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Library

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 1 - 50 of 77

Hot Water Solutions: Buyer's Guide

Author(s)
Hot Water Solutions NW
Organization(s)
HWS NW
Publication Date
Guide describing how to choose energy-efficient water heaters, including heat pump models, with tips on installation, rebates, and incentives for maximizing energy savings.

Ground Source Heat and Cooling

Author(s)
Seth Masia
Organization(s)
American Solar Energy Society,
ASES
Publication Date
Website article discussing the economics of ground source heat pumps.

Save More On Laundry with a Heat Pump Clothes Dryer

Author(s)
Leslie Jones
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. EPA,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
Article explaining the energy cost reduction and other benefits associated with installing a heat pump clothes dryer

ENERGY STAR® Certified Heat Pump Water Heaters Sales Guide

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Informational guide describing the benefits, functionality, and cost savings of ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump water heaters, addressing common misconceptions and highlighting incentives.

Water Heating

Author(s)
BetterBricks
Organization(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA
Publication Date
Website containing useful resources regarding central heat pump water heater systems.

Cold Climate DHP Specification

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Webpage outlining how to optimize the installations and performance of mini-split heat pump systems. As well, it discusses a set of design considerations for multi-level homes, low load homes, and heat distribution to rooms without a heat source.

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
EPA
Publication Date
Webpage describing the functionality and benefits of switching to Air Source Heat Pumps, as well as linking to sets of products, rebates, most efficient ASHPs, and providing consumer aid for purchasing an ASHP.

HVAC – Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
PNNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Webpage providing curriculum with links to presentations and problem sets for teaching an understanding of sizing cold climate heat pumps.

Ductless Heat Pump Project

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
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.

Energy Saver: Heat Pump Systems

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website with consumer information about residential heat pump systems.

ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (Ducted)

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Searchable list of heat pumps that meet ENERGY STAR criteria.

Commercial HPWH Qualified Products List

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
List of multifamily commercial heat pump water heater products that meet the NEEA Advanced Water Heating Specification Requirements.

Users Guide: Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing Support Tools

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Organization(s)
NEEP
Publication Date
Users guide to help contractors and homeowners use the Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing Support Tools developed by NEEP to size and select the best air source heat pumps for their cold climate location.

Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Organization(s)
U.S. DOE
Publication Date
The Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool guides contractors and installers through the decision-making process for heat pump (HP) sizing, identifying personalized CCHP recommendations, and applicable tax credits, with a focus on retrofits in cold climates.

Laboratory Testing of Heat Pump Water Heater Performance: Impact of Airflow and Space Configurations

Author(s)
Larson Ben,
Larson Sam,
Gantley Maya
Organization(s)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
PG&E,
Energy Transition Coordinating Council,
ETCC
Publication Date
Report describing research conducted to support California’s Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards by analyzing the impact of installation location and ventilation on heat pump water heater (HPWH) performance, emphasizing the need for proper installation to maximize efficiency...

Best Practices for the Retrofit Installation of Heat Pump Water Heaters

Author(s)
Richard Health & Associates
Organization(s)
RHA
Publication Date
Report describing the best practices for the safe, efficient, and compliant installation of residential air source heat pump water heaters (HPWH) in California, aligning with the state's climate goals and providing guidance for educators, installers, and industry stakeholders.

2023 (2020) Standard for Performance Rating of Unitary Air-Conditioning and Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment, AHRI Standard 210/240

Author(s)
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
AHRI
Publication Date
Performance rating standards for unitary air-conditioners and unitary air-source heat pumps, including definitions, classifications, testing, rating, and operating requirements, as well as minimum data requirements for published ratings and markings.

Load Calculation Tools for Ductless Heat Pumps

Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
NEEA
Publication Date
Web article describing two options for sizing ductless minisplit heat pumps, including a free HVAC sizing tool.

ENERGY STAR® Certified Mini Split Heat Pumps

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Factsheet describing mini split heat pumps and their benefits for consumers.

Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling

Author(s)
Town of Concord Massachusetts
Organization(s)
Town of Concord Massachusetts
Publication Date
Webpage providing basic information on various types of heat pumps and their applications in Massachusetts.

NEEP’s Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump List

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Organization(s)
NEEP
Publication Date
Database compiling extended capacity data for numerous cold climate heat pump manufacturers and models.

HPWH Installation and Design Concepts for Low-Rise Multifamily Buildings

Author(s)
Larson Ben
Organization(s)
Larson Energy Research,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NREL
Publication Date
Report describing the identification of barriers and proposed practical solutions for the design, installation, and market adoption of heat pump water heaters in new low-rise multifamily housing, focusing on studio and one-bedroom units.

