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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 116 results:

45L Tax Credit Resource Hub - for Single-Family Homes

Publication Date
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Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
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Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
NEEA
Description
Webpage providing guidance on the 45L tax credit, assembling the most relevant information for Northwest builders to maximize their tax credit and build energy efficient homes.

A Guide to Residential Energy Storage and Rooftop Solar: State Net Metering Policies and Utility Rate Tariff Structures

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Kerby Jessica,
Tarekegne Bethel
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
Article describing utility rates, net metering policies, installation costs, financial incentives, and other info for both consumers who are interested in installing renewable energy systems and for energy justice and clean energy advocates.

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.

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.

Building Energy Efficiency Standards - Title 24

Publication Date
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Author(s)
California Energy Commission
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Organization(s)
CEC
Description
Website providing information about the Title 24 building energy efficiency standards for the State of California and links to current and past standards including the 2025, 2022, 2019, and 2016 standards, etc.

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

Choose A Light Guide

Publication Date
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Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A simple three-step guide for homeowners who are looking to replace existing light bulbs with more energy-efficient, higher-performing bulbs.

Consortium for Energy Efficiency

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Consortium of Energy Efficiency Inc.
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Organization(s)
CEE
Description
Website for CEE, the US and Canadian consortium of natural gas and electric efficiency program administrators.

Cool Solutions: The Whole House Fan

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Mott-Smith John
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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.

Deep Dive: Technical Details of the ENERGY STAR MFNC Program

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Hudson Rebecca,
Vijayakumar Gayathri
·
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Description
A presentation describing the details of the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction program requirements.

Designing Houses That Keep Their Cool

Publication Date
·
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.

Digital Coast

Publication Date
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Author(s)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Organization(s)
NOAA
Description
Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Website listing implementation timelines and links to various versions of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home national program requirements.

ECM Motors: An Energy Saving Opportunity

Publication Date
·
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
·
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 Efficient New Homes and Apartments

Publication Date
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Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Website describing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR New Homes and Apartments program with links to builder and homeowner resources.

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.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2021 - Clothes Dryers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
A list of clothes dryers that made the EnergyStar Most Efficient list for 2021, delivering cutting technological innovation along with energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2024

Publication Date
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Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Webpage on the ENERGY STAR website that list products that exceed the ENERGY STAR minimum criteria for their category, with links to several product categories, including windows, HVAC, home appliances, and computer monitors.

ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program Requirements

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Website showing compliance timelines for various versions of the ENERGY STAR Multi-Family New Construciton program requirements with links to national program requirements documents and checklists.

ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction, OR-WA Program Requirements

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Webpage with links to documents providing the program requirements and checklists for ENERGY STAR Certified Multifamily Homes, national and regional program requirements.

ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Webpage with links to documents providing the program requirements and checklists for ENERGY STAR Certified Single-Family New Homes.

Evaluation of Retrofit Variable-Speed Furnace Fan Motors

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Williamson Jim
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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
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Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
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Organization(s)
DOE
Description
DOE webpage that gives and overview of fans for cooling.

FEMA Earthquake Risk

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Website providing links to scalable guidance and tools about the importance of earthquake mitiation to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees.

FEMA Flood Insurance

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Website describing the national flood insurance program and how to purchase flood insurance.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
A website providing information on funding for mitigation programs to reduce disaster losses under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FORTIFIED Home Getting FORTIFIED Certified

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
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Organization(s)
IBHS
Description
Webpage providing access to the training for building professionals to earn certification as FORTIFIED™ Home Evaluators and FORTIFIED-Wise credentials.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Key Product Criteria

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Website with information about ENERGY STAR criteria for geothermal heat pumps.

Gossamer Wind Ceiling Fans

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
University of Central Florida
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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.