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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 151 - 200 of 929 results:

Cool Neighborhoods: The Measurement of Small Scale Heat Islands

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Vieira Robin K
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ECEEE
Description
Paper describing the effects of tree canopies on residential climates indicating tree cover to be beneficial to climate conditions

Cool Roofs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
ENERGY STAR webpage discussing the costs and benefits of cool roofs.

Cool Roofs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing 'cool roofs' and their usage for passive home cooling.

Cool Roofs Help Reduce Energy Costs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Web page providing information on the types of cool roofs and their benefits to consumers.

Cool Surfaces Savings Explorer

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
LBNL
Description
Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.

Cooling and Heating Season Impacts of Right-Sizing of Fixed- and Variable-Capacity Heat Pumps With Attic and Indoor Ductwork

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Cummings James B,
Withers Charles R,
Kono Jamie E
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC
Description
Report on experiments comparing the cooling and heating seasonal and peak demand performance of different variable-capacity air conditioning and heat pump units.

Cooling Related Performance of Finished and Unfinished Metal Roofing Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Sherwin John S
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of finished and unfinished metal roofing systems on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

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.

Cost Effectiveness of Home Energy Retrofits in Pre-Code Vintage Homes in the United States

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Fairey Philip W,
Parker Danny S
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report describing the analytical study of renewable energy retrofits to homes built before 1980 and whether it is cost efficient or not.

Create a Fire Smart Yard

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
FIRESafe Marin
·
Organization(s)
FIRESafe Marin
Description
Webpage from FireSafe Marin explaining the different landscaping strategies near homes to lower the risk of a home's ignition from wildfire.

Creating a Fire Adapted Home

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
·
Organization(s)
IBHS
Description
Fact sheet describing guidance for choosing appropriate materials and using proper construction practices when rebuilding, repairing, or renovating a home to increase its resistance to fires.

De-Icing Ice Dams, BSI-097

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
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

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of Minnesota Extension
·
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Decks - Fire Safe or Not?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stephen L. Quarles
·
Organization(s)
University of California
Description
Article from Stephen L. Quarles on fire resistant decking design and materials recommendations.

Decks in the Line of Fire

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bolton Bill
·
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Description
Article describing codes and test methods related to fire-resistant construction of decks.

Designing Energy Efficient New Homes for a Warm Climate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
EXtension Home Energy - Cooperative Extension
·
Organization(s)
EXtension Home Energy - Cooperative Extension
Description
Article from The Home Energy Community of Practice on designing energy efficient homes in hot climate zones, including home orientation, window location, and roof design considerations.

Designing for Floods, BSI-128

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report providing guidance on designing buildings to be flood resistant.

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.

Designing Your Home to Survive Wildfires

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Milne Murray
·
Organization(s)
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Description
Wildfire resistant home checklist from Murray Milne, a professor of architecture at UCLA, who outlines seven steps to take to improve a home's chance of survival during a wildfire.

Digital Coast

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

Directory of Certified Product Performance

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
·
Organization(s)
AHRI
Description
Online database with efficiency information about residential HVAC systems and commercial refrigeration equipment.

Disconnect or Redirect Your Downspout Brochure

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Mid-America Regional Council
·
Organization(s)
MARC
Description
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.

Discover how to stay safe during a flood

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
·
Organization(s)
PG&E
Description
Guidelines from PG&E outlining how to stay safe during a flood event by shutting off natural gas and electric service to the home.

Discussion of Strategies for Mounting Photovoltaic Arrays on Rooftops

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.

DOE Steep Slope Calculator

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Description
Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.

Don’t Try Building Hugel Swales

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Spirko Jack
·
Organization(s)
Permaculture Research Institute
Description
Article describing the difference between swales and hugels (berms used to create soil from woody debris).

DSA Gas Shut off Valves Certification Program

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
California Division of the State Architect,
California Department of General Services
·
Organization(s)
DSA,
DGS
Description
A quick guide from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) explaining the three types of gas shutoff devices to stop the flow of natural gas into buildings in the event of an earthquake or rupture of the gas line.

Ductless Heat Pump Project

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
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Organization(s)
NEEA
Description
Webpage describing the successes and ongoing efforts of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's Go Ductless ductless heat pump program which successfully encouraged the installation of more than 150,000 minisplit heat pumps in the Northwest between 2010 and 2021.

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Comfort Evaluation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Roth Kurt,
Sehgal N,
Akers Craig
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Organization(s)
Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,
Fraunhofer CSE,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Research report with results from field tests in two homes in Austin, Texas, from October 2011 to June 2012 to evaluate the comfort performance of ductless mini-split heat pumps

Durability by Design: 2nd Edition: A Professional's Guide to Durable Home Design

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Office of Policy Development and Research
·
Organization(s)
HUD,
PD&R
Description
Designer checklist covering hazards involving ground and surface water, rain and water vapor, HVAC and plumbing, sunlight, insects, decay, and natural hazards, and builder checklist covering all disaster resistance, sorted by building component.

Earth Tubes Exhibit

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition
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Organization(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition,
Solar World
Description
Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Refrigerators

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
·
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Description
Factsheet describing how to secure refrigerators and other major appliances to wall studs using earthquake appliance straps or angle brackets and bolts.

Earthquake Country Alliance: TVs, Computers and Electronics

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
·
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Description
Factsheet describing how to secure televisions, microwaves, computers, and other electronics to prevent damage during earthquakes.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Water Heater

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
·
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Description
Factsheet describing how to secure water heaters to resist seismic activity.

Earthquake Home Hazard Hunt, FEMA 528

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Poster describing earthquake safety tips and protection measures to take at home.

Earthquake Retrofit Your Home

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
City of San Jose,
State of California,
Planning Building and Code Enforcement
·
Organization(s)
City of San Jose,
State of California,
Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Description
Factsheet describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more earthquake resistant.

Earthquake Safety

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
American Red Cross
·
Organization(s)
American Red Cross
Description
Webpage providing earthquake safety tips including proactive home structure and utility action items.

Earthquake Safety at Home, FEMA P-530

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Guide provides homeowners ways to prepare for an earthquake and protect a home against earthquake damage.