Organization(s)
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Homeowner guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on dealing with radon following a natural disaster.
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 151 - 200 of 328
Organization(s)
SSC
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.
Organization(s)
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Report on a project that enhanced the HWSIM distribution system model to more accurately model pipe heat transfer.
Organization(s)
BEEHA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing an evaluation of Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) residential energy efficiency demand side management (DSM) programs to assess their impacts and relative measures of energy and economic performance.
Organization(s)
Aspen Publishers
Publication Date
Description
Report with information for builders and retrofitters to help eliminate hazards and coincidental energy losses that come from attached garages.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report about measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet presenting techniques for installing cellulose insulation.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report exploring four questions to determine the level of risk associated with adding drained exterior insulation to the exterior of an existing home during an energy retrofit.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet summarizing ICF wall construction including the advantages and disadvantages of this construction strategy.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Journal article presenting modeling of residential gas water heaters via dynamic simulation models to determine the effect of the pilot light on their annual energy consumption.
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.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Article in Energy Design Update describing the cost and savings benefits of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) for HVAC equipment.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Presentation on Improving Air-Conditioner and Heat Pump Modeling.
Organization(s)
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Report providing information about techniques and approaches to improve the efficiency of recessed lighting.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSD
Publication Date
Description
Report discussing the importance of durability and energy efficiency in building construction.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article explaining installing cavity insulation.
Organization(s)
BSC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report with guidance for installing windows with foam sheathing on wood-frame walls.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Brochure with information on maintaining drainage plane continuity at deck ledger locations.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article discussing indoor water management.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report discussing how to create livable space in the attic that meets IRC code requirements by either creating a ventilated roof assembly, or and unvented attic assembly.
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Document from IBHS explaining how to inspect homes for earthquake preparedness and retrofit solutions for homes that have suffered structural damage as a result of earthquakes.
Organization(s)
Energy Vanguard
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet discussing the downside to recessed can lights.
Organization(s)
BA-PIRC,
Gas Technology Institute
Publication Date
Description
Report targeting the growing number of homes utilizing deep retrofit measures and new construction practices to realize sufficiently lower infiltration levels that require mechanical ventilation as prescribed by ASHRAE Standard 62.2.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting lab evaluation of five heat pump water heaters available in the US market today.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report providing information about laboratory testing of four residential window air conditioners.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report proposing mini-split heat pumps as a new retrofit option to replace resistance heating in the Pacific Northwest.
Organization(s)
Western Cooling Efficiency Center - UC Davis,
BIRA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Research study to help development of an application protocol for aerosol sealing of building shells that will eventually be demonstrated on buildings in retrofit and new construction.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website describing best practices for minimizing exposure to lead while doing repairs and renovations in homes built in 1978 or earlier.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report on whole-house and spot ventilation strategies for improved indoor air quality.
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.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Brochure describing use of low-e storm windows as effective ways weatherization programs can increase the efficiency of windows without significant costs.
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report focusing on managing the driving forces that move air and water vapor across the building envelope.
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Document providing information on the impact of various defects and the potential energy savings that can result from proper maintenance, and describing a two-step process for diagnosing and correcting faults. This document is targeted towards home performance contractors who are relatively...
Organization(s)
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Document providing an understanding of the importance of the different types of multifamily building attics and their unique challenges, and outlines strategies and materials used in air sealing them.
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Document covering two fundamental retrofit strategies for air sealing around air handling systems that are located within the living space in an enclosed closet.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Document describing good practices for insulating basements in new and existing homes.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Document pertaining to design and application guidance for combination space and tankless domestic hot water heating systems used in residential buildings, based on field evaluation, testing, and industry meetings.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Document intended for designers and installers of hydronic heating systems interested in maximizing the overall system efficiency of condensing boilers when coupled with baseboard convectors. It is applicable to new and retrofit projects.
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Document describing a process to help builders, homeowners, and designers select energy-efficient windows for new and existing residential construction in all U.S. climate zones.
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Report about evaporative condensers, to provide information on a cost-effective solution for energy and demand savings in homes with cooling loads.
Organization(s)
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Document with evaluation of 14 heat pump water heaters (including three recently released HPWH products) installed in existing homes in the northeast region of the United States.
Organization(s)
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet providing information on installing Rigid XPS foam board insulation to existing brick masonry walls.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report summarizing the importance of properly insulating and air sealing masonry walls, providing step by step instructions and approaches.
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Document covering the technical aspects of buried and insulated ducts (BEDs), as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of BEDs compared to alternative strategies.
Organization(s)
BARA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Building Media
Publication Date
Description
Research study showing that for a relatively small investment, a variable speed pool pump can reduce pool pump energy use by 50% to 75%.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the sealing and insulating of HVAC duct systems in existing homes.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
This document addresses adding—or improving—mechanical ventilation systems to existing homes. The purpose of ventilation is to remove contaminants from homes either directly or by dilution. This report discusses where, when, and how much ventilation is appropriate in a home, including some...
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy
Publication Date
Description
Document intending to put some context and structure around the process of balancing and tuning one-pipe steam systems to help practitioners begin to garner the potential in energy savings that this measure presents.
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Document illustrating guidelines for efficient installation of interior duct systems in new housing.