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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 - 100 of 170

Evaluation of Retrofit Delivery Packages

Author(s)
Berman Mark,
Smith Pepper,
Porse Erik
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Report evaluating opportunities to improve and streamline delivery of residential retrofit measures.

Excavationless Exterior Foundation Insulation Exploratory Study

Author(s)
Mosiman,
Wagner,
Schirber
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
NSTAR
Publication Date
Research study searching for combinations of existing technologies that could enable a minimally invasive, cost-competitive, easily deployable method of upgrading soil-side foundation insulation in existing buildings.

Expert Meeting Report: Energy Savings You Can Bank On

Author(s)
Berman Mark,
Springer Jeremy,
Smith Pepper,
Porse Erik
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Expert meeting on the topic of performance guarantees and financing vehicles for energy efficiency upgrades.

Expert Meeting Report: Foundations Research Results

Author(s)
Ojczyk Cindy,
Huelman Patrick H,
Carmody John
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Expert meeting report describing the need for greater understanding of foundation systems including moisture and insulation issues.

Expert Meeting Report: Windows Options for New and Existing Homes

Author(s)
Ojczyk Cindy,
Carmody John,
Haglund Kerry
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Expert meeting report aimed at a greater understanding of the windows research that Building America partners and national laboratories are engaged in to help professionals and consumers choose best practice strategies.

Expert Meeting: Optimized Heating Systems Using Condensing Boilers and Baseboard Convectors

Author(s)
Arena Lois
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Expert meeting held to review and discuss results and future plans for research to improve the performance of hydronic heating systems using condensing boilers and baseboard convectors.

Extension Foundation - A Partner to Cooperative Extension

Author(s)
Extension Foundation
Organization(s)
Extension Foundation,
Cooperative Extension System
Publication Date
Homepage for Extension Foundation, a partner of the Cooperative Extension System, whose goal is providing an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the best land-grant university minds across America.

External Insulation of Masonry Walls and Wood Framed Walls

Author(s)
Baker Peter
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Research study developing baseline engineering analysis to support the installation of thick layers of exterior insulation (2 in. to 8 in.) on existing masonry walls and wood framed walls.

Fans, Ventilating for Consumers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
DOE,
EPA
Publication Date
Information sheet about the benefits of purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR rated fans and ventilation products.

FEMA P-936, Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Low,
Mahadevia,
Perotin,
Reeder,
Sheldon Seelbach,
Sparenberg,
Squerciati
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report describing dry floodproofing technologies for non-residential buildings, including information about regulatory requirements, design considerations, and descriptions of floodproofing methods and equipment.

FEMA P-957, Snow Load Safety Guide

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Report informing building stakeholders about the risks a snow event poses to their buildings, preventative measures to take before the snow season, and actions that should be taken before, during, and after a snow event.

Field Assessment of Energy Audit Tools for Retrofit Programs

Author(s)
Edwards J,
Bohac D,
Nelson C,
Smith I
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Report describing a project focused on the use of home energy ratings as a tool to promote energy retrofits in existing homes.

Field Performance of Heat Pump Water Heaters in the Northeast

Author(s)
Shapiro Carl,
Puttagunta Srikanth
Organization(s)
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Research study evaluating 14 heat pump water heaters, attempting to provide publically available field data on new HPWHs by monitoring the performance of three recently released products .

Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact of Infiltration and Ventilation on Measured Heating Season Energy and Moisture Levels

Author(s)
Vieira,
Parker,
Fairey III,
Sherwin,
Withers,
Hoak
Organization(s)
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Research study outlining savings from reducing air infiltration, with and without the addition of mechanical ventilation, using two identical laboratory homes designed to model existing Florida building stock.

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.

Greenbelt Homes Pilot Energy Efficiency Programs Phase 1 Summary: Existing Conditions and Baseline Energy Use

Author(s)
Wiehagen Joseph,
Del Bianco Marie,
Wood A
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs
Publication Date
Report detailing field walk-through evaluations, energy simulations for projected savings with exterior insulation upgrades, building envelope energy improvement cost estimates, and installation and maintenance of monitoring equipment and data.

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.

High-Efficiency Window Air Conditioners

Author(s)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Factsheet profiling a simple modification that can be made to window air-conditioners to improve their energy efficiency.

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.

Joni Mitchell, Water and Walls, BSI-071

Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
BSC,
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Article describing walls and moisture development on them.

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: Air Conditioner Diagnostics, Maintenance, and Replacement

Author(s)
Springer David,
Dakin Bill
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Document providing information on the impact of various defects and the potential energy savings that can result from proper maintenance, and describing a two-step process for diagnosing and correcting faults. This document is targeted towards home performance contractors who are relatively...

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.