Skip to main content

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 1 - 50 of 75

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Description
Standard providing a universally accepted definition for quality installation for residential and commercial heating, ventilating, and air conditioning applications.
Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Description
Document detailing the requirements, roles, and obligations for participants in an organized effort, ensuring that HVAC installations comply with the ANSI/ACCA 5 QI – 2010 (HVAC Quality Installation Specification) QI Standard.
Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Description
Code establishing the rules of safety relating only to pressure integrity for the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels during construction which was published in the year 2017 and is available to order at the referenced link.
Author(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Organization(s)
ASME
Publication Date
Description
Code establishing the rules of safety relating only to pressure integrity for the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels during construction which was published in the year 2021 and is available to order at the referenced link.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing ventilation system design, including a central fan integrated supply (CFIS) system, made up of a 6-inch outdoor air intake duct connected to the return side of the air handler with a fan cycling control to make sure the fan runs a programmed minimum amount of time.
Author(s)
Gifford Henry
Organization(s)
American Boiler Manufacturers Association
Publication Date
Description
Part 2 of an article discussing how to maximize two-pipe steam systems for resident space heating.
Author(s)
Mallay David
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL
Publication Date
Description
Report on heating and cooling air-distribution ducts that are insulated, installed close to the ceiling in a vented attic and covered with attic insulation to minimize energy loss.
Author(s)
Less Brennan,
Walker Iain S
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Source Energy and Carbon Decisions chapter helps users carefully assess the impacts of switching from gas to electricity for heating end-uses, using source energy and/or carbon emissions...
Author(s)
Zeifman Michael,
Roth Kurt
Organization(s)
Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Technical report describing algorithms that use communicating thermostat heating data and that were developed to optimize customer adoption of energy conservation measures, enhancing the identification of retrofit opportunities, estimating post-retrofit energy savings, and enabling home-specific...
Author(s)
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
AHRI
Publication Date
Description
Online database with efficiency information about residential HVAC systems and commercial refrigeration equipment.
Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing the successes and ongoing efforts of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's Go Ductless ductless heat pump program which successfully encouraged the installation of more than 150,000 minisplit heat pumps in the Northwest between 2010 and 2021.
Author(s)
Roth Kurt,
Sehgal N,
Akers Craig
Organization(s)
Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,
Fraunhofer CSE,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Research report with results from field tests in two homes in Austin, Texas, from October 2011 to June 2012 to evaluate the comfort performance of ductless mini-split heat pumps
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Online reference containing general information about geothermal heat pumps.
Author(s)
Baker Julie D,
Brand Larry,
Wells J,
Yee Shannon
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
MEEA,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report using pre- and post-system upgrade data to analyze the energy savings associated with Iowa's HVAC SAVE program for space heating.
Author(s)
Brand Larry,
Kerr Ryan,
Rowley Patricia
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy,
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
MEEA,
CNT Energy,
Elevate Energy,
Future Energy Enterprises,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Document reviewing four cold-climate northern Illinois energy efficiency retrofit programs to identify practices, tools, and approaches to streamline and reduce costs of comprehensive retrofits, and to improve the consistency of audit and retrofit delivery practices across different programs.
Author(s)
NORESCO
Organization(s)
NORESCO
Publication Date
Description
Article describing RESNET guidance on evaporative coolers.
Author(s)
Mohalley Christopher
Organization(s)
Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration News,
ACHR News
Publication Date
Description
Article describing benefits of ECM motors and how they can be installed as retrofit motors in HVAC equipment.
Author(s)
Brand Larry
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Expert meeting identifying installation practices that provide the best installed efficiency for residential gas furnaces, explain how AFUE and field efficiency can differ, and investigate the impact of installation practices on the efficiency and long-term durability of the furnace.
Author(s)
Stecher Dave
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Expert meeting held to discuss simplified space conditioning systems in low load homes, including the relationship between advanced thermal enclosures, space conditioning systems and comfort.
Author(s)
Arena Lois
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Expert meeting held to review and discuss results and future plans for research to improve the performance of hydronic heating systems using condensing boilers and baseboard convectors.
Author(s)
Christensen Dane,
Tomerlin Jeff,
Winkler Jon,
Hancock Ed,
Fang Xia
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Mountain Energy Partnership,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with an analysis of mini split heat pump systems.
Author(s)
Hughes Patrick J
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report investigating the status of the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry and technology in the United States, assembling GHP energy savings potential, identifying key barriers to application of GHPs, and identifying actions that could accelerate adoption of GHPs.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
Website with information about ENERGY STAR criteria for geothermal heat pumps.
Author(s)
Seth Masia
Organization(s)
American Solar Energy Society,
ASES
Publication Date
Description
Website article discussing the economics of ground source heat pumps.
Author(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
Natural Resources Defense Council
Organization(s)
SWA,
NRDC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the various heat pump retrofit options for multifamily buildings in the U.S., segmented by building typology and heating system, to support better environmental, economic, and health outcomes.
Author(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Organization(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Publication Date
Description
Report providing information for HVAC designers, installers, and consumers about air source heat pumps.
Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L,
Baechler Michael C,
Hefty Marye G,
Hand James R,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report providing information about energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment options to help homeowners cut their energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and increase their homes comfort, health, and safety.
Author(s)
Raymer Paul H,
Moyer Neil
Organization(s)
Tamarack Technologies,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Correcting pressure imbalances in your HVAC system can result in a healthier, more efficient home.
Author(s)
Cutler Dylan,
Winkler Jon,
Kruis Neal,
Christensen Craig B,
Brandemuhl Michael J
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Colorado,
CU
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting improved air conditioner (AC) and heat pump (HP) modeling methods in the context of whole-building simulation tools.
Author(s)
Brand Larry,
Baker Julie D,
Yee Shannon
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR
Publication Date
Description
Report examining the impacts that common installation practices and age- induced equipment degradation may have on the installed performance of natural gas furnaces, as measured by steady-state efficiency and AFUE.
Author(s)
Hudon Kate,
Merrigan Tim,
Burch Jay,
Maguire Jeff
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying the target market for solar water heaters and potential pathways and cost/performance targets that must be met for these systems to realize large energy savings.