Library

2020 energy efficiency code for the state of Florida.

A presentation on the 2020 State Mechanical Code for easier understanding.

Article describing tree health, environmental considerations, and details on how to preserve trees.

Guidance document from the UN environment programme on climate-resilient buildings and communities practices, including guidance on heat waves, drought, hurricanes, and flooding.

Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.

Factsheet describing how window shades can keep out unwanted heat, detailing the most effective products and practices.

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

Technical report describing the SPS (Structural Panel System), an innovative implementation of the "perfect wall" concept, situating environmental control layers on the exterior side of structural components for improved constructability, cost-effectiveness, and performance, validated through the...

Article describing shade trees and how to plant, maintain, and replace them.

Paper describing an experiment to quantify shade tree impacts on cooling-related electricity consumption, finding that there may be sizable benefits in hot regions.

Website homepage of APA – The Engineered Wood Association, a nonprofit trade association combining the research efforts of scientists and engineers, APA promotes new solutions and improved processes that benefit the entire industry.

Power Point PDF presentation on historical architecture in New Mexico

Article by the Canadian Government on attic ventilation and considerations for moisture and ice dams.

Report covering interior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

Information sheet from FEMA on preparation for extreme heat, including measures for keeping homes cool.

Article describing the benefits trees provide through quotes and anecdotes.

Document focusing on the design and wall components that contribute to a pressure equalized rain screen wall, including the frequency of the weep holes and other brick masonry rain screen wall requirements.

Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

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

Article published by American Society of Civil Engineers on different building types and their effectiveness resisting extreme heat from a building envelope perspective.

Article describing the principle of capillarity in construction materials.

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

Website providing data indicating climate change.

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

Webpage providing information on how window shading can reduce heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.

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

Article describing how closed crawlspaces can do "double duty" by controlling moisture and providing energy savings.

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

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

Article about how mortar droppings during the installation of a brick veneer can clog the weep holes in the wall assembly causing moisture damage. The article also illustrates products that can be installed in the ventilated cavity to mitigate this problem.

The Guide addresses walls constructed with 2x4 wood frame studs, wood structural panel (WSP) sheathing as wall bracing and added backing for foam sheathing, a layer of rigid foam sheathing insulation up to 1.5 in. thick over the WSP, and a cladding system installed over the foam sheathing in low...

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.

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.

Report covering exterior energy retrofits of masonry buildings.

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.

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.

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

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

Article describing earthship homes.

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.