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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 101 - 150 of 249 results:

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.

Forest Home Sites Influence Heating and Cooling Energy

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
DeWalle David,
Heisler Gordon,
Jacobs Robert
·
Organization(s)
Northumberland County Conservation District,
Society of American Foresters
Description
Journal article describing energy impacts from shade trees and forests and solar heating and air infiltration.

Guidelines for Installing Flexible Duct

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ATCO Rubber Products Inc.,
Air Duct Council
·
Organization(s)
ADC
Description
Presentation about proper installation of flexible ducts.

Heat Island Effect

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
EPA webpage explaining the heat island effect and providing links to related content.

Heat Island Group - Berkeley Lab

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Heat Island Group,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
LBNL
Description
LBNL webpage introducing heat island effect and cool materials concepts, and providing links to LBNL pages explaining cool pavements, cool roofs, and cool walls.

Heat Island Group: Resources

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Heat Island Group,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
LBNL
Description
LBNL webpage providing resources and tools related to cool technologies, including the SRI calculator and the DOE Cool Roof Calculator.

Heat.gov

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Integrated Heat Health Information System,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
·
Organization(s)
NOAA,
NIHHIS
Description
Federal webpage providing information regarding extreme heat and health for the United States.

High Performance Walls in Hot-Dry Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Article from NREL on wall construction guidelines for homes in hot climate zones.

High-Efficiency Window Air Conditioners

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Factsheet profiling a simple modification that can be made to window air-conditioners to improve their energy efficiency.

Home Cooling Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Energy Saver
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Website providing information on low-energy and standard cooling systems, with a focus on saving energy.

How Many Hours-of-Safety Do Our Homes Have in Extreme Weather?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Corvidae Jacob,
Ayyagari Sheha
·
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI
Description
Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.

How to Create a Naturally Cool Building

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Williams Jeremy
·
Organization(s)
The Earthbound Report
Description
Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.

HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Window Attachments Keep out the Heat

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Katherine Cort,
Theresa Gilbride
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Description
Factsheet outlining how window attachments like cellular shades, roller shades, storm windows with low-emissivity coatings, and solar screens are low-cost steps that can be implemented to keep homes cool in the summer.

HVAC A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners, Volume 14

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report providing information about energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment options to help homeowners cut their energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and increase their homes comfort, health, and safety.

HVAC Duct Supports, AC 284

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
International Code Council
·
Organization(s)
ICC
Description
Standards criteria supporting ICC HVAC duct support standards.

Indirect/Passive Air-Flow Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Kang Bhujon,
Lutz-Carillo Sky
·
Organization(s)
University of Texas
Description
Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.

Install Window Shutters

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Knowles III Hal S,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Description
This document covers how broken windows can allow wind and rain inside the house and even lead to roof failure.

Installing and Maintaining Evaporative Coolers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Otterbein Roy
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Article describing what evaporative coolers are, how they work, different types, performance, where they are appropriate, and how to install and maintain them.

Investigation of Potential Benefits of Revising Exception 1 under “FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, ENERGY CONSERVATION, Section 101.4.7.1.1 Duct Sealing upon Equipment Replacement.”

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Beal David
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report describing as-found interior platform return plenums, the magnitude of their contribution to the total amount of duct leakage, and techniques and results of retrofits executed by the HVAC trade during equipment replacement.

Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Center for Environmental Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
·
Organization(s)
NCEH,
CDC
Description
Web page describing how to identify heat-related illness and how to prevent it.

Keeping Homes and Cities Cool in Extreme Heat

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Kyle Mittan
·
Organization(s)
University of Arizona
Description
Article from University of Arizona on keeping homes cool during extreme heat, both personal and system changes.

Low Cost Interior Duct Systems for High Performance Homes in Hot Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Fonorow Ken,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Florida Home Energy and Resources Organization,
Florida HERO,
Energy Smart Home Plans,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
Document presenting a cost effective method that was used by four builders in the Gainesville, FL area to construct interior ducts in over a dozen site built homes.

Low-Cost Solar Water Heating Research and Development Roadmap

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hudon Kate,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report identifying the target market for solar water heaters and potential pathways and cost/performance targets that must be met for these systems to realize large energy savings.

Manufactured Home Factory Duct Leakage Testing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Slipstream
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Factsheet describing how to test the duct leakage of a manufactured home in the manufactured home factory.

Measure Guideline: Condensing Boilers - Control Strategies for Optimizing Performance and Comfort in Residential Applications

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Arena Lois
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Document intended for designers and installers of hydronic heating systems interested in maximizing the overall system efficiency of condensing boilers when coupled with baseboard convectors. It is applicable to new and retrofit projects.

Measure Guideline: Heat Pump Water Heaters in New and Existing Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Shapiro Carl,
Puttagunta Srikanth,
Owens Douglas
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Document with evaluation of 14 heat pump water heaters (including three recently released HPWH products) installed in existing homes in the northeast region of the United States.

Measure Guideline: Sealing and Insulating Ducts in Existing Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Puttagunta Srikanth
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Report describing the sealing and insulating of HVAC duct systems in existing homes.

Measure Guideline: Summary of Interior Ducts in New Construction, Including an Efficient, Affordable Method to Install Fur-Down Interior Ducts

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Beal David,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Document illustrating guidelines for efficient installation of interior duct systems in new housing.

Measure Guideline: Transitioning to a Tankless Water Heater

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Brozyna Kevin,
Rapport Ari
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Document developed to help residential builders and retrofitters transition from tank-type water heaters to tankless water heaters.