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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 1 - 50 of 106

Author(s)
Global Cool Cities Alliance,
R20 Regions of Climate Action
Organization(s)
GCCA,
R20
Publication Date
Description
Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.
Author(s)
Miller
Organization(s)
Mayfield Renewables
Publication Date
Description
Website article describing the advantages and disadvantages of AC and DC battery energy storage systems and inverters for solar power systems.
Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Description
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of battery energy storage systems for solar power systems.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Williamson Jim
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Research report anayzing the results of a large retrofit project, turining an old school into near zero energy consumption apartments in Greenfield MA.
Author(s)
Akbari Hashem,
Levinson Ronnen,
Wiel Stephen,
Desjarlais Andre,
Miller William,
Jenkins Nancy,
Rosenfeld Arthur,
Scruton Chris
Organization(s)
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.
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Web page providing information on the types of cool roofs and their benefits to consumers.
Author(s)
Heat Island Group
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
LBNL webpage introducing heat island effect and cool materials concepts, and providing links to LBNL pages explaining cool pavements, cool roofs, and cool walls.
Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.
Author(s)
Parker Danny,
Sherwin John,
Sonne Jeffrey
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.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Vijayakumar Gayathri
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the monitored long-term performance of two solar domestic water heating systems in northern climates.
Author(s)
Cool Roof Rating Council
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information on cool roofs and walls for contractors, homeowners, architects, and code officials, including a directory of rated products.
Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.
Author(s)
Solar Decathlon,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.
Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.
Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet poster describing benefits and qualification of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) certified Zero Energy Ready Homes and providing eight examples of certified homes.
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Description
ENERGY STAR webpage discussing the costs and benefits of cool roofs.
Author(s)
JM Peterson et. al.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the methods and results of a field evaluation of the energy performance of cellular shade window coverings.
Author(s)
Peterson Joseph M,
Sullivan Greg P,
Cort Katherine A,
Merzouk Massine B,
Metzger Cheryn E
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using interior cellular shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain in summer and reduce heat loss in winter.
Author(s)
Walter Hunt,
Katherine Cort
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using exterior fabric shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain, reduce glare, and improve comfort.
Author(s)
Bhandari Mahabir,
Kunwar Niraj,
Gehl Anthony,
Curcija Charlie
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating the energy savings potential of cellular shades in homes.
Author(s)
Sonne Jeffrey,
Parker Danny,
Sherwin John
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.
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance to high wind and hail.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure on specifications for PV systems.
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure on specifications for solar thermal systems.
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
A website providing geospatial data , tools, and maps including data on the U.S. solar resources for solar power.
Author(s)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet defining a grid-interactive efficient building and its benefits.
Author(s)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website highlighting the DOE Building Technologies Office Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Initiative, including technical reports, other publications, resources, and presentations.
Author(s)
Heat Island Group
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
LBNL webpage providing resources and tools related to cool technologies, including the SRI calculator and the DOE Cool Roof Calculator.
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Provides consumers with general information on solar water heating systems and how to select a contractor.
Author(s)
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting construction methods, building products, appliances and equipment of four single-family houses that achieve dramatic energy reductions and approach “net zero energy” use.
Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Description
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of hybrid inverters for solar power systems.