Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 27 of 27

Achieving Very High Efficiency & Net Zero Energy in an Existing Home in a Hot-Humid Climate: Long-Term Utility & Monitoring Data

Author(s)

Parker,

Sherwin

Organization(s)

BA-PIRC,

NREL

Publication Date

October, 2012

Research study summarizing the first full year of detailed data collected about a single-family home that experienced a series of retrofits targeting reductions in energy use.

Analysis of Joint Masonry Moisture Content Monitoring

Author(s)

Ueno

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Report on adding insulation to load-bearing mass masonry buildings.

Analysis of Pre-Retrofit Building and Utility Data

Author(s)

Prahl Duncan,

Beach Robert

Organization(s)

IBACOS

Publication Date

December, 2014

Report outlining workflow and results of regression models on monthly and daily utility data (meter readings of electricity consumption), outlining a process for screening and gathering useful results from inverse models.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2020, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy

Author(s)

American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers

Organization(s)

ASHRAE,

American National Standards Institute,

ANSI

Publication Date

January, 2021

Standard 55 specifies conditions for acceptable thermal environments and is intended for use in design, operation, and commissioning of buildings and other occupied spaces. This is the current version of the standard, which was published in the year 2021, and is available for preview and purchase at...

Builder's Guide to Cold Climates

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

January, 2006

Book presenting the best techniques for energy and resource efficient residential construction in the colder climates of North America.

Builder's Guide to Hot-Humid Climates

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

January, 2005

The Builder's Guide provides the building industry with the latest and best practical information on how to apply building science principles to structures as systems in hot-humid climate regions.

Byggmeister Test Home: Analysis and Initial Results of Cold Climate Wood-Framed Home Retrofit

Author(s)

Gates

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report describing a deep energy retrofit project for a two-family wood framed home located in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Climate-Specific Passive Building Standards

Author(s)

Wright,

Klingenberg

Organization(s)

Passive House Institute US

Report on improving passive design adoption rates.

Construction Guide: Next Generation High Performance Walls in Climate Zones 3-5 - Part I: 2x6 Walls

Author(s)

Kochkin,

Wiehagen

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

January, 2016

Part I of the Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x6 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as exterior sheathing, gypsum board as interior sheathing, and a cladding system installed over WSP sheathing in low-rise residential buildings up to three stories in height. Walls with...

Conway Street Apartments: A Multifamily Deep Energy Retrofit

Author(s)

Aldrich Robb,

Williamson Jim

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

November, 2014

Research report anayzing the results of a large retrofit project, turining an old school into near zero energy consumption apartments in Greenfield MA.

Deep Energy Retrofits - Occupant Behavior

Author(s)

Less,

Walker

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2015

Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Occupant Behavior chapter discusses how to assess homeowner behavior patterns and use these patterns to enhance overall energy savings.

Deep Energy Retrofits - Over-Time, Phased Guidance

Author(s)

Less,

Walker

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2015

Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Over Time, Phased Guidance chapter presents a phased approach to deep energy retrofits.

Deep Energy Retrofits - Reducing Costs and Increasing Cost-Effectiveness

Author(s)

Less,

Walker

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2015

Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Reducing costs and Increasing Cost-Effectiveness chapter provides suggestions for controlling deep retrofit costs, including both 'do's' and 'don'ts.'

Deep Energy Retrofits - Source Energy and Carbon Decisions

Author(s)

Less,

Walker

Organization(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

January, 2015

Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Source Energy and Carbon Decisions chapter helps users carefully assess the impacts of switching from gas to electricity for heating end-uses, using source energy and/or carbon emissions...

Dynamic Maps, GIS Data, & Analysis Tools (Webpage)

Author(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

September, 2014

Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.

Evaluation of Bias Issues within Regression-Based Inverse Modeling Methods Against Climate and Building Characteristics Using Synthetic Data

Author(s)

Cummings Jamie E,

Parker Danny S,

Sutherland Karen

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

July, 2010

Report evaluating the accuracy of the regression technique used in 2006 by using the same least-squares regression analysis on data created from hourly energy simulation software.

Exploring Cost-Effective, High Performance Residential Retrofits for Affordable Housing in the Hot Humid Climate

Author(s)

McIlvaine Janet,

Sutherland Karen,

Schleith Kevin,

Chandra Subrato

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC,

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

Publication Date

August, 2010

Report presenting the process of a residential retrofit project for houses in the states of Florida and Alabama, including findings at the time of reporting and highlights of the first home to meet the target HERS Index of 70.

Field Testing Unvented Roofs with Asphalt Shingles in Cold and Hot-Humid Climates

Author(s)

Ueno,

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Report to understand the long-term moisture performance of unvented roof assemblies with fibrous insulation.

Flexible Residential Test Facility: Impact of Infiltration and Ventilation on Measured Cooling Season Energy and Moisture Levels

Author(s)

Parker Danny S,

Kono Jamie E,

Vieira Robin K,

Fairey Philip W,

Sherwin John S,

Withers Charles,

Hoak David,

Beal David

Organization(s)

Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,

BA-PIRC,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

May, 2014

Research report assessing the moisture and cooling load impacts of airtightness and mechanical ventilation in homes in hot-humid climates.

New Light in Crawlspaces, BSI-009

Author(s)

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

March, 2010

Building science insight into crawlspaces.

Reducing Energy Use in Existing Homes by 30%: Learning From Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

Author(s)

Liaukus

Organization(s)

BARA

Publication Date

December, 2014

Research project aimed to verify whether homes in the New Jersey HPwES program achieved 30% source energy savings, and if so, what measures were implemented to achieve them.

Residential Dehumidification Systems Research for Hot-Humid Climates

Author(s)

Rudd,

Lstiburek,

Eng,

Ueno

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

February, 2005

Research study identifying the best performing, most energy-efficient and cost- effective techniques to provide controlled mechanical ventilation and humidity control in hot- humid climates with thermally efficient building envelopes.

Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home

Author(s)

Puttagunta

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Report on air-sealing programs for energy-efficiency retrofits.

Sealed Crawl Spaces with Integrated Whole-House Ventilation in a Cold Climate

Author(s)

Zoeller,

Williamson,

Puttagunta

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Report on hybrid ventilation methods for insulated and sealed crawl spaces.

Supplemental Dehumidification in Warm-Humid Climates, BA-1310

Author(s)

Rudd

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

July, 2013

This document covers a description of the need and applied solutions for supplemental dehumidification in warm-humid climates, especially for energy efficient homes where the sensible cooling load has been dramatically reduced.

Survey of Whole House Programs in Midwestern Climates

Author(s)

McGeough U,

Baker W,

Peters J,

Beitel A

Organization(s)

Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,

PARR,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

November, 2012

Research study making several recommendations to whole-home program designers and implementers for improving the cost effectiveness and reach of whole-home programs.

Types of Insulation

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

DOE

Publication Date

May, 2012

Information sheet about types and installation of insulation.