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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 51 - 100 of 200 results:

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wilson Alex
·
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.

Directory of Certified Product Performance

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
·
Organization(s)
AHRI
Description
Online database with efficiency information about residential HVAC systems and commercial refrigeration equipment.

Distribution and Room Air Mixing Risks to Retrofitted Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Burdick Arlan
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS
Description
Report outlining the issues with using existing ducts with a new low-load HVAC system, which reduces throw at supply registers causing decreased mixing of supply and room air, leading to potential thermal comfort complaints.

DOE Steep Slope Calculator

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Description
Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.

DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
NC Clean Energy Technology Center
·
Organization(s)
NC Clean Energy Technology Center,
North Carolina State University,
NC State University
Description
Website for finding policies and incentives by state for renewables and efficiency.

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Energy Saver
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Webpage describing the advantages and disadvantages of ductless mini-split air conditioner.

Earth Tubes Exhibit

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition
·
Organization(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition,
Solar World
Description
Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.

Electric Energy Management in the Smart Home: Perspectives on Enabling Technologies and Consumer Behavior

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Zipperer Adam,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Colorado State University,
CSU,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard,
UTBM,
Fort Collins Utilities
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.

Energy and IAQ Implications of Residential Ventilation Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Walker Iain S,
Turner William JN
·
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
This study evaluates the energy, humidity and indoor air quality implications of residential ventilation cooling in all US IECC climate zones.

Energy Performance Techniques and Technologies: Preserving Historic Homes, Volume 13

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Britt Michelle,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Kaufman Heritage Conservation,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
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.

Energy Retrofitting Advanced Technologies in a Hot Climate, Henderson Nevada

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Association of Home Builders
·
Organization(s)
NAHB,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
HUD,
Office of Policy Development and Research,
PDR
Description
Article from NAHB research center describing home building techniques for homes in hot climate zones.

Energy Saver: Heat Pump Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Website with consumer information about residential heat pump systems.

Energy Savers: Geothermal Heat Pumps

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Online reference containing general information about geothermal heat pumps.

Energy Savings Potential of Radiative Cooling Technologies

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Fernandez Nick,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Technical report evaluating the energy savings potential of radiative cooling technologies, particularly photonic 'selective emittance' materials.

ENERGY STAR® Certified Mini Split Heat Pumps

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Factsheet describing mini split heat pumps and their benefits for consumers.

EPA Clean Air Act Section 608: Stationary Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
U.S. EPA
Description
Section 608 establishes EPA’s National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program designed to reduce emissions related to maintaining, servicing, repairing, and disposing of air conditioning or refrigeration equipment.

Evaluation of Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sullivan Greg P,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using interior cellular shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain in summer and reduce heat loss in winter.

Evaluation of Exterior Shades at PNNL Lab Homes and Occupied Field Sites

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Cort Katherine A,
Hunt Walter E
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using exterior fabric shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain, reduce glare, and improve comfort.

Evaluation of Interior Cellular Shades in a Residential Building

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bhandari Mahabir,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating the energy savings potential of cellular shades in homes.

Evaporative Cooler

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Webpage providing tips for installing and maintaining an evaporative cooler.

Evaporative Cooler Tips

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
A webpage by the DOE on tips for saving energy with an evaporative cooler.

Evaporative Coolers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
NORESCO
·
Organization(s)
NORESCO
Description
Article describing RESNET guidance on evaporative coolers.

Evaporative Coolers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Article describing how evaporative coolers work and how to maintain them.

Evaporative Coolers: General History of the Evaporative Cooler

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pima County Public Library
·
Organization(s)
Pima County Public Library
Description
Web article describing the evolution of evaporative coolers, water usage of evaporative coolers, and links to information on selecting an evaporative cooler.

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

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
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.

Fans for Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
DOE webpage that gives and overview of fans for cooling.

Field Assessment of Energy Audit Tools for Retrofit Programs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bohac Dave,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
UMN
Description
Report describing a project focused on the use of home energy ratings as a tool to promote energy retrofits in existing homes.

Flexible Roofing Facility: 2001 Summer Test Results

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Sherwin John S
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of various roof types on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

Flood Cleanup: Protecting Indoor Air Quality

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
This five-page brochure contains basic information on flood cleanup with illustrations and links to more detailed information.

Fort Benning Indianhead Townhome Renovations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stephenson R,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Southface Energy Institute,
SEI
Description
Report outlining the energy upgrade package implemented in Ft. Benning, GA, Indianhead Townhomes project and the findings of the Southface Energy Institute's post-renovation analysis.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Key Product Criteria

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Website with information about ENERGY STAR criteria for geothermal heat pumps.

Greenbelt Homes Pilot Energy Efficiency Programs Phase 1 Summary: Existing Conditions and Baseline Energy Use

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wiehagen Joseph,
Del Bianco Marie,
Wood Amber
·
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report detailing field walk-through evaluations, energy simulations for projected savings with exterior insulation upgrades, building envelope energy improvement cost estimates, and installation and maintenance of monitoring equipment and data.

Ground Source Heat and Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Seth Masia
·
Organization(s)
American Solar Energy Society,
ASES
Description
Website article discussing the economics of ground source heat pumps.

Guide to Good Leak Testing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Institute of Refrigeration
·
Organization(s)
IOR,
Carbon Trust
Description
Guide describing refrigeration leaks, including common leak points, how to fix them, and how to prevent them.