Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 47 of 47 results:

2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey - RECS Data

2015

U.S. Energy Information Administration

EIA

Federal statistics about national energy consumption in residential homes.

Air Sealing Colorado Homes – 10.634

2019

Weiner C.

Colorado State University,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

USDA

Fact sheet describing air-sealing concerns and remedies, including HRV/ERV installation, caulking, spray foam, and weatherstrip installation.

Air-Seal Windows and Doors

2012

Sloggatt Mike

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Article describing how to stop air leaks around the windows and doors of a home.

Be Prepared For Extreme Heat, FEMA V-1004

2018

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Climate Science Special Report 4th National Climate Assessment Vol 1

2017

U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGCRP,

Climate Science Special Report,

CSSR

Report assessing the science of climate change with a focus on the U.S.

Closed Crawl Space Performance: Proof of Concept in the Production Builder Marketplace

2008

Dastur Cyrus,

Mauceri Maria,

Hannas Benjamin

Advanced Energy

Report aimed to quantify the impact of closed crawlspaces in new homes, and investigate modeling software to ensure accuracy of energy consumption predictions in these homes.

Closed Crawl Spaces - An Introduction to Design, Construction and Performance

2005

Dastur Cyrus,

Davis Bruce,

Warren William E

Advanced Energy

Guide about designing and installing closed crawlspaces in the Southeast.

Comparison of Measured and Calculated Residential Cooling Loads

2007

Barnaby Charles S,

Wilcox Bruce A

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Technical report detailing a study in which actual cooling loads are compared to modeled cooling loads.

Digital Coast

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.

Energy Facts: Energy Tips - Selection and Comparison of Weatherstripping Materials

2024

Michigan State University Extension

Fact sheet describing weatherstripping materials, types, expected life expectancy, installation requirements, and pros and cons.

Energy Resources: A Course on the Fundamentals of the World's Energy, its Source, Usage and Conservation

2025

Dallas Abbott

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Online textbook describing energy, including energy types, and energy use in homes.

ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Residential Windows, Doors, and Skylights

2014

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR specifications for residential window, door and skylights, Version 6, effective January 1, 2015.

Feasibility of Foundation Heat Exchangers for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems in the United States

2012

Cullin James R,

et al.

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE,

Oklahoma State University,

OSU,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Study characterizing how foundation heat exchangers (FHXs) used in residential ground source heat pump systems represent a potential cost savings due to their lesser first cost over other types of heat exchangers.

FEMA Community Tornado Safe Room Doors: Installation and Maintenance

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet discussing safe room and storm shelter door assemblies along with ICC® 500 compliance.

FEMA Safe Room Publications and Resources

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

A website containing FEMA publications on safe rooms for both residential and community use.

Field Evaluation of Efficient Building Technology with Photovoltaic Power Production in New Florida Residential Housing

1998

Parker Danny S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report comparing a high-performance house with a code-built control home.

Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings, FEMA P-936

2013

Low David K,

et al.

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

FEMA

Report describing dry floodproofing technologies for non-residential buildings, including information about regulatory requirements, design considerations, and descriptions of floodproofing methods and equipment.

FORTIFIED Home ASCE 7-10 FORTIFIED™ Wind Uplift Design Pressure Calculator for Residential Roof Coverings (2:12 or Greater)1,2,3

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Calculator determining the appropriate design pressures for steep-slope roof coverings for roofers and evlauators.

FORTIFIED Home Garage Door Requirements in the 2020 FORTIFIED Home Standard

2021

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Factsheet describing garage door pressure rating requirements in high wind– prone areas.

Fourth National Climate Assessment, Vol 2: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States

2018

U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGCRP

Report analyzing the effect of global climate change on national interests, and providing climate predictions.

Garage Doors: Assessing Garage Door Damage and Associated Roof Damage

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Website describing results of research on impacts to garage doors from hurricanes, tornadoes, and high wind events.

Geospatial Data Science

2014

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

NREL,

DOE

Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.

How Insulating Concrete Form vs. Conventional Construction of Exterior Walls Affects Whole Building Energy Consumption

2003

Petrie Thomas W,

et al.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Report sumarizing results of an ICF investigation of side-by-side houses in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Indoor Airflow – Perfect Balance vs. Door Undercut

2011

Guertin Mike

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Central return designs require an open pathway between the room and the heart of the house where the return grill is located.

