Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Presentation on Improving Air-Conditioner and Heat Pump Modeling.
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 101 - 150 of 204
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.
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)
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,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report documenting the measured performance of six residential ENERGY STAR vapor compression dehumidifiers.
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)
Building Science Corporation
Description
Report on the long-term performance of mini-split heat pumps.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Florida Home Energy and Resources Organization,
Florida HERO,
Energy Smart Home Plans,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Document presenting a cost effective method that was used by four builders in the Gainesville, FL area to construct interior ducts in over a dozen site built homes.
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)
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)
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)
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)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the installation and operation of forced-air heating and domestic hot water combi systems in residential homes.
Organization(s)
Center for Energy and Environment,
CEE,
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Measure Guideline describing how to assess and carry out the isolation of natural draft combustion appliances from the conditioned spaces of low-rise residential buildings.
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy
Publication Date
Description
This measure guideline provides guidance on combustion safety inspection procedures for appliances and heating equipment that use indoor air for combustion and dilution of flue gases in low-rise residential buildings.
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)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report providing step-by-step instructions for heating contractors and hydronic designers for selecting the proper control settings to maximize system performance and improve response time when using a thermostat setback.
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,
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)
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.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing solutions for supplemental dehumidification in warm-humid climates.
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Guideline that provides information on properly applying, designing, and installing mechanical ventilation cooling systems for homes located in located in hot-dry and cold-dry climates, as well as a means of understanding the benefits, costs, and tradeoffs of these systems.
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the fundamental waterproofing strategies for tub and shower assemblies.
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Research study outlining results of monitoring a low temperature heat pump.
Organization(s)
ARIES,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Levy Partnership
Publication Date
Description
This report investigates whether mini-split heat pumps can live up to their potential for one market segment: multifamily retrofits.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report about exterior sheathing insulation and inward driven moisture issues.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.
Organization(s)
University of Waterloo,
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document describing a hygrothermal modeling study, including all of the US climate zones, a range of interior humidity levels and numerous arrangements and types of insulation.
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about mold mitigation.
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing the proposed point structure for the prescriptive approach of the energy efficiency chapter of the NGBS update.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report about an experimental evaluation has been conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Research study using modeling to determine optimal combination(s) of components/pumps, high efficiency heat sources, plumbing configurations and controls that result in the highest overall efficiency for a hydronic system.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report briefly reviewing past research on the effects of occupant behavior on residential energy use and then covering a two year pilot evaluation of a low cost residential energy feedback system installed in twenty case study homes in Florida.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report briefly reviewing past research on the effects of occupant behavior on residential energy use and then covering a two year pilot evaluation of a low cost residential energy feedback system installed in twenty case study homes in Florida.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet providing guidance about the placement of ventilation approaches.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Research study exploring a test method measuring air leakage between units through common surfaces and air infiltration across exterior, noncommon surfaces of the enclosure.
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the current state of technology and market gaps for industrialized retrofits as demonstrated by Energiesprong in the Netherlands and providing key recommendations for how the United States might develop its own capacity for such retrofits.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report about seven pilot homes and development of guidelines for deep energy retrofits in cold climates.
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions Collaborative,
ARIES,
Levy Partnership,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting ways public housing authorities (PHAs) can develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost-effectively implement with their own staff in the normal course of housing operations at the time when units are refurbished between occupancies.
Organization(s)
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing analysis of potential heating and cooling savings from radiant barriers in attics.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document with important building science considerations, designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing.