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 51 - 100 of 112

Fort Devens: Cold Climate, Energy-Efficient, Market-Rate Townhomes

Author(s)
Zoeller,
Slattery,
Grab
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Report about development of effective strategies to reduce the overall building energy use in line with Building America goals in this modestly priced market rate project.

Foundation Design Handbook

Author(s)
Carmody John,
Mosiman Garrett,
Handeen Daniel,
Huelman Patrick H,
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.

Guide to Closing and Conditioning Ventilated Crawlspaces

Author(s)
Dickson
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Report explaining the issues and concerns with conventional ventilated crawlspaces and to outline prescriptive measures for improvements that will create healthier and more durable spaces.

Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment – 2013

Author(s)
Newport Partners
Organization(s)
The Fire Protection Research Foundation
Publication Date
Report assessing the costs of home fire sprinkler systems.

Hood River Passive House

Author(s)
Hales
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Programs,
PIRC
Publication Date
Report documenting short-term test results of the Shift House and compares the results of Passive House Planning Package and Building Energy Optimization modeling of the project.

Improved Modeling of Residential Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps for Energy Calculations

Author(s)
Cutler Dylan,
Winkler Jon,
Kruis Neal,
Christensen Craig,
Brandemuehl Michael J
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Colorado,
CU
Publication Date
Report presenting improved air conditioner (AC) and heat pump (HP) modeling methods in the context of whole-building simulation tools.

Insurance Difference Between a Hip and Gable Roof

Author(s)
Colucci Robert
Organization(s)
RTC Insurance Advisors
Publication Date
Article describing the insurance savings of a home with a hip roof versus a gable roof from the perspective of an insurance advisor.

LED Lighting Basics

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Information about LED lighting technology.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)
Pettit,
Neuhauser,
Gates
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

Measure Guideline: Condensing Boilers - Control Strategies for Optimizing Performance and Comfort in Residential Applications

Author(s)
Arena Lois
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
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.

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report providing a resource that communities can use to identify and evaluate a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters.

Moisture Management for High R-Value Walls

Author(s)
Lepage,
Schumacher,
Lukachko
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.

Moisture Research - Optimizing Wall Assemblies

Author(s)
Arena Lois,
Mantha Pallavi
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report describing evaluation of several configurations of wall assemblies to determine the accuracy of moisture modeling and make recommendations to ensure durable, efficient assemblies.

Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Systems Standards

Author(s)
RESNET
Organization(s)
RESNET
Publication Date
RESNET standards aimed to ensure that accurate and consistent home energy ratings are performed by accredited home energy rating providers through their raters nationwide.

Multi-Family Construction Air Sealing Guide

Author(s)
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Report providing guidance to air sealing multifamily homes.

NFPA 225: Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Publication Date
Standard for installing manufactured homes, including specifications and procedures, for installation of utility connections of a manufactured home.

Optimizing Hydronic System Performance in Residential Applications

Author(s)
Arena Lois,
Faakye Omari
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
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.

Pools & Spas: Codes and Standards Enhancement (CASE) Initiative

Author(s)
Owrth,
Ludovici,
Joyce,
Fernstrom
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission
Publication Date
This CASE report proposes updates and revisions to the standards for residential swimming pool filtration pumps, new and replacement single phase pump motors under 5 horsepower (HP), controllers, portable electric spas as well as expanding the scope of the current standards to include light emitting...

Predicting Envelope Leakage in Attached Dwellings

Author(s)
Faakye Omari,
Arena Lois,
Griffiths Dianne
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Research study exploring a test method measuring air leakage between units through common surfaces and air infiltration across exterior, noncommon surfaces of the enclosure.

Pump Day Procedures

Author(s)
ICF Systems
Organization(s)
Massachusetts Building Products
Publication Date
Information sheet including a checklist of steps to follow for pouring concrete.

Reduce Ice Dam and Icicle Damage

Author(s)
Kenneth Hellevang
Organization(s)
NDSU
Publication Date
Webpage explaining how to mitigate heat loss through roofs for ice dam prevention.

Residential Best Practices Criteria, Info-001

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Document containing some of the basic characteristics for energy performance, durability, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality that should be met in all high performance homes.

Rocks Don’t Burn, BSI–068

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report covering non-combustible continuous exterior insulation and non-combustible roof venting.

Rodent Exclusion Methods

Author(s)
Extension
Organization(s)
Extension Foundation
Publication Date
Website providing information about how to prevent rodent entry in homes.

Saving Energy through Advanced Power Strips

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Infographic providing details on choosing the right advanced power strip based on your habits to reduce the electricity wasted when your electronic devices are idle.

Solar on Sips

Author(s)
Sughrue
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
A structural insulated panel (SIP) roof has no embedded lumber in the structure, and therefore nothing substantial for attaching PV array and solar hot water mounts. Single or double lumber splines could be put into the panels, or I-joists at 4-foot intervals could be added.

Strategy Guideline: Compact Air Distribution Systems

Author(s)
Burdick Arlan
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Document covering the pros and cons of compact air distribution systems and the decision criteria that must be considered early in the whole-house design process.

Strategy Guideline: Partnering for High Performance Homes

Author(s)
Prahl
Organization(s)
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Document serving as a starting point that features initial tools and resources for teams to start collaborating to continually improve the energy efficiency and durability of new houses.

Supplemental Dehumidification in Warm-Humid Climates, BA-1310

Author(s)
Rudd
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
This document covers a description of the need and applied solutions for supplemental dehumidification in warm-humid climates, especially for energy efficient homes where the sensible cooling load has been dramatically reduced.

Systems Evaluation at the Cool Energy House

Author(s)
Williamson,
Puttagunta
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Report providing performance results of a home's heat pump water heater and whole-house dehumidifier over a six-month period.