Library

Report describing combined space- and water-heating (combi) systems using a high-efficiency direct-vent burner.

Information sheet summarizing inspection and testing of combustion appliances taught during the 2006 Florida whole-house weatherization training as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hot Climate Initiative.

Report summarizing one year of monitoring and analysis of the effectiveness of a space conditioning system at maintaining temperature and relative humidity levels in a test home, as well as room-to-room differences and the actual measured energy consumption by the space conditioning system.

Report describing how space-conditioning systems are operating in the field and if these systems are meeting required standards.

Study investigating measured cooling energy performance in side-by-side identical homes with varying roof types, including cool roof technologies.

Technical report detailing a study in which actual cooling loads are compared to modeled cooling loads.

Webpage with instructions for heat pump installers to choose the most suitable type of heat pump system, according to a project’s specific requirements.

Document for contractors detailing how to prioritize, control, and configure heat pumps in a residence that uses two heating systems.

Document for customers describing the benefits of two-system controls for homes, including information answering how, when, why, and how two-system controls with multiple heating sources are employed.

Guidance from Zero Energy Project on construction techniques for warmer climates, such as home orientation, and insulation requirements.

Website providing building science based guidance and training for residential construction.

Standard covering requirements for the assembly, installation, maintenance, and operation of controls and safety devices on automatically operated boilers directly fired with gas, oil, gas-oil, or electricity, having fuel input ratings under 12,500,000 Btu/hr.

Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.

Paper describing the effects of tree canopies on residential climates indicating tree cover to be beneficial to climate conditions

ENERGY STAR webpage discussing the costs and benefits of cool roofs.

Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing 'cool roofs' and their usage for passive home cooling.

Web page providing information on the types of cool roofs and their benefits to consumers.

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

Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.

Report on experiments comparing the cooling and heating seasonal and peak demand performance of different variable-capacity air conditioning and heat pump units.

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.

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

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.

Website providing information about the Cool Roof Rating Council including programs, membership, and resources for the construction industry.

Part of a larger LBNL report (Deep Energy Retrofit Guidance for the Building America Solutions Center), the Source Energy and Carbon Decisions chapter helps users carefully assess the impacts of switching from gas to electricity for heating end-uses, using source energy and/or carbon emissions...

Report presenting a parametric analysis using a numerical model of a new concept in desiccant and evaporative air conditioning.

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.

Document providing design guidance and software tool information for forced-air HVAC systems.

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.

Technical report describing algorithms that use communicating thermostat heating data and that were developed to optimize customer adoption of energy conservation measures, enhancing the identification of retrofit opportunities, estimating post-retrofit energy savings, and enabling home-specific...

Report examining the use of smart thermostat data to detect performance degradation and optimize comfort control in home AC systems.

Report outlining the issues with using existing ducts with a new low-load HVAC system, which reduces throw at supply registers causing decreased mixing of supply and room air, leading to potential thermal comfort complaints.

Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.

Information sheet with HVAC duct insulation, testing, maintenance and performance information.

Report identifying two barriers that limit the ability of builders to explore opportunities for higher levels of energy efficiency in housing: the use of duct system materials that inherently achieve airtightness and are right-sized for low-load houses, and, the ability to air seal fire separation...

Webpage describing the advantages and disadvantages of ductless mini-split air conditioner.

Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.

Article describing earthship homes.

Factsheet describing methods for securing HVAC units to avoid damage during an earthquake.

Bulletin describing the components of ECM motors and comparing their efficiency with PSC motors.

Article describing quality of life and economic benefit from trees.

Technical report evaluating the effects of heat pump water heaters on heating and cooling energy usage in laboratory homes.

Report describing an investigation into multiple occupancy-based ventilation control strategies and the associated energy savings.

Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing using Earth-Sheltered home building techniques in hot climate zones.

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

Webpage describing embodied carbon through definition, significance to climate, and importance to policymaking.

Website that lists references that can help you determine how to control you indoor air quality while combating an emergency.

U.S. Code of Federal Regulations energy and water conservation standards for consumer products including home appliances and HVAC equipment.

Powerpoint on attic ventilation developed as training material for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Research study analyzing the effects a nonlinear enthalpy profile has on thermal performance and expected energy benefits for PCM-enhanced insulation.