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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 1 - 50 of 78

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Sherwin John S
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Research study describing how envelope modifications in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and domestic hot water and renewable resources can result in considerable energy reductions, using the first full year of detailed data collected about a single-family home that experienced a series...
Author(s)
Prahl Duncan,
Beach Robert
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS
Publication Date
Description
Report outlining workflow and results of regression models on monthly and daily utility data (meter readings of electricity consumption), outlining a process for screening and gathering useful results from inverse models.
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Organization(s)
HVI
Publication Date
Description
Web page describing the benefits of attic fans, with rules for sizing fans and intake vents.
Author(s)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Government of Canada
Publication Date
Description
Article by the Canadian Government on attic ventilation and considerations for moisture and ice dams.
Author(s)
Van der Meer Bill
Organization(s)
National Association for State Community Services Programs,
NASCSP,
Weatherization Training Center at Penn College,
Pennsylvania College of Technology,
PCT
Publication Date
Description
Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Book presenting the best techniques for energy and resource efficient residential construction in the colder climates of North America.
Author(s)
Milne Murray
Organization(s)
Society of Building Science Educators,
SBSE,
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing weather data.
Author(s)
Wright Graham S,
Klingenberg Katrin
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report on improving passive design adoption rates.
Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
Jones Christopher P,
Kapur Omar,
Koumoudis Vasso,
Line Philip,
Low David K,
Overcash Glenn,
Passman Samantha,
Reeder Adam,
Seitz Laura,
Smith Thomas,
Tezak Scott
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Publication Date
Description
Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.
Author(s)
Kochkin Vladimir,
Wiehagen Joseph
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL
Publication Date
Description
Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. Walls with...
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Williamson Jim
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB
Publication Date
Description
Research report anayzing the results of a large retrofit project, turining an old school into near zero energy consumption apartments in Greenfield MA.
Author(s)
University of Minnesota Extension
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.
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 Occupant Behavior chapter discusses how to assess homeowner behavior patterns and use these patterns to enhance overall energy savings.
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 Over Time, Phased Guidance chapter presents a phased approach to deep energy retrofits.
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 Reducing costs and Increasing Cost-Effectiveness chapter provides suggestions for controlling deep retrofit costs, including both 'do's' and 'don'ts'.
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)
Wilson Alex
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A map describing the average temperature of shallow groundwater in Fahrenheit across the continental United States.
Author(s)
Weatherization Assistance Program
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Powerpoint on attic ventilation developed as training material for the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organization(s)
USDA,
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
Description
A publication developed by the U.S. Forest Service for its employees and other federal agency staff describing erosion control methods.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.
Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet,
Sutherland Karen,
Schleith Kevin,
Chandra Subrato
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting the process of a residential retrofit project for houses in the states of Florida and Alabama, including findings at the time of reporting and highlights of the first home to meet the target HERS Index of 70.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Document discussing methods to bioengineer stabilization of shorelines using living and non-living plant materials in combination, known as the “Living Shorelines” concept.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing maps for natural disaster risk in the United States.
Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Publication Date
Description
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.
Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
This document includes tips for safely and effectively cleaning up a home after a flood. It is available in several languages.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing series of short how-to videos, infographics and more resources on cleaning up a home after a flood.
Author(s)
Defendorf Richard
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Article describing issues with attic ventilation fans and why the state of Georgia residential code does not allow plug-in attic ventilation fans.
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
NREL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.
Author(s)
GIS Geography
Organization(s)
GIS Geography
Publication Date
Description
A website providing free access to a variety of U.S. and international maps.
Author(s)
National Center for Environmental Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Organization(s)
NCEH,
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Web page describing how to identify heat-related illness and how to prevent it.
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Weather Service
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NWS
Publication Date
Description
A website issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and increasing the understanding of hazards.
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Building science insight into crawlspaces.