Organization(s)
Suntegrity Solar
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from Suntegrity Solar describing different backup power generator options to prepare for future power outages.
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 - 47 of 47
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Report providing an introduction to current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website with consumer and contractor information about building codes and regulations for solar water heating systems.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
FSEC certification and testing page for solar systems.
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.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
A PDF containing the SERC Solar PV System Field-Inspection Checklist.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Checklist describing solar water heating recommendations per the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Mountain Energy Partnership
Publication Date
Description
Study presenting generalized results regarding the effect of surface orientation on annual incident solar radiation for locations in the United States.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing the requirements by FORTIFIED Home™ for improving the home's resistance to high wind and hail.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet defining a grid-interactive efficient building and its benefits.
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.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report evaluating lighting and electronic building technologies based on their ability to provide grid services and the type of value provided, including efficiency, load shed, load shift, and modulation.
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Provides consumers with general information on solar water heating systems and how to select a contractor.
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.
Organization(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
Publication Date
Description
This report requires all elements of rooftop PV panel systems to be designed for component and cladding pressures per ASCE 7-10.
Organization(s)
SMUD
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing benefits of adding battery storage to homes and an estimation tool.
Organization(s)
Boston Solar
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from Boston Solar describing how solar plus storage options can be beneficial for maintaining electricity during power outages.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Colorado,
CU,
University of Colorado-Boulder,
CU Boulder
Publication Date
Description
This paper discusses model validation using data from three thermosiphon systems.
Organization(s)
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners,
NABCEP
Publication Date
Description
This Photovoltaic (PV) Installer Resource Guide is an informational resource covering basic requirements for PV installations intended for individuals pursuing the Photovoltaic Installer Certification credential offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
Organization(s)
National Roofing Contractors Association
Publication Date
Description
A document providing guidance on integrating a PV array with a roof system.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report aiming to "de-mystify" technology and economic considerations of residential PV systems.
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Website estimating energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center
Publication Date
Description
A report presenting alternative approaches for reducing the costs of roof-mounted, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Organization(s)
EIA
Publication Date
Description
Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website tool intended to guide home builders in assessing whether a new home has the proper physical orientation to support a future installation of a solar energy system.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.
Organization(s)
North Carolina Solar Center
Publication Date
Description
Brochure with information on residential solar hot water systems.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Recovery advisory guide providing guidance on existing code requirements as well as recommend best practices for attachment design, installation, and maintenance of rooftop solar panels to increase panel wind resistance in the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Maria.
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing the development and testing of an affordable net-zero energy house in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Organization(s)
SEIA
Publication Date
Description
SEIA resources page.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Website with information for consumers about solar thermal systems for homes.
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
Description
A structural insulated panel (SIP) roof has no embedded lumber in the structure, and therefore nothing substantial for attaching PV array and solar hot water mounts. Single or double lumber splines could be put into the panels, or I-joists at 4-foot intervals could be added.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Guidelines to assist builders in designing and constructing homes equipped with a set of features that make the installation of solar energy systems after the completion of the home’s construction easier and less expensive.
Organization(s)
Solar Rating & Certification Corporation
Publication Date
Description
The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation is the leading solar heating and cooling product certification program in North America, certifying to the requirements of International and Uniform Codes and Standards
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying the important aspects of building design and construction to enable installation of solar photovoltaic and heating systems at some time after the building is constructed.
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
Description
Web article about solar site assessment.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A research paper exploring the design, installation, repair and maintenance of solar water and pool heating technologies.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website describing how solar water heaters -- also called solar domestic hot water systems -- can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Specifications to assist builders in designing and constructing homes equipped with a set of features that make the installation of solar energy systems after the completion of the home’s construction easier and less expensive.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing the basics of solar plus storage operations on homes.
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
University of Southern California,
USC,
University of California San Diego,
UC San Diego
Publication Date
Description
California Energy Commission report presenting the concept of cool walls and providing guidelines for their building- and climate-appropriate use to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
Organization(s)
Structural Engineers Association of California
Publication Date
Description
The 2017 publication update to the SEAOC Wind Committee and SEAOC Solar Photovoltaic Systems Sub-Committee's 2012 report.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Oregon State University,
Momentum Innovation Group,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing use of the Energy in Modular (EMOD) method to design, produce, and deliver affordable, net-zero energy, low-carbon, and healthier buildings through industrialized (factory) construction of modular buildings; modeling of whole buildings and subassemblies of components, pods, panels...
Organization(s)
UL
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering overs mounting systems, including mounting devices, clamping devices and ground lugs for use with photovoltaic modules and panels and contains requirements for ground-mounted and roof systems as part of a nonstructural building component.
Organization(s)
Underwriters Laboratories LLC
Publication Date
Description
This standard primarily addresses wind uplift and other issues associated with PV panel mounting systems.