Getting to All-Electric Multifamily Zero Net Energy Construction

Author(s)
Dryden Amy,
Brooks Andrew,
Duff Meghan,
Pfotenhauer Greg,
Stone Nehemiah,
Armstrong Sean,
Higbee Emily
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission
Publication Date
Report describing the cost-effectiveness and performance of all-electric, zero net energy multifamily buildings in California, detailing technical challenges and providing recommendations for design, construction, codes, standards, and operations to support future projects.

How it Works - Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs)

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
ENERGY STAR webpage describing how a heat pump water heater works.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Technical Sheet: Hot Water Delivery

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing four different efficient hot water delivery (HWD) systems, the trunk-and branch, core, whole-house manifold, and recirculation, with emphasis on system schematics, piping materials, and regulations to design and verify the systems ensuring that they meet the quality and water...

Refrigerant Leak Prevention: Best Practices – Tech Tip

Author(s)
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Organization(s)
NYSERDA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing best practices in installing leak-free refrigerant systems, including specifics on creating flare joints and brazed joints, pressure testing, vacuum testing, and charging the system with refrigerant.

Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump Specification, Version 4.0

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Organization(s)
NEEP
Publication Date
Specification defining performance and reporting requirements to meet the voluntary “Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump Specification” (ccASHP Specification) for air source heat pumps suited to heat efficiently in cold climates (IECC cz 4 and higher).

Air Source Heat Pumps Tax Credit

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
This is a federal tax credit for complying air source heat pumpe. Units located in the "North" must meet ENERGY STAR's cold climate heat pump criteria.

CEE Residential Product Directory

Author(s)
Consortium for Energy Efficiency; Air-Conditioning,
Heating,
and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
CEE; AHRI
Publication Date
AHRI-hosted directory of residential products meeting CEE's highest tier

Heat Pump Water Heaters in Small Spaces Lab Testing: “The Amazing Shrinking Room”

Author(s)
Larson Sam,
Larson Ben
Organization(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA,
Cascade Engineering Services,
Larson Energy Research
Publication Date
Report describing a laboratory assessment that provides insights into space requirements and venting strategies for heat pump water heaters (HPWH) to enhance retrofit installations and provide actionable guidance for manufacturers, designers, engineers, installers, and owners.

Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heaters: An Early Look to 120-Volt Products

Author(s)
Larson Ben,
Larson Sam
Organization(s)
Larson Energy Research,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA
Publication Date
Report describing a laboratory assessment on the performance of Rheem 120-volt heat pump water heaters (HPWH), aimed at identifying optimal installation locations for these new "plug-in" models based on comprehensive testing under various conditions.

Heating and Cooling With a Heat Pump

Author(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Organization(s)
Natural Resources Canada
Publication Date
Report providing information for HVAC designers, installers, and consumers about air source heat pumps.

9 Recommended Practices for Cold-Climate Ductless Heat Pump Installations

Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
NEEA
Publication Date
Web page describing essential guidelines and recommendations for optimal installation of ductless heat pumps in cold climates, ensuring maximum heating performance and long-term satisfaction for homeowners, supported by research-backed insights and detailed resources.

Avoid Deep Thermostat Setbacks with Variable Capacity Heat Pumps

Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
NEEA
Publication Date
Webpage describing how to improve a variable capacity heat pump's efficiency by not programming a deep setback on the thermostat.

Installer's Guide - Ductless Heat Pumps for Cold Climates

Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
NEEA
Publication Date
Factsheet describing techniques for installing ductless heat pumps in cold climate locations.

Installed Performance of Heat Pump Water Heaters in a Cold Climate

Author(s)
Cautley Dan,
Gries Kevin,
Cacko Dianna,
Margolies Justin
Organization(s)
Slipstream
Publication Date
Report describing the performance, economics, space heating impacts, and user satisfaction of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) in the upper Midwest, based on a field study and survey of participants in the MECA HPWH incentive program.

An Integrated Control Method for Supplemental Minisplit Heat Pumps in Existing Homes

Author(s)
Fenaughty Karen,
Martin Eric,
Nigusse Bereket,
Parker Danny S
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
University of Central Florida,
UCF
Publication Date
Technical report describing how the FSEC Energy Research Center explores low-cost space-conditioning upgrades for existing homes by integrating centrally located, high-efficiency ductless mini split heat pumps with older but functional central space conditioning systems, aiming to achieve energy...

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2021 Criteria Development

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Webpage recognizing the most efficient products among those that are ENERGY STAR certified.

Heat & Cool Efficiently

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A ENERGY STAR guide on efficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems in residential homes.

Air-Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection Guide

Author(s)
Strack Terry,
Sager Jeremy
Organization(s)
Natural Resources Canada,
NRC,
CanmetENERGY
Publication Date
Document providing step-by-step guidance to sizing air-source heat pumps for a cold climate.