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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 119

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from DOE describing how to conserve energy and save money with a home energy audit.
Author(s)
American Lung Association
Organization(s)
American Lung Association
Publication Date
Description
Document outlining important factors for homeowners to be aware of regarding healthy air in homes.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2009 edition of code for commercial buildings that brings together all structural, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for all buildings except detached one- and two-family residences and townhouses up to three stories.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2009 edition of code establishing a baseline for existing building retrofits to reach appropriate safety levels under new construction requirements covered in other ICC codes.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage with links for all 2010 Florida building codes.
Author(s)
Earth Advantage
Organization(s)
Earth Advantage
Publication Date
Description
A guide about the above code residential home certification called Earth Advantage and required and optional measures available to meet the point requirements for certification.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2009 edition of code for commercial buildings that brings together all structural, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for all buildings except detached one- and two-family residences and townhouses up to three stories.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2012 edition of code establishing a baseline for existing building retrofits to reach appropriate safety levels under new construction requirements covered in other ICC codes.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2015 edition of code establishing a baseline for existing building retrofits to reach appropriate safety levels under new construction requirements covered in other ICC codes.
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2015 edition of code establishing a baseline for energy efficiency by setting performance standards for the building envelope (defined as the boundary that separates heated/cooled air from unconditioned, outside air), mechanical systems, lighting systems and service water heating systems in homes...
Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
2018 edition of code establishing a baseline for energy efficiency by setting performance standards for the building envelope (defined as the boundary that separates heated/cooled air from unconditioned, outside air), mechanical systems, lighting systems and service water heating systems in homes...
Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Antonopoulos Chrissi A,
Sevigny M,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Hefty Marye G
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Report discussing opportunities and trends in the U.S. home performance contracting industry, along with market drivers such as consumer demand; federal, state, and local programs; and utility and non-governmental programs.
Author(s)
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Document describing advancement in factory built housing innovations.
Author(s)
Polly Benjamin,
Gestwick Mike,
Bianchi Marcus V A,
Anderson Ren,
Horowitz Scott,
Christensen Craig,
Judkoff Ron
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report describing an analysis method for determining optimal residential energy efficiency retrofit packages and applies the analysis method to a 1960s-era home in eight U.S. cities.
Author(s)
NREL
Organization(s)
NREL,
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet outlining an innovative aerosol-based sealing technique for tightening building envelopes in new homes, involving pressurizing the structure and dispersing an aerosol sealant "fog" to autonomously identify and seal leaks, with real-time feedback through a standard blower door and laptop...
Author(s)
Roberts David,
Merket Noel,
Polly Ben,
Heaney Mike,
Casey Sean,
Robertson Joseph
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Report assessing the accuracy of HEST as it was being developed and to provide information useful to DOE program managers and HEST development team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Author(s)
Britt Michelle,
Baechler Michael C,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Hefty Marye G,
Makela Erin,
Schneider Elaine,
Kaufman Ned
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Kaufman Heritage Conservation
Publication Date
Description
Document providing a resource to help contractors renovate historic houses, while addressing issues such as building durability, indoor air quality, and occupant health, safety, and comfort.
Author(s)
Hendron,
Engebrecht
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report summarizing the guidelines for developing and reporting analytical results in a consistent and meaningful manner for all home energy uses.
Author(s)
Hendron Robert,
Anderson Ren,
Judkoff Ron,
Christensen Craig,
Eastment Mark,
Norton Paul,
Reeves Paul,
Hancock Ed
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Partnership for Resource Conservation,
Mountain Energy Partnership
Publication Date
Description
Document illustrating some analysis concepts that are proven to be effective and reliable in analyzing the transient energy usage of advanced energy systems as well as of entire houses.
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document presenting some of the key technical properties of many of the most common building materials.
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)
Green Building Advisor
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Document containing a 3D drawing (CAD) of advanced framing details.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Short article from FEMA explaining what a continuous load path is and the key connection points that make it up.
Author(s)
Straube
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Article describing research encouraging use of exterior insulation to warm interior sheathing surfaces in walls and roof assemblies to reduce the likelihood of condensation during cold weather
Author(s)
Ford Carmel
Organization(s)
National Association of Home Builders,
NAHB
Publication Date
Description
Document describing the methodology and results from 2009 to 2019 of the National Association of Home Builders' Construction Cost survey, which collects information from builders on the various components that go into the sales price of a typical single-family home.
Author(s)
Milne
Organization(s)
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire resistant home checklist from Murray Milne, a professor of architecture at UCLA, who outlines seven steps to take to improve a home's chance of survival during a wildfire.
Author(s)
Wood
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying business models for the remodeling industry that foster remodelers adoption of energy efficiency services.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website providing information on U.S. residential and commercial building codes including adoption status.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website listing implementation timelines and links to various versions of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home national program requirements.
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Homepage for DOE's Zero Energy Ready Homes program.
Author(s)
City of San Jose Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Organization(s)
City of San Jose Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more earthquake resistant.
Author(s)
Zipperer Adam,
Aloise-Young Patricia A.,
Suryanarayanan Siddharth,
Roche Robin,
Earle Lieko,
Christensen Dane,
Bauleo Pablo,
Zimmerle Daniel
Organization(s)
Colorado State University,
CSU,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard,
UTBM,
Fort Collins Utilities
Publication Date
Description
Journal article presenting a discussion of the state-of-the- art in electricity management in smart homes, the various enabling technologies that will accelerate this concept, and topics around consumer behavior with respect to energy usage.
Author(s)
Minnesota Power
Organization(s)
Minnesota Power
Publication Date
Description
Minnesota Power's energy conservation program for community, home, and business conservation.
Author(s)
Casey Sean,
Booten Chuck
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Document presenting a simple starting point to determine the most cost-effective Energy Savings Measure Packages (ESMP) for existing homes to achieve 15% and 30% savings in 37 locations across the United States.
Author(s)
Robertson Joseph,
Polly Ben,
Collis Jon
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Colorado School of Mines
Publication Date
Description
Research study simulation adapting and applies the general framework described in Building Energy Simulation Test for Existing Homes for self-testing residential building energy model calibration methods.
Author(s)
Berman Mark,
Smith Pepper,
Porse Erik
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Report evaluating opportunities to improve and streamline delivery of residential retrofit measures.