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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 51 - 99 of 99

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings

Author(s)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website highlighting the DOE Building Technologies Office Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Initiative, including technical reports, other publications, resources, and presentations.

Guidelines for Installing Flexible Duct

Author(s)
ATCO Rubber Products Inc.,
Air Duct Council
Organization(s)
ADC
Publication Date
Presentation about proper installation of flexible ducts.

Heat & Cool Efficiently

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A ENERGY STAR guide on efficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems in residential homes.

Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling

Author(s)
Town of Concord Massachusetts
Organization(s)
Town of Concord Massachusetts
Publication Date
Webpage providing basic information on various types of heat pumps and their applications in Massachusetts.

HVAC Sizing Tool

Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest
Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA
Publication Date
Software tool available free online that can help calculate heating and cooling requirements to accurately size HVAC equipment in as little as 15 minutes.

HVAC System Pressure Relief

Author(s)
Raymer,
Moyer
Organization(s)
Tamarack Technologies,
Florida Solar Energy Center
Publication Date
Correcting pressure imbalances in your HVAC system can result in a healthier, more efficient home.

Improvements in Fan Motor Efficiency Could Yield Big Savings

Author(s)
Holliday,
Martin
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Article in Energy Design Update describing the cost and savings benefits of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) for HVAC equipment.

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...

Investigation of Potential Benefits of Revising Exception 1 under “FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, ENERGY CONSERVATION, Section 101.4.7.1.1 Duct Sealing upon Equipment Replacement.”

Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Beal David
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report describing as-found interior platform return plenums, the magnitude of their contribution to the total amount of duct leakage, and techniques and results of retrofits executed by the HVAC trade during equipment replacement.

Is There a Downside to High-MERV Filters?

Author(s)
Springer
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.

Let’s Concentrate on Condensate

Author(s)
Hart
Organization(s)
ASHI Reporter
Publication Date
Article describing how to properly manage condensing HVAC equipment.

Makeup Air for Range Hoods

Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
If your kitchen has a powerful exhaust fan, it may be pulling air down your chimney or water-heater flue.

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.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

Author(s)
Lubliner,
Kerr,
Gordon,
Murray
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Program
Publication Date
Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.

Performance of Combination Hydronic Systems

Author(s)
Butcher Thomas
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Article investigating how a linear input/output relationship can be used as a simple model of the performance of a combination hydronic heating system over heating only, DHW only, and combined loads.

Quality Standards - ACCA

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
Webpage of ACCA’s Quality Standards outlining precisely the procedures that contractors should follow when designing, installing, maintaining, repairing, and verifying indoor environment systems.

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...

Retrofitting PSC Motors with ECMs

Author(s)
Anesi Jen
Organization(s)
Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration News,
ACHR News
Publication Date
Article describing how replacing permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors with electronically commutated motors (ECM) can boost bottom line for HVAC contractors as well as improve customer comfort and satisfaction.

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.

Technician’s Guide & Work Book For Quality Installation

Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Organization(s)
ACCA
Publication Date
The Technician's Guide equips practitioners with the knowledge to properly implement all of the measurement procedures required in the HVAC QI Specification.

The Best Furnace Filters to Buy

Author(s)
The Family Handyman
Organization(s)
The Family Handyman
Publication Date
Brochure describing HVAC filter options for efficiency and IAQ.

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).

Thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) demonstration project

Author(s)
McNamara
Organization(s)
NYSERDA
Publication Date
This report describes the results of a multiyear research project that investigated the energy savings attributable to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) installed on one-pipe steam distribution systems.

Transfer Ducts and Grilles, Info-604

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Information sheet describing transfer ducts and grilles for HVAC.

What’s Wrong With This Practice? Undercutting Doors, Info-804

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Article discussing the risks that can occur from undercutting bedroom doors to provide return airflow from bedrooms, as well as corrective measures that can be taken to address these risks.

Whole House Fan Technology Fact Sheet

Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
ORNL
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Brochure about how to install and use a whole-house fan.