Skip to main content

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 119

Guide to Good Leak Testing

Author(s)
Institute of Refrigeration
Organization(s)
IOR
Publication Date
Guide describing refrigeration leaks, including common leak points, how to fix them, and how to prevent them.

H. R. 1314 Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act

Author(s)
Schakowsky Janice
Organization(s)
U.S. House of Representatives
Bill requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission to revise the safety standards for freestanding clothing storage units such as a dressers, bureaus, or chests of drawers to include testing related to tip overs and new warning requirements for all such products entering the U.S. market; passed...

Heat-Pump Clothes Dryers

Author(s)
Rice Joseph
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Blog post about heat pump clothes dryers.

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.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Author(s)
Nicholas Gerbis
Organization(s)
Home & Garden
Publication Date
Resource that explains how water softeners work to reduce scale.

How Energy Efficient are Modern Dishwashers?

Author(s)
Hoak,
Parker,
Hermelink
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Report about measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers.

How to Anchor Furniture to a Wall

Author(s)
Wirecutter Staff
Organization(s)
New York Times
Publication Date
Installation tips and product suggestions for mounting hardware.

How-to Anchor it and Protect a Child

Author(s)
Green Smart Links
Publication Date
Includes several good how-to videos for anchoring furniture to different wall types

Inspecting the Dryer Exhaust

Author(s)
Nich,
Gromicko
Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Publication Date
Article describing the correct installation of clothes dryer exhaust ducts.

Inspection and Verification Guidance for WaterSense® Labeled New Homes

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
PDF detailing the inspection and verification guidance for WaterSense labeled new homes including indoor and outdoor efficiency requirements, and homeowner and building management education.

Makeup Air for Range Hoods

Author(s)
Holladay
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
If your kitchen has a powerful exhaust fan, it may be pulling air down your chimney or water-heater flue.

Measure Guideline: Combustion Safety for Natural Draft Appliances Using Indoor Air

Author(s)
Brand Larry
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy
Publication Date
This measure guideline provides guidance on combustion safety inspection procedures for appliances and heating equipment that use indoor air for combustion and dilution of flue gases in low-rise residential buildings.

Measured Performance of Heat Pump Clothes Dryers

Author(s)
Martin Eric,
Sutherland Karen,
Parker Danny
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Repor ourlining testing results from a 53 home monitored sample, long-term energy use of electric resistance clothes dryers.

Measured Retrofit Savings from Efficient Lighting and Smart Power Strips

Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
Parker Danny,
Chasar Dave,
Hoak David
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report describing a lighting and smart power strip retrofit evaluation that was conducted on 56 all-electric, existing Florida homes to see how lighting and miscellaneous electric loads might be reduced.

Pools & Spas: Codes and Standards Enhancement (CASE) Initiative

Author(s)
Owrth,
Ludovici,
Joyce,
Fernstrom
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission
Publication Date
This CASE report proposes updates and revisions to the standards for residential swimming pool filtration pumps, new and replacement single phase pump motors under 5 horsepower (HP), controllers, portable electric spas as well as expanding the scope of the current standards to include light emitting...

READ THIS: Before You Design, Build or Renovate, GM-0602

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph,
Brennan Terry
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Document with important building science considerations, designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing.

RELi Rating System

Author(s)
Geen Business Certification Inc.
Organization(s)
GBCI
Publication Date
Website describing the RELi rating system and leadership standard that takes a holistic approach to resilient design.

Residential Grid-interactive Efficient Building Technology and Policy: Harnessing the Power of Homes for a Clean, Affordable, Resilient Grid of the Future

Author(s)
Rinaldi Kara Saul,
Bunnen Elizabeth,
Rogers Sabine
Organization(s)
AnnDyl Policy Group,
National Association of State Energy Officials,
NASEO
Publication Date
Report identifying efficient, connected, smart, and flexible GEB technologies and their future potential, including barriers and opportunities, recommendations for policymakers, and research needs.

Resource Manual for Building WaterSense Labeled New Homes

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Resource to help builders better understand the WaterSense requirements for labeled homes and assist them in meeting the criteria so they can receive the label for their new construction.

Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD)

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
EPA guide on responsible appliance disposal for consumers.

Retrofit Improvements: Anchorage of Appliances

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A quick-reference guide advising homeowners on how to anchor home appliances and protect from seismic damages.

Retrofit Improvements: Elevate & Secure Water Heater

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A retrofit sheet providing information on elevating and securing water heaters to protect against damage during a flood.

Retrofitting Forced Air Combi Systems: A Cold Climate Field Assessment

Author(s)
Schoenbauer B,
Bohac D,
McAlpine J,
Hewett M
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
This project analyzed combined condensing water heaters or boilers and hydronic air coils to provide high efficiency domestic hot water (DHW) and forced air space heating. Called "combi" systems, they provided similar space and water heating performance less expensively than installing two...

Revised Analysis of Efficiency Standards for Pool Pumps and Motors, and Spas

Author(s)
Fischel Ben,
Steffensen Sean
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC
Publication Date
This report discusses proposed updates to the pool pumps and motors, and portable electric spas standards in the Appliance Efficiency Regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601 to 1609). These proposed updates are part of the 2012 Appliance Efficiency Rulemaking, Phase I...

Saving Energy through Advanced Power Strips

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Infographic providing details on choosing the right advanced power strip based on your habits to reduce the electricity wasted when your electronic devices are idle.

Solar Water Heaters

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
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.

Technical Reference Manual for WaterSense Labeled Homes

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
Resource manual for builders, designers, architects, plumbers, and others interested in the WaterSense Labeled Homes Program providing an overview of the program, explains how to meet the program requirements, gives descriptions of water-saving technologies, and provides links to further resources.

The Corsi-Rosenthal Box

Author(s)
Roberta Burnes
Organization(s)
Kentucky Department of Air Quality
Publication Date
Presentation describing how to make a Corsi-Rosenthal Box for air cleaning.