Organization(s)
American Lung Association
Publication Date
Description
Document outlining important factors for homeowners to be aware of regarding healthy air in homes.
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 - 50 of 69
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Guide providing information for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Report telling consumers the risks of radon, how radon gets into a home, and steps consumers can take to reduce radon exposure in their homes.
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Environment Canada
Publication Date
Description
Document reporting results from a study done to evaluate effects of automotive emissions from attached garages on the indoor environment.
Organization(s)
Bailey Engineering Corporation,
BEC
Publication Date
Description
Case study about high humidity, mold and condensation on surfaces in S. Florida, and how building characteristics cause and amplify these problems.
Organization(s)
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Publication Date
Description
Updated detailed information about Formaldehyde.
Organization(s)
ANSI,
AHRI
Publication Date
Description
Standard 680 establishes definitions, classifications, test requirements, data requirements, ratings, operating requirements, marking and nameplate data and conformance conditions for residential air filter equipment.
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Description
Standard establishing a test procedure for evaluating the performance of air-cleaning devices as a function of particle size. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the year 2017, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. The ASHRAE bookstore also...
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Description
Standard 55 specifies conditions for acceptable thermal environments and is intended for use in design, operation, and commissioning of buildings and other occupied spaces. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the year 2021, and is available for preview and purchase at...
Organization(s)
ASHRAE,
American National Standards Institute,
ANSI
Publication Date
Description
Standard that provides procedures and methods for meeting minimum ventilation and indoor air quality requirements to engineers, design professionals, owners, and jurisdictional authorities where model codes have been adopted. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the...
Organization(s)
ANSI,
DHA
Publication Date
Description
Standard detailing the specific requirements for all face, back, and inner ply grades as well as formaldehyde emissions, moisture content, tolerances, sanding, and grade marking. The current version of the standard, published in 2020, can be acquired through a subscription with the ANSI webstore...
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Description
Standard describing methods for installing radon mitigation systems in existing residential buildings three stories or less in height. This version of the standard was published in the year 2021 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions of the standard were...
Building America Best Practices Series, Volume 10: Retrofit Techniques and Technologies: Air Sealing
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying the steps to take, with the help of a qualified home performance contractor, to seal unwanted air leaks while ensuring healthy levels of ventilation and avoiding sources of indoor air pollution.
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy
Publication Date
Description
Expert meeting focusing on identifying gaps and barriers in combustion safety that need to be addressed by future research, and to develop data-driven technical recommendations for code updates so that a common approach for combustion safety can be adopted by all members of the building energy...
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Publication Date
Description
This is a guide for establishing smoke-free policies in public housing and multifamily properties.
Organization(s)
BPI
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet that details the steps needed to perform a combustion appliance safety inspection to determine if fossil fuel-fired appliances are operating safely under a depressurized condition.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Report telling consumers how radon gets into a home and how to reduce radon entry into a home.
Organization(s)
CRI
Publication Date
Description
Webpage containing downloadable fact sheets covering carpet-related topics including Indoor Air Quality, Asthma and Allergy, Cleaning Products, and Environmental Sustainability.
Organization(s)
CSA International,
CSA Group
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering provisions for electrically operated single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide (CO) alarming devices used in various types of residential occupancies to protect against acute effects of exposure to CO. This version of the standard, originally published in 2001 and revised in...
Organization(s)
CSA Group
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering provisions for electrically operated single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide (CO) alarming devices used in various types of residential occupancies to protect against acute effects of exposure to CO. This version of the standard, originally published in 2017 and revised in...
Organization(s)
National Research Council Canada,
NRC
Publication Date
Description
Article discussing the causes of wood decay and moisture issues.
Organization(s)
IBACOS
Publication Date
Description
Report outlining the issues with using existing ducts with a new low-load HVAC system, which reduces throw at supply registers causing decreased mixing of supply and room air, leading to potential thermal comfort complaints.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A report describing six mechanical ventilation strategies that were evaluated for their ability to control indoor humidity levels over 14-day periods with simulated occupancy.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Description
This study evaluates the energy, humidity and indoor air quality implications of residential ventilation cooling in all US IECC climate zones.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website from the U.S. Department of Energy providing consumers with information on saving energy and using renewable energy technologies.
Organization(s)
Gas Technology Institute,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Technical report describing the enhancement of energy efficiency in existing buildings through a systems approach, assessing airflow-focused retrofits for improved energy savings and indoor air quality, considering factors like air leakage, distribution system dynamics, duct leakage, and ventilation...
Organization(s)
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)
Publication Date
Description
Standard supporting indoor air quality performance by producers, purchasers and policy makers to improve the environmental performance of products and services.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website explaining the risks associated with radon in homes and how to protect homes against radon.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Report on the performance of range hood exhaust fans.
Organization(s)
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report outlining how Smart ventilation controls (SVC) balance energy consumption, comfort, and IAQ by optimizing mechanical ventilation operation to reduce the heating and/or cooling loads, improve management of indoor moisture, and maintain IAQ equivalence according to ASHRAE 62.2.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Detailed information about Formaldehyde including health effects and strategies to reduce exposure.
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Environment Canada
Publication Date
Description
Results from a research program testing airtightness, implications of air leakage and contaminant reduction over the garage-to-house interface.
Organization(s)
CRI
Publication Date
Description
Document describing the emissions criteria for carpets, cushions, and adhesives to qualify as those with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions under the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality Testing Program.
Organization(s)
Green Seal
Publication Date
Description
Standards for paints and coatings.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Report about opportunities for ventilation when traditional methods are limited by weather conditions or by contaminants in the outdoor air.
Organization(s)
OSH,
NCCDPHP,
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage that describes health problems that can be caused by secondhand smoke.
Organization(s)
NCEH,
DEHSP,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
HHS,
CDC
Publication Date
Description
This manual is designed for state and local healthy homes programs that are working to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in multiunit housing. The manual provides field-tested strategies, recommendations, best practices, and tools.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
This publication provides a set of best practices for improving indoor air quality in conjunction with energy upgrade work in homes.
Organization(s)
Aspen Publishers
Publication Date
Description
Report with information for builders and retrofitters to help eliminate hazards and coincidental energy losses that come from attached garages.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Companion document to the Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications, providing guidance on identifying compliant products, including industry databases and examples of product labeling.
Organization(s)
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
Publication Date
Description
Book providing project management guidance in maintaining satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) of occupied buildings undergoing renovation or construction.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Description
This research study used pollutant measurements, home inspections, diagnostic testing and occupant surveys to assess IAQ in 24 new or deeply retrofitted homes designed to be high performance green buildings in California.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Document outlining specifications that were developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognize new homes equipped with a comprehensive set of indoor air quality (IAQ) features.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Source for information about Carbon Monoxide including health effects and measures to reduce exposure.
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
EPA’s 2008 Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule (as amended in 2010 and 2011), aims to protect the public from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation, repair and painting activities.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Report on whole-house and spot ventilation strategies for improved indoor air quality.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
This document addresses adding—or improving—mechanical ventilation systems to existing homes. The purpose of ventilation is to remove contaminants from homes either directly or by dilution. This report discusses where, when, and how much ventilation is appropriate in a home, including some...
Organization(s)
Western Wood Products Association
Publication Date
Description
Document addressing common questions about moisture, mold and wood.