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

2002

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

A website issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and increasing the understanding of hazards.

National Weather Service: Storm Prediction Center: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed.

NOAA's National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center: the Enhanced Fujita Scale

2007

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

The Enhanced F-scale is a set of wind estimates (not measurements) based on damage which uses three-second gusts estimated at the point of damage based on a judgment of 8 levels of damage to the 28 indicators listed.

Performance of Four Near Zero Energy Homes: Lessons Learned

2010

Colon Carlos J,

et al.

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Paper examining the monitored performance of four newly constructed near zero energy homes in Florida.

Reducing the Costs of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: Proceedings of Solar Forum 2001

2001

Dunlop James P,

et al.

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

A report presenting alternative approaches for reducing the costs of roof-mounted, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Residential Tornado Safe Room Doors

2021

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet describing residential tornado safe room doors.

Retrofit Improvements - Improve Window & Door Flashing/Sealing

2012

Home Innovation Research Labs

HIRL

Fact sheet describing methods for flashing and air-sealing windows and doors.

Simplified Space Conditioning in Low-Load Homes: Results from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New Construction Unoccupied Test House

2014

Poerschke Andrew,

Stecher Dave

Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,

IBACOS

Study conducted to help determine cost-effective solutions for heating and cooling houses that are designed to be energy efficient.

Standard for Gasketing, A156.22-2021, ANSI/BHMA

2021

American National Standards Institute,

Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association

ANSI,

BHMA

Standard establishing requirements for the performance and installation of gasketing systems including mortised to doors, frames or both which was published in the year 2021 and a can be purchased to be viewed in full from the ANSI webstore in the link.

Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization, ASTM E779-19

2019

American Society for Testing and Materials,

ASTM International

ASTM

Standard describing a test method measuring air-leakage rates through a building envelope under controlled pressurization and de-pressurization which was published in the year 2019 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link.

Standard Test Methods for Determining Airtightness of Buildings Using an Orifice Blower Door, ASTM E1827 - 22

2022

American Society for Testing and Materials,

ASTM International

ASTM

Standard describing two techniques for measuring air leakage rates through a building envelope in buildings that may be configured to a single zone which was published in the year 2022 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link.

Storm Prediction Center

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

A website providing timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States.

Taking Shelter from the Storm - Building a Safe Room for Your Home or Small Business, FEMA L-233

2014

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

A guide for homeowners on determining the risks from tornadoes and hurricanes and selecting a safe room type and location, as well as providing detailed plans for safe room construction.

Tech Note - Window and Door Flashing: Code Requirements and Best Practices

2017

Home Innovation Research Labs,

National Association of Home Builders

HIRL,

NAHB

Fact sheet describing best practices for flashing doors and windows to minimize air and water intrusion.

Thermal Performance and Wall Ratings

1996

Christian Jeffrey E,

Kosny Jan

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Report proposing a procedure for estimating the whole opaque wall R-value (whole-wall R-value), independent of system type and construction materials.

Tips for Weatherstripping Windows and Doors

2024

New York State Homes and Community Renewal

Article describing tips for effectively installing weatherstripping on windows and doors.

Waste Reduction Model (WARM)

2016

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Information sheet with the Waste Reduction Model (WARM), designed to help solid waste planners and organizations track and voluntarily report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from several different waste management practices.

Weather Proofing Old Doors

2022

Holm LeRoy

Tri-State Home Inspections LLC

Article describing the process of adding weatherstripping to and weatherizing old doors.

Weatherization Tips - How to Weatherize Doors

2025

New York State Homes and Community Renewal

Webpage describing weatherstrip tips and tricks to properly air seal doors.

Weatherstripping

2024

South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff

Article describing an overview of weatherstripping requirements.

What Makes it Energy Star? Performance Criteria

2021

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Information sheet outlining the criteria for ENERGY STAR qualified, windows, doors, and skylights.

What’s Wrong With This Practice? Undercutting Doors, Info-804

2011

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Article discussing the risks that can occur from undercutting bedroom doors to provide return airflow from bedrooms, as well as corrective measures that can be taken to address these risks.