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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 - 46 of 46

2009 IFGC - International Fuel Gas Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2009 edition of code establishing a baseline for the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas fired appliances through performance requirements.

2009 IPC - International Plumbing Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2009 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2012 IPC - International Plumbing Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2015 IPC - International Plumbing Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2015 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2018 IPC - International Plumbing Code

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2018 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

Benefits of Demand-Controlled Pumping

Author(s)
Acker Larry,
Klein Gary
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing how demand plumbing systems send cold water back to the water heater until hot water arrives at the sink, shower or other fixture where it is needed.

Boiler Inspections for Safety, Life and Efficiency

Author(s)
Kleva Stephen
Organization(s)
Contractor Magazine
Publication Date
Article explaining the importance of regular inspections of boiler systems in maintaining their safety, lifespan, and efficiency.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Water Heater

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
Southern California Earthquake Center
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure water heaters to resist seismic activity.

Energy Saver

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website from the U.S. Department of Energy providing consumers with information on saving energy and using renewable energy technologies.

Energy Tips: Steam

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing principles of insulating steam distribution and condensate return lines as an effective way to prevent energy loss.

Features and Advantages of Condensing Boilers

Author(s)
HPAC Engineering
Organization(s)
HPAC Engineering
Publication Date
An engineering design guide for hydronic heat loops, discussing the features and advantages of condensing boilers.

Fixing an Expansion Tank with Excess Water

Author(s)
PEX Universe
Organization(s)
PEX Universe
Publication Date
A webpage discussing how water heater expansion tanks operate and how to repair them.

Gas-fired water heaters, volume III, storage water heaters with input ratings above 75,000 Btu per hour, circulating and instantaneous (ANSI Z21.10.3:19/CSA 4.3:19)

Author(s)
American National Standards Institute,
CSA Group
Organization(s)
ANSI,
CSA Group
Publication Date
Standard that applies to storage water heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and circulating water heaters including booster water heaters. The current version of this standard was published in the year 2019 and it is available for purchase along with a digital preview on the ANSI webstore page. The...

Heat your Water with the Sun

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Provides consumers with general information on solar water heating systems and how to select a contractor.

Hot Water Runs Cold

Author(s)
Hoeschele
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing the factors that can lead to inefficient hot water distribution systems in homes.

Interactive Walk-Through of a Residential Heat Pump Water Heater Installation in Massachusetts

Author(s)
D+R Learn,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships,
Home Works Energy Inc.,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
This webpage provides an interactive walk-through of the installation of a heat pump water heater in a home in Massachusetts, including how-to videos of the installation, video interviews with the homeowners, installer, and utility program partners, and visual tours of the home before and after...

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.

Performance of Combination Hydronic Systems

Author(s)
Butcher Thomas
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Article investigating how a linear input/output relationship can be used as a simple model of the performance of a combination hydronic heating system over heating only, DHW only, and combined loads.

Residential Hot Water Distribution Introduction

Author(s)
Alliance for Water Efficiency
Organization(s)
Alliance for Water Efficiency
Publication Date
Website with information and research about residential hot water distribution systems.

Residential Solar Hot Water Systems

Author(s)
North Carolina Solar Center
Organization(s)
North Carolina Solar Center
Publication Date
Brochure with information on residential solar hot water systems.

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.

Securing Your Water Heater

Author(s)
Office of Emergency Management
Organization(s)
City of Seattle
Publication Date
A fact sheet providing homeowners with guidance on properly securing water heaters to prevent them from tipping in an earthquake.

Sizing a New Water Heater

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
A website providing information on how to properly size a water heater based on tank size, volume, peak hour demand and other factors.

Solar Hot Water for Homes

Author(s)
FSEC
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Website with information for consumers about solar thermal systems for homes.

Solar on Sips

Author(s)
Sughrue
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
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.

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.

Solar Water Heating Specification, Checklist and Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
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.

Tankless Water Heating Gas Piping Facts

Author(s)
Rheem
Organization(s)
Rheem
Publication Date
Information for properly sizing gas lines for use with tankless water heaters and other gas appliances.

Water Heater Key Product Criteria

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A info sheet providing information on ENERGY STAR certified water heaters and the various criteria water heaters must undergo to become ENERGY STAR certified, including metrics on efficiency and performance.

Water Heaters (How to Secure Them)

Author(s)
Washington State Department of Health
Organization(s)
WSDOH
Publication Date
A preparedness guide guiding homeowners on how to secure an indoor home water heater safely to wall studs.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Hot Water Delivery

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing four different efficient hot water delivery (HWD) systems, the trunk-and branch, core, whole-house manifold, and recirculation, with emphasis on system schematics, piping materials, and regulations to design and verify the systems ensuring that they meet the quality and water...

Whole Home Tankless Gas Water Heaters

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
A factsheet providing information on ENERGY STAR certified gas tankless water heaters with information on how they cut water heating expenses while providing a continuous delivery of hot water.

Why Add a Tank to a Tankless Water Heater?

Author(s)
Chandler Michael
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
Article about one way to deal with the cold-water surprise effect of tankless water heaters.