Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 64 results:

AHAM - Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

2020

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

AHAM

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

2022

RW Beckett Corporation

Webpage that gives an introduction to PSC motors and their operation.

Are Energy Savings Due to Ceiling Fans Just Hot Air?

2020

Florida Solar Energy Center

University of Central Florida,

UCF,

FSEC

FSEC article looking into the percieved effectiveness of ceiling fans.

Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

CARB Regulations Allow for the Use of Back-Up Generators During a Public Safety Power Shutoff

2019

California Air Resources Board

CARB

Web article describing utility customer’s right to use back-up generators during emergency events, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).

Ceiling Fan Basics

2020

ENERGY STAR

ENRGY STAR webpage discussing the basics of certified ceiling fans.

Ceiling Fans - Tips for Maximizing Energy Savings

2008

Calwell Chris,

Horowitz Noah

Massachusetts Department of Energy,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

Home Energy Magazine,

State of Massachusetts

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

2020

ENERGY STAR

Website that describes two ceiling fan types and their respective ENERGY STAR eligible product types.

Cool Solutions: The Whole House Fan

2018

Mott-Smith John

City of Davis,

State of California

Article describing the use of whole-house fans to provide cooling in the region surrounding Sacramento, CA.

Cooling with a Whole-House Fan

2022

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

DOE Energy Saver webpage summarizing the use of whole-house fans for cooling.

Cooling with Ventilation

1986

Chandra Subrato,

Houston Michael M,

Fairey Philip W

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

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.

De-Icing Ice Dams, BSI-097

2018

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing the importance of air sealing, insulation, and roof ventilation in reducing the likelihood of ice dam formation on roofs in cold snowy climates.

Dealing with and preventing ice dams

2019

University of Minnesota Extension

University of Minnesota

Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

2013

Wilson Alex

Green Building Advisor

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

2016

Office of Research Facilities

ORF

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

2005

Hodgson Alfred T,

Moyer Neil,

Beal David

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

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

2025

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

LBNL

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

2014

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

EPA,

ENERGY STAR

Website providing consumer information about ceiling fans, including specifications and buying guidance.

ENERGY STAR Certified Ventilating Fans

2013

ENERGY STAR

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE,

ENERGY STAR

Factsheet describing the benefits of purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR rated fans and ventilation products.

ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements Product Specification for Residential Ventilating Fans - Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Criteria Version 4.0

2016

ENERGY STAR

Program criteria for residential exhaust fans used for ventilation.

Evaluation of Retrofit Variable-Speed Furnace Fan Motors

2014

Aldrich Robb,

Williamson Jim

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report detailing the effects of replacing PSC motors with more efficient, variable-speed motors.

Even in Frigid Temperatures, Air-Source Heat Pumps Keep Homes Warm From Alaska Coast to U.S. Mass Market

2021

Rettig Molly

National Renewal Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Article describing a study of the potential to use heat pumps to heat and cool homes across the United States, including cold climate locations like Alaska.

Extreme Weather and Climate Vulnerabilities of the Electric Grid: A Summary of Environmental Sensitivity Quantification Methods

2019

Allen-Dumas Melissa R,

KC Binita,

Cunliff Colin I

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.

Fans for Cooling

2020

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

DOE webpage that gives and overview of fans for cooling.

Fans to Reduce Cooling Costs in the Southeast

1985

Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC

FSEC PDF guide on effective fan types and placement in the Southeast.

FEMA How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

2017

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet providing an overview of how to properly prepare for a winter storm and how to protect yourself before, during, and after one.

Gossamer Wind Ceiling Fans

2014

Florida Solar Energy Center,

University of Central Florida

FSEC,

UCF

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.

Guidelines for Ventilating Attics and Cathedral Ceilings to Avoid Icings at Their Eaves

2001

Tobiasson Wayne N,

Buska James S,

Greatorex Alan R

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Report describing the use of fresh air ventilation systems to eliminate the formation of icicles and ice dams along the eaves of roofs.

Home Ventilating Institute

2020

Home Ventilating Institute

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?

2018

Home Ventilating Institute

Website with articles on home ventilation and indoor air quality.

HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Top Tips for Making Your Home More Disaster Resistant

2024

Theresa Gilbride,

Kaltreider Christian E

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Factsheet describing tips for building or renovating with a focus on disaster resistance.

HVI Airflow Test Procedure

2015

Home Ventilating Institute

HVI

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

2020

Home Ventilating Institute

HVI

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

2020

Home Ventilating Institute

HVI

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 of Residential Mechanical Ventilation on Energy Cost and Humidity Control

2014

Martin Eric

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC,

Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,

IBACOS

The study described in this white paper is based on building energy modeling with an important focus on the indoor humidity impacts of ventilation.

Improving Comfort, Saving Energy with Large Circulator Fans

2008

Aynsley Richard

Big Ass Fans,

HPAC Engineering

Article describing how air speed affects thermal comfort and how fans can provide energy savings.

Indoor Air Pollution from Cooking

2020

California Air Resources Board,

California Environmental Protection Agency

CARB,

CalEPA

Article describing ways home owners can improve ventilation in their kitchens.

Measure Guideline: Ventilation Cooling

2012

Springer David,

Dakin Bill,

German Alea

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,

ARBI,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Davis Energy Group,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Guide describing proper application, design, and installation of mechanical ventilation cooling systems for homes located in hot-dry and cold-dry climates, as well as a means of understanding the benefits, costs, and tradeoffs of these systems.

Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS) Enhancements and Improvements

2022

California Energy Commission

Webpage for the CEC’s Modern Appliance Efficiency Database System

Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System Product List

2022

California Energy Commission

CEC

List of appliance brands and models, showing their performance and efficiency as tested by the appropriate standard.

Night Ventilation Cooling Compliance Option

2011

California Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Program

California Public Utilities Commission,

CPUC

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.

Participant Assisted Data Collection Methods in the California Healthy Homes Indoor Air Quality Study of 2011-13

2013

Mullen Nasim A,

Li Jina,

Singer Brett C

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

LBNL

Report describing a field study to measure pollutant concentrations in 324 homes in California.

Preparedness Webinars

2022

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Preparing for a Winter Storm

2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC

Webpage describing steps homeowners can take to prepare their home and car for winter storms.

Radon-Resistant New Construction Builder/Contractor Resources

2013

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Website with information about radon-resistant construction techniques and other radon resources for builders, contractors and homebuyers.

Reduce Ice Dam and Icicle Damage

2013

Hellevang Kenneth

North Dakota State University,

NDSU

Webpage explaining how to mitigate heat loss through roofs for ice dam prevention.

Residential Fan Efficiency - Code Notes

2012

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

IECC code note explaining new fan efficacy requirements, along with how to determine which fans are affected by the new fan requirements.

Review of Residential Comfort Control Products and Opportunities

2017

Metzger Cheryn E,

Goyal Siddharth,

Baechler Michael C

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL

This research paper outlines residential HVAC advanced controls and sensors. It includes a technology review, applications, maintenance and commissioning, occupant behavior and a summary of the state-of-the-art technologies for advanced controls for residential HVAC.

Snow Loads: Guide to the Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16

2017

O'Rourke Michael

American Society of Civil Engineers,

ASCE

Guide providing detailed explanations of the snow load provisions contained in Standard ASCE/SEI 7-16: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.

Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) and Snow Course Data and Products

2021

Natural Resources Conservation Service,

National Water and Climate Center,

Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

NRCS,

NWCC,

SSWSF

The website by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center tracks snowpack sensor stations at multiple sites across the country providing an interactive US map of snow loads.