for Home Innovation,
PHI,
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Description
Report following the evolution of the construction quality process from its development for new homes to its application construction of a HPH with enhanced specifications, and its application in a crawlspace renovation.
Author(s)
Holton
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Document offering methods to greatly reduce lighting energy use through the application of high quality fluorescent and light emitting diode (LED) technologies.
Author(s)
Burdick Arlan
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the equipment selection of a split system air conditioner and furnace for an example house in Chicago, Illinois, as well as a heat pump system for an example house in Orlando, Florida.
Author(s)
Berman Mark,
Smith Pepper,
Porse Erik
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Document targeting retrofit program managers, retrofit contractors, policy makers, academic researchers, and non-governmental organizations that work to realize energy savings from home energy upgrades (HEUs).
Author(s)
Hoeschele,
Springer,
German,
Staller,
Zhang
Organization(s)
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Report about proper water heater selection developed to provide step-by-step procedures for evaluating preferred cost-effective options for energy efficient water heater alternatives based on local utility rates, climate, and anticipated loads.
Author(s)
DeKorne
Organization(s)
DeKorne
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing correct application of stucco.
Author(s)
Alliance for Water Efficiency
Organization(s)
Alliance for Water Efficiency
Publication Date
Description
Web page providing information about water use in pools and spas and tips for how to increase water efficiency.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Presentation, and online course, that provides an introduction to mold and mold remediation for environmental and public health professionals.
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Document on the development of two simple in-home efficiency test methods that can be used by technicians, researchers, or interested homeowners to verify the correct operation and energy efficiency of a homes air conditioning and heating equipment.
Author(s)
Building Performance Institute
Organization(s)
BPI
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering minimum required health and safety diagnostics and specifications for BPI's Building Analyst Professional certification.
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
ORNL
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Brochure with information for homeowners about the benefits of air sealing.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Brochure with information about how to select and install house wrap and other weather-resistive barriers.
Author(s)
The Family Handyman
Organization(s)
The Family Handyman
Publication Date
Description
Brochure describing HVAC filter options for efficiency and IAQ.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Zuluaga Mark
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB
Publication Date
Description
Article describing a research study exploring how effective interior insulation systems are at keeping basements dry and warm.
Author(s)
Cranor John
Organization(s)
American Society of Home Inspectors,
ASHI
Publication Date
Description
Article outlining the importance of keeping dryer exhaust ducts clean.
Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Saunders S,
Bordelon E,
Baden S,
Elam L,
Martin Eric
Organization(s)
BA-PIRC,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
TexEnergy Solutions,
Residential Energy Services Network,
RESNET
Publication Date
Description
Report providing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis inherent to different models as a way of thinking about the transition from traditional business models into a viable model for delivering deep energy retrofits.
Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings
Organization(s)
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report developed for Habitat for Humanity about lessons learned from demonstration retrofit projects undertaken by Habitat for Humanity affiliates in New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania; with building systems consulting and technical assistance provided by Steven Winter Associates.
Author(s)
Doyle
Organization(s)
BIRA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Research study identifying barriers, industry status, critical obstacles to documenting added value from energy efficiency improvements, current opportunities to support reporting about energy efficiency, and next steps toward enabling energy efficiency financing market transformation.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Document providing an overview of the Thermal Bypass Checklist for the ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes program.
Author(s)
McNamara
Organization(s)
NYSERDA
Publication Date
Description
This report describes the results of a multiyear research project that investigated the energy savings attributable to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) installed on one-pipe steam distribution systems.
Author(s)
Dentz Jordan,
Ansanelli Eric
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions Collaborative,
ARIES,
Levy Partnership
Publication Date
Description
Report on a project conducted to better understand the current usage of thermostatic radiator valves by key market players in steam and hot water heating and to conduct limited experiments on the effectiveness of new and old thermostatic radiator valves as a means of controlling space temperatures...
Author(s)
Lukachko Alex,
Lstiburek Joseph
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report discussing Building America whole house systems research within the broad effort to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of building and provides specific recommendations for future Building America research based on Building Science Corporations experience with several recent...
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about types and installation of insulation.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
BSD-102 report providing guidance about whether to construct a vented or unvented attic based on hygro-thermal zone.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Guide providing information about controlling rainwater through use of drainage planes.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing the function of a vapor barrier, and methods to retard the migration of water vapor.
Author(s)
Schumacher
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report reviewing unvented roof assemblies, such as conditioned attics and unvented cathedral ceilings that are becoming common in North American construction.
Author(s)
Kohta
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Document summarizing the various papers on unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on BSC's website.