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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 251 - 300 of 1503

Author(s)
Quarles,
Pohl
Organization(s)
USFS,
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Report examining the cost differences between a typical home and a home constructed using wildfire-resistant materials and design features.
Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
A website providing information on the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Solution Center, a source for innovations in residential building energy performance, energy efficiency, quality, affordability and comfort for more than 20 years.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing research sponsored by DOE's Building America program to research the importance of attic air sealing and best practice attic air sealing techniques for new and existing homes.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing the flood-resistant provisions of the 2021 International Codes and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24-14, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, that are “higher standards” and that are more specific than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.
Author(s)
California Energy Commission
Organization(s)
CEC
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information about the Title 24 building energy efficiency standards for the State of California and links to current and past standards including the 2025, 2022, 2019, and 2016 standards, etc.
Author(s)
Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal
Organization(s)
Cal Fire,
CAL FIRE - OSFM
Publication Date
Description
California Office of the State Fire Marshal's homepage for the Building Materials Listing Program, providing builders, contractors, architects, and others with access to a database of fire alarm systems and fire-resistant construction materials including roof coverings, wall, ceiling, and floor...
Author(s)
Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal
Organization(s)
Cal Fire,
CAL FIRE - OSFM
Publication Date
Description
California Office of the State Fire Marshal's compiled and searchable list of different building materials and their test results for fire resistance.
Author(s)
Gromicko
Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Publication Date
Description
Webpage explaining how to site and orient a house to take advantage of the solar path.
Author(s)
Building Performance Institute
Organization(s)
BPI
Publication Date
Description
A comprehensive list of professional certifications offered by the Building Performance Institute. The webpage includes links to overviews of the different certificates, certification scheme handbooks, and directions for taking certification exams and recertification.
Author(s)
Green Building Advisor
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Website providing CAD files and drawings of advanced framing details.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with details on a building enclosure designed for Albuquerque, NM, as an example for building enclosures built for hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.
Author(s)
Matthew J. Nahlik,
Mikhail V. Chester,
Stephanie S. Pincetl,
David Eisenman,
Deepak Sivaraman,
Paul English
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Description
Article published by American Society of Civil Engineers on different building types and their effictiveness resisting extreme heat from a building envelope perspective.
Author(s)
Sullivan
Organization(s)
Earth Advantage Institute,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
Description
Training manual on how to locate ducts within conditioned space and compact design.
Author(s)
Ueno,
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report about the fundamental concepts that must be understood at the planning or initial nspection of existing homes regarding surface and ground water management.
Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings
Organization(s)
CARB,
BASF
Publication Date
Description
Reference investigating the strategy of using buried and/or encapsulated ducts to reduce duct thermal losses in residential buildings.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
The EPA Burn Wise program promotes the importance of burning the right wood, the right way, in the right appliance.
Author(s)
Wieber
Organization(s)
NW Seismic
Publication Date
Description
A website containing a video series by NW Seismic illustrating how a seismic retrofit should be done and ways they are done incorrectly.
Author(s)
California Legislative Information
Organization(s)
California Legislative Information
Publication Date
Description
Description of California Senate Bill SB 1898, which requires the sale of new seismic gas shutoff devices sold in California to be certified by the State Architect.
Author(s)
California Contractors State License Board
Organization(s)
CSLB
Publication Date
Description
California State Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 8, Article 3, listing requirements for plumbing contractors.
Author(s)
California Energy Commission
Organization(s)
CEC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage containing California Energy Commission's HVAC design information, including mandatory and prescriptive HVAC requirements for residential and nonresidential buildings following the California Energy Commission's Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
Author(s)
State of California
Organization(s)
State of California
Publication Date
Description
2019 version of California's plumbing code.
Author(s)
Advanced Energy
Organization(s)
Advanced Energy
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet containing images and descriptions of cantilevers.
Author(s)
Lstiburek
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing correct ways to eliminate water damage by incorporating a sacrificial layer to foundation walls and footings.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
BSC definition of a capillary break.
Author(s)
Koel
Organization(s)
American Technical Publishers
Description
Website with instructional material for career and technical education.
Author(s)
Carpet and Rug Institute
Organization(s)
CRI
Publication Date
Description
Carpet and Rug Institute website homepage.
Author(s)
Tartarini Federico,
Schiavon Stefano,
Cheung Toby,
Hoyt Tyler
Organization(s)
Center for the Built Environment,
CBE,
University of California Berkeley,
UC Berkeley,
SinBerBEST,
Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore,
BEARS
Publication Date
Description
Online tool for thermal comfort calculations and visualizations SoftwareX 12, 100563 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2020.100563
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
ENRGY STAR webpage discussing the basics of certified ceiling fans.
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
Website that describes two ceiling fan types and their respective ENERGY STAR eligible product types.
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Organization(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with information about insulating and ventilating attics.
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Organization(s)
HVI
Publication Date
Description
Website providing an online directory of more than 3,600 residential ventilation products lisiting flowrates, sones, watts, and other performance metrics; all listed products have been tested by the Home Ventilating Institute.
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
A website describing a list of common vocabulary used when describing light bulbs.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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.