Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 73 results:

A Citizen’s Guide to Radon - The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon

2016

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Report telling consumers the risks of radon, how radon gets into a home, and steps consumers can take to reduce radon exposure in their homes.

Affordable Passive Solar Planbook for North Carolina

2005

Appalachian State University

AEC,

App State

Study from Appalachian State University on passive solar design to take advantage of local climate zones for energy conservation.

AHAM Verifide Facts about Clean Air

2020

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

AHAM

Website reporting efficiencies for dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and room air cleaners that are tested by independent laboratories and reported by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Architecture of New Mexico

2022

Albuquerque Museum

City of Albuquerque,

CABQ

Power Point PDF presentation on historical architecture in New Mexico

Association of Pool and Spa Professionals

2020

The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals

APSP

View the APSP/ANSI Standards and codes below to get information about ANSI specifications for pools, spa and hot tubs.

BSC Information - Soil Gas Control for All Climates, Sheet 110

2009

Building Science Corporation

BSC

Information sheet about soil gas control strategies for foundations.

Building a Better Trombe Wall

1998

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

NREL

Fact sheet providing background and technical information on Trombe wall design

Building America Top Innovations 2014 Profile - California Energy Standards Recognize the Importance of Filter Selection

2014

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Web report explaining how correct filter sizing is an issue that applies to all new and existing homes that use ducted HVAC systems.

Building Orientation for Optimum Energy

2022

Gromicko Nick,

Gromicko Ben

InterACHI

Webpage explaining how to site and orient a house to take advantage of the solar path.

Building Radon Out - A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Build Radon-Resistant Homes

2001

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Document detailing how to build radon-resistant homes.

CBE Thermal Comfort Tool

2020

Tartarini Federico,

et al.

Center for the Built Environment,

CBE,

UC Berkeley,

SinBerBEST,

Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore,

BEARS

Online tool for thermal comfort calculations and visualizations SoftwareX 12, 100563 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2020.100563

Climate Consultant

2021

Milne Murray

Society of Building Science Educators,

SBSE,

University of California Los Angeles,

UCLA

Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.

Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction - How to Fix Your Home

2016

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Report telling consumers how radon gets into a home and how to reduce radon entry into a home.

DOE Solar Decathlon Website

2023

Solar Decathlon,

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE

Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.

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

2021

Morris Nathan B,

et al.

University of Sydney,

University of Copenhagen,

University of Montreal,

Monash University,

The Lancet Planetary Health,

The Lancet Group

Study testing the effect of fan cooling on healthy adults at increased ambient temperatures.

EPA Region 8 Headquarters

2007

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Brochure providing information on the design of the EPA Region 8 headquarters in Denver, CO.

Evaluation of the NightCool Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept: Annual Performance Assessment in Scale Test Buildings Stage Gate 1B

2008

Parker Danny S,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report about an experimental evaluation conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates.

Factor of Building Orientation Direction as Determinant the Thermal Comfort Quality

2019

Rilatupa James

Sriwijaya International Conference on Science Engineering and Technology,

Tarumanagara University,

Christian University of Indonesia,

Electrochemical Society,

ECS

Technical report describing the impact of orientation on thermal comfort.

Filtration and Disinfection FAQ

2023

American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASHRAE

ASHRAE Q&A addressing HVAC filtration and disinfection for reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Reducing Radon After Disasters

2015

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Federal Emergency Management Agency,

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

EPA,

FEMA,

HUD

Homeowner guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on dealing with radon following a natural disaster.

How to Choose a Room Air Cleaner

2024

Park Ga-Young

ENERGY STAR,

U.S. EPA,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Article describing considerations for choosing a room-level air cleaner to improve indoor air quality.

How to Cool Your Home Without Relying on Air Conditioning

2021

Kaplan Sarah

Washington Post

Article from Washington Post on passive cooling measures for homes during extreme heat.

How to Create a Naturally Cool Building

2018

Williams Jeremy

The Earthbound Report

Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.

