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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 69 results:

AHAM - Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
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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.

AIA Disaster Assistance Handbook, Third Edition

Publication Date
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Author(s)
American Institute of Architects
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Organization(s)
AIA
Description
Report describing the experience gained from AIA’s Disaster Assistance Program with first-hand accounts of disaster response and recovery, case studies and other best practices, including approaches to designing buildings to be more adaptable to uncertainty.

An Introduction To PSC Motors

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

Assessing the Impact of Thickness of the Performance of Stucco Cladding

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Brown William C,
Dietrich Mike,
Latimer Mark
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Organization(s)
American Society of Heating,
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Description
A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.

Ceiling Fan Basics

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

Ceiling Fans - Tips for Maximizing Energy Savings

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

Cool Solutions: The Whole House Fan

Publication Date
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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
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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
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Author(s)
Chandra Subrato,
Houston Michael M,
Fairey Philip W
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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
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Author(s)
Wilson Alex
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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.

ECM Motors: An Energy Saving Opportunity

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Office of Research Facilities
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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
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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.

Energy Efficiency Standards

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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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
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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.

Evaluation of Retrofit Variable-Speed Furnace Fan Motors

Publication Date
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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.

Food and Water in an Emergency, FEMA 477

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA,
American Red Cross
Description
A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.

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.

Grim Lessons from Tornado Alley

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Thompson Boyce
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Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Description
Website article touring areas hit hardest by tornadoes to see how they are building differently to protect against the next big twister.

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.

Hurricane Shutter Types

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hurricane Research Division,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.

HVI Airflow Test Procedure

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
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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
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Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
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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
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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.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Bennett Richard M,
et al.
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Organization(s)
Canada Masonry Design Centre,
CMDC
Description
An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Indoor Air Pollution from Cooking

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

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk to Natural Hazards

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Report providing a resource that communities can use to identify and evaluate a range of potential mitigation actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and disasters.

Natural Hazards

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
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Organization(s)
USGS
Description
Website containing USGS-related publications related to natural hazards.

Night Ventilation Cooling Compliance Option

Publication Date
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Author(s)
California Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Program
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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.

OSHA Fact Sheet: Using Portable Generators Safely

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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Organization(s)
OSHA
Description
A fact sheet educating the public on the potential hazards and safe use of portable generators.

Prepare Your Home Ahead of Severe Thunderstorms

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
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Organization(s)
IBHS
Description
Website providing guidance on how to reduce the risk of damage to a home from hail.

Preparedness Webinars

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Preparing for Disaster, FEMA P-475

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
American Red Cross
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Organization(s)
FEMA,
American Red Cross
Description
Fact sheet describing how to prepare for a natural disaster and assemble a disaster supply kit.

Ready.gov: Build A Kit

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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Organization(s)
USDHS
Description
A fact sheet providing tips on how to assemble a kit of food, water and other disaster supplies in the event of an emergency.

Residential Fan Efficiency - Code Notes

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
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Organization(s)
DOE
Description
IECC code note explaining new fan efficacy requirements, along with how to determine which fans are affected by the new fan requirements.