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Library

Explore this extensive library of building science guidance including research reports from DOE’s Building America program as well as hundreds of other articles, fact sheets, webpages, and reference documents related to constructing and renovating homes.

Showing 1 - 50 of 111 results:

AHAM - Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
·
Organization(s)
AHAM
Description
Website providing research, efficiency and safety standards development, and advocacy to the home appliance industry to bring efficient, high-performing home appliances to consumers.

Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Organization(s)
U.S. EPA
Description
Website describing indoor air quality, and common indoor pollutants and how to reduce exposure to them.

Air Sensor Technology and Indoor Air Quality

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
U.S. EPA
Description
Article describing technologies available for monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ).

Air Sensors International Conference

Publication Date
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Author(s)
University of California
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Organization(s)
University of California Davis
Description
Website describing archived program inforamtion for the Air Sensors International Conference, hosted by the University of California, Davis.

ASCE Ground Snow Loads

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Wilkerson
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Organization(s)
Medeek Design
Description
Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

ASHRAE Position Document on Indoor Carbon Dioxide

Publication Date
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Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
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Organization(s)
ASHRAE
Description
Document describing recent discussions on indoor carbon dioxide (CO 2) levels.

Attic Ventilation

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
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Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Web page describing the benefits of attic fans, with rules for sizing fans and intake vents.

Attic Venting, Attic Moisture, and Ice Dams

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
·
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Government of Canada
Description
Article by the Canadian Government on attic ventilation and considerations for moisture and ice dams.

Avoiding Moisture Problems

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Van der Meer Bill
·
Organization(s)
National Association for State Community Services Programs,
NASCSP,
Weatherization Training Center at Penn College,
Pennsylvania College of Technology,
PCT
Description
Technical article describing issues and moisture concerns related to weatherization efforts.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Builder's Guide to Cold Climates

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
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Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Book presenting the best techniques for energy and resource efficient residential construction in the colder climates of North America.

Chemicals Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EPA evaluates potential risks from new and existing chemicals and acts to address any unreasonable risks chemicals may have on human health and the environment. This website explains the implications of such chemicals.

Climate Consultant

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Milne Murray
·
Organization(s)
Society of Building Science Educators,
SBSE,
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Description
Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.

Climate Research

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
·
Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
Website providing weather data.

Coastal Construction Manual - Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, Fourth edition, Volume I, FEMA P-55

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Coulbourne William,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Description
Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.

Consumer Tips for a Post-Disaster Home Restoration

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Organization(s)
HUD
Description
Brochure helping homeowners identify hazards, work with contractors to remove the hazards, help ensure the work is done properly, and educate when they can return safely to the home.

Dealing with and preventing ice dams

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of Minnesota Extension
·
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wilson Alex
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Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Description
Article from Green Building Advisor on strategies to take when building homes to reduce the need for air conditioning, including insulation, windows, site selection, and roofing.

Ecosystems Research

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
A map describing the average temperature of shallow groundwater in Fahrenheit across the continental United States.

Energy Auditor - Single Family 2.0: Attic Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Weatherization Assistance Program
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Powerpoint on attic ventilation developed as training material for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
This publication provides a set of best practices for improving indoor air quality in conjunction with energy upgrade work in homes.

Erosion Control Treatment Selection Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Organization(s)
USDA,
USDA Forest Service
Description
A publication developed by the U.S. Forest Service for its employees and other federal agency staff describing erosion control methods.

Excessive Heat Events Guidebook

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.

Factsheet: What is Indoor Air Quality?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
U.S. EPA
Description
Fact sheet describing indoor air quality (IAQ), including information on common sources of indoor air pollutants and best practices for improving IAQ.

FAQs -- After Gutting a Flooded Home

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Louisiana State University College of Agriculture
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Organization(s)
LSU AgCenter
Description
Webpage from LSU AgCenter answering frequently asked questions after gutting a flooded home, including mitigation strategies for future floods.

FEMA Bioengineered Shoreline Stabilization

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Document discussing methods to bioengineer stabilization of shorelines using living and non-living plant materials in combination, known as the “Living Shorelines” concept.

FEMA National Risk Index

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Website providing maps for natural disaster risk in the United States.

Firebreak - Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
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Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Description
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.

Flood Cleanup Infographic

Publication Date
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Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
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Organization(s)
EPA
Description
This document includes tips for safely and effectively cleaning up a home after a flood. It is available in several languages.

Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Website providing series of short how-to videos, infographics and more resources on cleaning up a home after a flood.

Georgia Pulls the Attic-Ventilator Plug (Sort of)

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Defendorf Richard
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Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Description
Article describing issues with attic ventilation fans and why the state of Georgia residential code does not allow plug-in attic ventilation fans.

Geospatial Data Science

Publication Date
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Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
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Organization(s)
NREL,
DOE
Description
Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.

GIS Geography

Publication Date
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Author(s)
GIS Geography
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Organization(s)
GIS Geography
Description
A website providing free access to a variety of U.S. and international maps.

How to Choose a Room Air Cleaner

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Park Ga-Young
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Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. EPA,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Description
Article describing considerations for choosing a room-level air cleaner to improve indoor air quality.

How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low Emission Products

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Companion document to the Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications, providing guidance on identifying compliant products, including industry databases and examples of product labeling.