Organization(s)
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry,
MNDLI
Publication Date
Description
A presentation on the 2020 State Mechanical Code for easier understanding.
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 1 - 46 of 46
Organization(s)
UNEP
Publication Date
Description
Guidance document from the UN environment programme on climate-resilient buildings and communities practices, including guidance on heat waves, drought, hurricanes, and flooding.
Organization(s)
GCCA,
R20
Publication Date
Description
Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.
Organization(s)
AEC,
App State
Publication Date
Description
Study from Appalachian State University on passive solar design to take advantage of local climate zones for energy conservation.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy performance in side-by-side identical homes with varying roof types, including cool roof technologies.
Organization(s)
Zero Energy Project
Publication Date
Description
Guidance from Zero Energy Project on construction techniques for warmer climates, such as home orientation, and insulation requirements.
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Public Interest Energy Research Program,
PIER,
Laboratory Directed Research and Development,
LDRD,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Web page providing information on the types of cool roofs and their benefits to consumers.
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of finished and unfinished metal roofing systems on cooling energy performance in a test facility.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information about the Cool Roof Rating Council including programs, membership, and resources for the construction industry.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.
Organization(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition,
Solar World
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Technical report evaluating the energy savings potential of radiative cooling technologies, particularly photonic 'selective emittance' materials.
Evaluation of Mini-Split Heat Pumps as Supplemental and Full System Retrofits in a Hot Humid Climate
Organization(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Description
Technical report presenting the results of an evaluation of homes using high-efficiency mini-split heat pumps to supplement the primary heating and cooling systems.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing tips for installing and maintaining an evaporative cooler.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
A webpage by the DOE on tips for saving energy with an evaporative cooler.
Organization(s)
U.S. Geological Survey,
USGS
Publication Date
Description
Image of design wet bulb temperatures in the U.S. and where evaporative cooling is most appropriate.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of various roof types on cooling energy performance in a test facility.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
EPA webpage explaining the heat island effect and providing links to related content.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet profiling a simple modification that can be made to window air-conditioners to improve their energy efficiency.
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI
Publication Date
Description
Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.
Organization(s)
The Earthbound Report
Publication Date
Description
Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.
Organization(s)
Big Ass Fans,
HPAC Engineering
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how air speed affects thermal comfort and how fans can provide energy savings.
Organization(s)
Applied Energy,
National Science Foundation,
NSF
Publication Date
Description
Study using simulations to understand the impact that shading and natural ventilation would have had on the survivability of non-air-conditioned buildings during the 2021 heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.
Organization(s)
University of Texas
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.
Organization(s)
NREL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
News article describing the state of the residential battery storage market.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings in homes across the U.S. from the installation of roofing with higher solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
University of Central Florida,
UCF
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings from the installation of wall finishes with higher solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
DOE Energy Saver webpage providing a brief summary of natural ventilation for houses.
Organization(s)
California Public Utilities Commission,
CPUC
Publication Date
Description
Document describing recommended modeling rules, potential compliance credits, and eligibility criteria for residential night ventilation cooling systems for California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards.
Organization(s)
MIT Press,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
MIT
Publication Date
Description
Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.
Organization(s)
Ohio State University Extension,
OSU
Publication Date
Description
Website providing guidance on passive heating, cooling, and lighting methods.
Organization(s)
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Paper summarizing passive and low-energy cooling systems for buildings.
Organization(s)
Purdue University
Publication Date
Description
Blog article describing considerations for how to use trees for shading to reduce cooling energy demand.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Large scale simulation study investigating the effects of cool roofs and walls on buildings of various vintages across the U.S., with special attention given to California.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Searchable database of over 3,000 roofing products that have undergone solar reflectance and thermal emittance testing.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Searchable database of wall cladding and coating products that have undergone solar reflectance and thermal emittance testing.
Organization(s)
California Air Resources Board
Publication Date
Description
Webpage discussing the characteristics of sunlight and how cool roofs work to reduce solar heat gain.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Spreadsheet tool that computes solar reflectance index (SRI) and roof surface temperature based on solar reflectance and thermal emittance using ASTM standard E 1980.
Organization(s)
Purdue University
Publication Date
Description
Article from Purdue University on the potential for white paint technology to lower air conditioning usage requirements.
Organization(s)
City of Fresno
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from the City of Fresno's Water Conservation Program describing household water conservation recommendations, including tips for maintaining evaporative coolers.
Organization(s)
PG&E,
California Public Utilities Commission
Publication Date
Description
Technical fact sheet describing proper operation, sizing, and installation of whole-house fans.
Organization(s)
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing passive design strategies used at the Zion National Park Visitor Center, including evaporative cool towers.