Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 55 results:

2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey - RECS Data

2015

U.S. Energy Information Administration

EIA

Federal statistics about national energy consumption in residential 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.

Architecture of New Mexico

2022

Albuquerque Museum

City of Albuquerque,

CABQ

Power Point PDF presentation on historical architecture in New Mexico

Building a Better Trombe Wall

1998

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

NREL

Fact sheet providing background and technical information on Trombe wall design

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.

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.

Climate Science Special Report 4th National Climate Assessment Vol 1

2017

U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGCRP,

Climate Science Special Report,

CSSR

Report assessing the science of climate change with a focus on the U.S.

Closed Crawl Space Performance: Proof of Concept in the Production Builder Marketplace

2008

Dastur Cyrus,

Mauceri Maria,

Hannas Benjamin

Advanced Energy

Report aimed to quantify the impact of closed crawlspaces in new homes, and investigate modeling software to ensure accuracy of energy consumption predictions in these homes.

Closed Crawl Spaces - An Introduction to Design, Construction and Performance

2005

Dastur Cyrus,

Davis Bruce,

Warren William E

Advanced Energy

Guide about designing and installing closed crawlspaces in the Southeast.

Comparison of Measured and Calculated Residential Cooling Loads

2007

Barnaby Charles S,

Wilcox Bruce A

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

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

Digital Coast

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

Website helping communities address coastal issues with data, tools, and training resources.

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.

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.

Feasibility of Foundation Heat Exchangers for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems in the United States

2012

Cullin James R,

et al.

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE,

Oklahoma State University,

OSU,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Study characterizing how foundation heat exchangers (FHXs) used in residential ground source heat pump systems represent a potential cost savings due to their lesser first cost over other types of heat exchangers.

FORTIFIED Home ASCE 7-10 FORTIFIED™ Wind Uplift Design Pressure Calculator for Residential Roof Coverings (2:12 or Greater)1,2,3

2020

Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety

IBHS

Calculator determining the appropriate design pressures for steep-slope roof coverings for roofers and evlauators.

Fourth National Climate Assessment, Vol 2: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States

2018

U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGCRP

Report analyzing the effect of global climate change on national interests, and providing climate predictions.

Geospatial Data Science

2014

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

NREL,

DOE

Website with prepopulated information about the United States renewable resources.

How Insulating Concrete Form vs. Conventional Construction of Exterior Walls Affects Whole Building Energy Consumption

2003

Petrie Thomas W,

et al.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Report sumarizing results of an ICF investigation of side-by-side houses in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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.

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.

Measured Natural Cooling Enhancement of a Whole House Fan

1992

Parker Danny S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

A website issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and increasing the understanding of hazards.

National Weather Service: Storm Prediction Center: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed.

NOAA's National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center: the Enhanced Fujita Scale

2007

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

The Enhanced F-scale is a set of wind estimates (not measurements) based on damage which uses three-second gusts estimated at the point of damage based on a judgment of 8 levels of damage to the 28 indicators listed.

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.

Performance of Four Near Zero Energy Homes: Lessons Learned

2010

Colon Carlos J,

et al.

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Paper examining the monitored performance of four newly constructed near zero energy homes in Florida.

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.

Reducing the Costs of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems: Proceedings of Solar Forum 2001

2001

Dunlop James P,

et al.

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

A report presenting alternative approaches for reducing the costs of roof-mounted, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems.

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.

Simplified Space Conditioning in Low-Load Homes: Results from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New Construction Unoccupied Test House

2014

Poerschke Andrew,

Stecher Dave

Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,

IBACOS

Study conducted to help determine cost-effective solutions for heating and cooling houses that are designed to be energy efficient.

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.

Solmetric SunEye

2021

Solmetric Inc.

Handheld solar site analysis tool capturing whole-horizon images for a site and generating shading analysis reports.

Storm Prediction Center

2020

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

National Weather Service

NOAA,

NWS

A website providing timely and accurate forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States.

Sun Control and Shading Devices

2016

Prowler Don,

Bourg Joseph

Whole Building Design Guide

Article providing fundamental information and recommendations for shading windows for energy savings.

The Assessment of Sultriness Part II: Effects of Wind, Extra Radiation and Barometric Pressure on Apparent Temperature

1979

Steadman Robert G

American Meteorological Society,

AMS

Study on the effects of wind, radiation, and pressure on apparent temperature.

The Impact of Wall and Roof Material on the Summer Thermal Performance of Building in a Temperate Climate

2021

Staszczuk Anna,

Kuczynski Tadeusz

Energy Journal

Study comparing the thermal performance of phase change materials to concrete construction during heat waves.

Thermal Mass

2013

Reardon Chris,

McGee Caitlin,

Milne Geoff

Australian Government

Webpage providing guidance on the use of thermal mass with passive heating and cooling strategies.

Thermal Mass Assessment: An Explanation of the Mechanisms by Which Building Mass Influences Heating and Cooling Energy Requirements

1983

Childs Kenneth W,

Courville George E,

Bales E L

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Technical research paper explaining how thermal mass influences heating and cooling energy needs.

Thermal Mass in Building Design

2006

Baggs David,

Mortensen Neal

Australian Council of Building Design Professions Ltd,

BDP

Design guide providing technical information regarding building with thermal mass.

Thermal Mass Solutions

2015

Habian Bob

National Council of Structural Engineers Association,

NCSEA

Article detailing a case study in which thermal mass was used as part of an overall Net Zero solution for a university building.