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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 75 results:

Affordable Passive Solar Planbook for North Carolina

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Appalachian State University
·
Organization(s)
AEC,
App State
Description
Study from Appalachian State University on passive solar design to take advantage of local climate zones for energy conservation.

AHAM - Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

Publication Date
·
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.

An Introduction To PSC Motors

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
RW Beckett Corporation
·
Organization(s)
RW Beckett Corporation
Description
Webpage that gives an introduction to PSC motors and their operation.

Architecture of New Mexico

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Albuquerque Museum
·
Organization(s)
City of Albuquerque,
CABQ
Description
Power Point PDF presentation on historical architecture in New Mexico

Building a Better Trombe Wall

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
NREL
Description
Fact sheet providing background and technical information on Trombe wall design

Building Orientation for Optimum Energy

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
·
Organization(s)
InterACHI
Description
Webpage explaining how to site and orient a house to take advantage of the solar path.

CBE Thermal Comfort Tool

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Tartarini Federico,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Center for the Built Environment,
CBE,
UC Berkeley,
SinBerBEST,
Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore,
BEARS
Description
Online tool for thermal comfort calculations and visualizations SoftwareX 12, 100563 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2020.100563

Ceiling Fan Basics

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
ENRGY STAR webpage discussing the basics of certified ceiling fans.

Ceiling Fans - Tips for Maximizing Energy Savings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Calwell Chris,
Horowitz Noah
·
Organization(s)
Massachusetts Department of Energy,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Home Energy Magazine,
State of Massachusetts
Description
Article describing customer tip sheet and how ceiling fans are one of the most popular and generally well regarded of all home energy efficiency features.

Ceiling Fans Key Product Criteria

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
Website that describes two ceiling fan types and their respective ENERGY STAR eligible product types.

Climate Consultant

Publication Date
·
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.

Cool Solutions: The Whole House Fan

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Mott-Smith John
·
Organization(s)
City of Davis,
State of California
Description
Article describing the use of whole-house fans to provide cooling in the region surrounding Sacramento, CA.

Cooling with a Whole-House Fan

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
DOE Energy Saver webpage summarizing the use of whole-house fans for cooling.

Cooling with Ventilation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Chandra Subrato,
Houston Michael M,
Fairey Philip W
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report providing recommendations to builders regarding how to reduce cooling loads, use air-circulation fans, natural ventilation, window and building design for natural ventilation, and whole-house fans.

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.

DOE Solar Decathlon Website

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Solar Decathlon,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.

ECM Motors: An Energy Saving Opportunity

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Office of Research Facilities
·
Organization(s)
ORF
Description
Bulletin describing the components of ECM motors and comparing their efficiency with PSC motors.

Effect of Residential Ventilation Techniques for Hot and Humid Climates on Indoor Concentrations and Emission Rates of Volatile Organic Compounds

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hodgson Alfred T,
Moyer Neil,
Beal David
·
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
A report describing six mechanical ventilation strategies that were evaluated for their ability to control indoor humidity levels over 14-day periods with simulated occupancy.

Electric Fan Use for Cooling During Hot Weather: A Biophysical Modelling Study

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Morris Nathan B,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
University of Sydney,
University of Copenhagen,
University of Montreal,
Monash University,
The Lancet Planetary Health,
The Lancet Group
Description
Study testing the effect of fan cooling on healthy adults at increased ambient temperatures.

Energy Efficiency Standards

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
LBNL
Description
Website describing analyses for products and standards affecting home heating, cooling, and appliances, in regards to technical, economical, and energy efficiency pathways.

ENERGY STAR Certified Ceiling Fans

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Website providing consumer information about ceiling fans, including specifications and buying guidance.

ENERGY STAR Certified Ventilating Fans

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Factsheet describing the benefits of purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR rated fans and ventilation products.

EPA Region 8 Headquarters

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Brochure providing information on the design of the EPA Region 8 headquarters in Denver, CO.

Evaluation of Retrofit Variable-Speed Furnace Fan Motors

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Williamson Jim
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report detailing the effects of replacing PSC motors with more efficient, variable-speed motors.

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.

Gossamer Wind Ceiling Fans

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
University of Central Florida
·
Organization(s)
FSEC,
UCF
Description
Website providing information about the Gossamer Wind Series Ceiling fans, conceived by Danny Parker at the Florida Solar Energy Center as a means of realizing the energy efficiency and comfort potential of ceiling fans.

Home Ventilating Institute

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Description
Website providing certified rating programs to help manufacturers, builders, contractors and homeowners compare performance of ventilation products for air flow, sound, and other performance characteristics.

How Much Ventilation Do I Need?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Description
Website with articles on home ventilation and indoor air quality.

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.

HVI Airflow Test Procedure

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Publication specifying HVI’s prescriptive procedures for testing and rating airflow of residential ventilation products in accordance with ANSI consensus standards.

HVI Certification Program Policies and Procedures

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Publication describing the requirements and procedures for the certified performance ratings program for residential ventilation products administered by the Home Ventilating Institute.

HVI Certified Products Directory

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
·
Organization(s)
HVI
Description
Website providing an online directory of more than 3,600 residential ventilation products lisiting flowrates, sones, watts, and other performance metrics; all listed products have been tested by the Home Ventilating Institute.

Indoor Air Pollution from Cooking

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
California Air Resources Board,
California Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
CARB,
CalEPA
Description
Article describing ways home owners can improve ventilation in their kitchens.

Night Ventilation Cooling Compliance Option

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
California Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Program
·
Organization(s)
California Public Utilities Commission,
CPUC
Description
Document describing recommended modeling rules, potential compliance credits, and eligibility criteria for residential night ventilation cooling systems for California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards.

Passive Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Smarter Homes NZ
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Organization(s)
Smarter Homes NZ
Description
Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Passive Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Cook Jeffrey,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
MIT Press,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
MIT
Description
Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.

Passive Solar Design

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Williams College
·
Organization(s)
Williams College
Description
Article from Williams College on the key elements of passive solar design for homes.