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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 - 279 of 279

The Performance Check Between Whole Building Thermal Performance Criteria and Exterior Wall Measured Clear Wall R-Value, Thermal Bridging, thermal mass and airtightness

Author(s)
Kosny Jan,
Christian Jeffrey E,
Desjarlais Andre O,
Kossecka Elisabeth,
Berrenberg Lance
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Polish Academy of Sciences,
PAN,
American Polysteel Forms
Publication Date
Paper that illustrates a performance check between the thermal performance of a Massive Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) wall system mocked up and Whole Building Performance criteria such as total space heating and cooling loads (thermal comfort).

Tornado Alley Spawns Tornado Codes

Author(s)
Thompson
Organization(s)
Code Watcher: Ahead of the Building Curve
Publication Date
Website article touring areas hit hardest by tornadoes to see how they are building differently to protect against the next big twister.

Urban Forestry Manual

Author(s)
U.S. Forest Service
Organization(s)
USDA Forest Service
Publication Date
Manual describing scientific, technical, and practical information needed to work with communities on urban forestry, including a section on trees and construction.

Voluntary Product Standard, PS 1-09, Structural Plywood

Author(s)
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
Organization(s)
APA
Publication Date
Standard that provides expanded and updated requirements for producing, marketing, and specifying plywood for construction and industrial uses.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Program-Home Certification Organization: RESNET

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the home certification organization, RESNET and its requirements for whole house water management in a checklist format as well as the scope, information verifiers, and partners of the program.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Program: Ensuring Homes Deliver on Efficiency

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing how the Environmental Protection Agency ensures labeled homes meet the WaterSense efficiency requirements for whole house water management including a list of requirements and a data chart.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Bathroom Sink Faucets

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
This fact sheet outlines the requirements for WaterSense® labeled bathroom sink faucets, detailing their water-efficient features, compliance with flow rate standards, how they are tested, how they are built, and how they are verified to ensure their quality and compliance with conservation and...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Clothes Washers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the requirements for EPA WaterSense® certified clothes washers that highlights the integrated water factor, integrated modified energy factor, top-loading vs. front-loading specifications, efficiency code standards, local requirements, faucet types and regulations for building...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Dishwashers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the requirements for EPA WaterSense® certified dishwashers that highlights water cycle specifications, efficiency code standards, water consumption level relation to criteria, the advantages of ENERGY STAR dishwashers, and the regulations for building and verifying a labeled...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Kitchen Faucets

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the requirements for EPA WaterSense® certified kitchen faucets that highlights flow rate specifications, efficiency code standards, local requirements, faucet types and regulations for building and verifying a labeled faucet to ensure it meets the quality and water management...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Landscape Design and Plant Selection

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing water-efficient landscaping through informed landscape design and plant selection, outlining considerations for climate, soil, and maintenance, as well as emphasizing the benefits of native and drought-tolerant plants, all within the context of achieving water efficiency...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Leak Detection and Flow Monitoring System

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing how to effectively build, implement, and verify leak detection and flow monitoring systems, detailing their significance in identifying and preventing leaks, selecting appropriate devices, installation procedures, and verification protocols within the context of water...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Service Water Pressure

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the significance of managing service water pressure within recommended ranges through the installation of pressure-regulating valves (PRVs), emphasizing their role in preventing damage, conserving energy, and ensuring water-efficient operation in residential properties; There...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Showerheads

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
This fact sheet describes the requirements for WaterSense® labeled showerheads in, highlighting their water-saving capabilities, adherence to flow rate criteria, independent performance certification, and how they're built, verified and in alignment with the conservation and water management goals...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Toilets

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
This fact sheet outlines the mandatory inclusion of WaterSense® labeled toilets in homes, highlighting their water-efficient features, certified performance, and leak prevention; The sheet describes the requirements for these features, steps to build, and steps to verify a labeled toilet to insure...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Water Metering

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the implementation of water metering and submetering measures in residential properties, particularly multifamily buildings, to enhance water efficiency, usage tracking, and compliance with relevant regulations; It outlines how to build and verify water meters and submeters to...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Water Softeners

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the importance and regulation of EPA WaterSense water softeners including the function of cation exchange water softeners, the importance of salt efficiency, the negative impact of hard water on household appliances, softeners that use demand-initiated regeneration with...

Wildfire codes and standards

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Website containing links to key wildfire codes and standards.

Window Systems

Author(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing impact-resistant window systems with specifics on Florida’s building codes.

Wood Stoves, Fireplaces, Pellet Stoves, and Masonry Heaters

Author(s)
Washington State Department of Ecology
Organization(s)
Washington State Department of Ecology
Publication Date
This web site has information about burn bans, which wood burning devices are legal in Washington, why wood smoke is harmful to health, and how to reduce the smoke from your wood burning device.