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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 101 - 150 of 196

How to Prepare Your Home for Wildfires

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Factsheet describing defensible space and wildfire risk reduction steps that homeowners can take to make their homes safer during a wildfire.

Hybrid Inverter Comparison Chart

Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of hybrid inverters for solar power systems.

Install Window Shutters

Author(s)
Knowles III,
Miller,
Ruppert,
Lenfesty,
Haldeman
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Publication Date
This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.

Integrated Ventilation System Increases Energy Efficiency and Ease of Installations

Author(s)
NREL
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the newly developed Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System (VICS) that reduces space requirements and eliminates costly ductwork for separate heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, all while enhancing performance, addressing the demand for energy-efficient homes, and...

Is battery storage right for you?

Author(s)
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Organization(s)
SMUD
Publication Date
Webpage describing benefits of adding battery storage to homes and an estimation tool.

Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather!

Author(s)
National Center for Environmental Health
Organization(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Publication Date
Web page describing how to identify heat-related illness and how to prevent it.

Keeping Homes and Cities Cool in Extreme Heat

Author(s)
Kyle Mittan
Organization(s)
University of Arizona
Publication Date
Article from University of Arizona on keeping homes cool during extreme heat, both personal and system changes.

Key Installation Checkpoints for Manufactured Stone Veneer

Author(s)
National Concrete Masonry Association
Organization(s)
National Concrete Masonry Association
Publication Date
Article providing guidance for installing manufactured stone veneer, including information on rainscreens.

Landscaping Tips

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Guide describing landscaping tips for healthy and regionally-based gardens, including maintenance, mulching, water efficiency, and plant resources.

Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors

Author(s)
EPA,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website describing the EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule that establishes requirements to reduce lead exposure for firms and individuals performing renovations that might disturb painted surfaces in buildings and homes built pre 1978 that might be occupied by children.

Learn About Brightness

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining the measurement of light bulbs, measurable in lumens, & brightness levels that ENERGY STAR products produce.

Learn About LED Lighting

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining the basics of LED lightning, their lifespan, their use in general lighting applications, the amount of heat produced, and why you should choose ENERGY STAR certified LED products for your home.

LED Bulbs Made Easy

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A fact sheet providing information on ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs & how to find the right one to fit your lighting fixture.

Lighting Controls

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website exploring the use of lighting controls products like dimmers, motion sensors and timers to save energy in the home.

Lighting Principles and Terms

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining basic lighting principles and terms & how they are applied to the home.

Lumens and the Lighting Facts Label

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining lumens & how to compare the amount of light that lightbulbs can produce when shopping for replacements.

Make your home more resilient for hurricane season

Author(s)
Blanchard Tobie,
Reichel Claudette Hanks
Organization(s)
LSU Ag Center Research Extension
Publication Date
Web article describing many ways homeowners, contractors, and builders can make homes more resistant to hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, and hail.

Masonry Detailing Series

Author(s)
International Masonry Institute
Organization(s)
International Masonry Institute
Publication Date
Webpage featuring hundreds of illustrations of masonry construction details for brick, congrete, stone, tile, stucco, etc.

Mesothelioma.net

Author(s)
Mesothelioma.net
Organization(s)
Mesothelioma.net
Publication Date
Website providing medical information about malignant mesothelioma, a cancer related to asbestos exposure.

National Flood Hazard Layer

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

New National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires

Author(s)
National Research Council Canada
Organization(s)
National Research Council Canada
Publication Date
Report for local governments, planners, emergency managers, developers, insurers, and property owners describing ways to improve the wildfire resistance of buildings, infrastructure and communities in the wildland urban interface.

New Source Performance Standards

Author(s)
EPA
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
A list of EPA federal regulations regarding stationary sources of air pollution.

NFIP Summary of Coverage

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Brochure outlining what is covered under the National Flood Insurance Program

NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Standard establishing criteria for levels of health care services or systems based on risk to the patients, staff, or visitors in health care facilities to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity.

Off-Grid Inverter Comparison Chart

Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of off-grid inverters for solar power systems.

Oilheat America: Burners

Author(s)
Oilheat America
Organization(s)
Oilheat America
Publication Date
A website providing information on the purpose of burners and the components used in burners.

Operation Water

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
A website outlining considerations for planning and installation of a fire-protection.

Passive Cooling Designs to Improve Heat Resilience of Homes in Underserved and Vulnerable Communities

Author(s)
Sun Kaiyu,
Zhang Wanni,
Zeng Zhaoyun,
Levinson Ronnen,
Wei Max,
Hong Tianzhen
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
This study evaluated 11 measures for passive cooling using four heat resilience metrics with and without grid power in Fresno CA and found the two most effective measures were installing solar-control window films and adding roof insulation; natural ventilation also helped reduce overheating in...

Plymouth Community Center Project

Author(s)
City of Plymouth MN
Organization(s)
City of Plymouth MN
Publication Date
City of Plymouth webpage providing information on the Plymouth Community Center Project.

Pool Volume Calculator

Organization(s)
Swimmingpool.com
Publication Date
Calculator to help in calculating pool volume.

Prepare for Wildfire: Hardening Your Home

Author(s)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Organization(s)
State of California,
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Webpage offering recommendations to homeowners and contractors for retrofitting a home to make it more resistant to wildfires.

Primary Frontal Dunes

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date

Protect Your Home From Floods

Author(s)
Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
Institute for Business & Home Safety
Publication Date
Report covering reducing risk from flooding.

Protect Your Home from Ice Dams

Author(s)
IBHS DisasterSafety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
List of recommendations from IBHS on how to protect homes from ice dam formation.

Reduce Fire Losses

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Website describing wildfire related research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety at the IBHS Research Center.

Research and Development of a Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System

Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth,
Aldrich Robb,
Cleary Barnett
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Technical report describing the research and development of the Ventilation-Integrated Comfort System (VICS) which is a specifically designed, energy-efficient solution that seamlessly integrates with low-capacity, ducted heating, and cooling systems, offering controllable, balanced energy recovery...

Residential Seismic Strengthening

Author(s)
City of Portland OR
Organization(s)
City of Portland OR
Publication Date
Website providing resources for seismic retrofits for builders and homeowners as well as city permit requirements from the City of Portland OR.

Residential Tornado Safe Room Doors

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing residential tornado safe room doors.