Impacts of Shading and Glazing Combinations on Residential Energy Use in a Hot Dry Climate

2000

Farrar-Nagy Sara,

et al.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Partnership for Resource Conservation,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Study evaluating opportunities for reducing cooling energy use in a hot dry climate through the use of shading and window options.

Indoor AirPlus Program Documents

2018

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Website providing the technical specifications and related documents for home builders, subcontractors, architects, and other housing professionals interested in certifying a home to the EPA's Indoor airPLUS program requirements.

Is There a Downside to High-MERV Filters?

2009

Springer David

Home Energy Magazine

Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.

Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules

2010

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

EPA’s 2008 Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule (as amended in 2010 and 2011), aims to protect the public from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation, repair and painting activities.

Low-Energy Cooling: A Guide to the Practical Application of Passive Cooling and Cooling Conservation Measures

1986

Abrams Donald

Van Nostrand Reinhold

Book detailing passive cooling methods including airflow methods, evaporative cooling, and earth cooling.

Map of Radon Zones

2020

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

The purpose of this map is to assist national, state and local organizations to target their resources and to implement radon-resistant building codes.

Measure Guideline: Replacing Single-Speed Pool Pumps with Variable Speed Pumps for Energy Savings

2012

Hunt A,

Easley Steve

Building America Retrofit Alliance,

BARA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Building Media

Research study showing that for a relatively small investment, a variable speed pool pump can reduce pool pump energy use by 50% to 75%.

Measured Natural Cooling Enhancement of a Whole House Fan

1992

Parker Danny S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

NightCool: A Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept

2008

Parker Danny S,

Hermelink Andreas H,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report about an experimental evaluation has been conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates.

NightCool: Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept Long Term Performance Evaluation

2009

Parker Danny S,

et al.

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report describing the experimentally evaluated potential of a novel residential night cooling concept.

Particulate Matter

2022

American Lung Association

ALA

American Lung Association web page providing information on particulate matter and indoor air quality.

Passive Cooling

2022

Smarter Homes NZ

Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Passive Cooling

1989

Cook Jeffrey,

et al.

MIT Press,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

MIT

Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.

Passive Solar Design

2022

Williams College

Article from Williams College on the key elements of passive solar design for homes.

Performance and Applicability of Passive and Low-Energy Cooling Systems

1991

Givoni Baruch

University of California Los Angeles,

UCLA

Paper summarizing passive and low-energy cooling systems for buildings.

Phase Change Materials for Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Their Use in Mortars

2019

Frigione Mariaenrica,

Lettieri Mariateresa,

Sarcinella Antonella

Materials Journal

Report providing information on performance of mortars and concrete containing PCMs.

Plymouth Community Center Project

2021

City of Plymouth,

State of Minnesota

City of Plymouth,

State of Minnesota

City of Plymouth webpage providing information on the Plymouth Community Center Project.

Radon

2020

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Website explaining the risks associated with radon in homes and how to protect homes against radon.

Radon Mitigation Standards

1994

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA

Standard providing information on contractors who offer radon control services to homeowners.

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.

Radon: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls

2015

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

et al.

EPA,

HUD,

NIH,

OSHA

Worker guidance from EPA, HUD, NIH, and OSHA for radon issues following a natural disaster.

Renewable Energy Annual

2012

Energy Information Administration

EIA

Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.

Residential Energy Dynamics

2020

Residential Energy Dynamics

RED

A free tool used to calculate the required minimum flow rate of dwelling-unit ventilation.

Residential Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Home Design, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance

2018

Schoen Lawrence,

et al.

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Report providing guidance on indoor air quality in single-family and multifamily housing for designers, builders, property managers, homeowners, buyers, and renters.

Review Of Home Water Reverse Osmosis And Water Softener Systems

2021

Institute of Biological Engineering

IBE

Article from the Institute of Biological Engineering describing reverse osmosis water softeners.

Solar Pathfinder

2021

Solar Pathfinder

Tool determining the most economical and efficient photovoltaic array location and position.

Solar Radiation Data Manual for Buildings

Marion William,

Wilcox Stephen

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Document providing incident solar radiation data and window overhang sizing guidance for multiple locations across the U.S.