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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 1 - 50 of 61 results:

2015 International Building Code - IBC

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
International Code Council
·
Organization(s)
ICC
Description
2015 edition of code for commercial buildings that brings together all structural, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for all buildings except detached one- and two-family residences and townhouses up to three stories.

Affordable Passive Solar Planbook for North Carolina

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Appalachian State University
·
Organization(s)
AEC,
App State
Description
Study from Appalachian State University on passive solar design to take advantage of local climate zones for energy conservation.

Architecture of New Mexico

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Albuquerque Museum
·
Organization(s)
City of Albuquerque,
CABQ
Description
Power Point PDF presentation on historical architecture in New Mexico

Building a Better Trombe Wall

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
NREL
Description
Fact sheet providing background and technical information on Trombe wall design

Building Orientation for Optimum Energy

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
·
Organization(s)
InterACHI
Description
Webpage explaining how to site and orient a house to take advantage of the solar path.

CBE Thermal Comfort Tool

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Tartarini Federico,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Center for the Built Environment,
CBE,
UC Berkeley,
SinBerBEST,
Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore,
BEARS
Description
Online tool for thermal comfort calculations and visualizations SoftwareX 12, 100563 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2020.100563

Climate Consultant

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Milne Murray
·
Organization(s)
Society of Building Science Educators,
SBSE,
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Description
Climate Consultant is a software tool for helping architects, builders, contractor, homeowners, and students to understand their local climate.

DOE Solar Decathlon Website

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Solar Decathlon,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.

Electric Fan Use for Cooling During Hot Weather: A Biophysical Modelling Study

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Morris Nathan B,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
University of Sydney,
University of Copenhagen,
University of Montreal,
Monash University,
The Lancet Planetary Health,
The Lancet Group
Description
Study testing the effect of fan cooling on healthy adults at increased ambient temperatures.

Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
This publication provides a set of best practices for improving indoor air quality in conjunction with energy upgrade work in homes.

EPA Region 8 Headquarters

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Brochure providing information on the design of the EPA Region 8 headquarters in Denver, CO.

Get Rid of Rats and Mice

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
King County Washington
·
Organization(s)
King County WA
Description
Article describing a 9-step process to getting rid of rats and mice, and some preventative actions to take.

How to Create a Naturally Cool Building

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Williams Jeremy
·
Organization(s)
The Earthbound Report
Description
Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.

How to Seal Up to Prevent Rodent Infestations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
·
Organization(s)
CDC
Description
A website providing a checklist of important areas to check when sealing holes inside and outside of the home to prevent entry by rodents and other outside pests.

Is There a Mouse in the House? Eliminate Mice with IPM

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pennsylvania State University
·
Organization(s)
Pennsylvania State University,
PennState Extension
Description
Article explaining how to use integrated pest management to choose methods of pest control that are safe and effective.

National Hazard Mitigation Association

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Natural Disasters Association,
National Hazard Mitigation Association
·
Organization(s)
NDA,
NHMA
Description
Website providing information on tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and more.

Passive Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Smarter Homes NZ
·
Organization(s)
Smarter Homes NZ
Description
Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Passive Cooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Cook Jeffrey,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
MIT Press,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
MIT
Description
Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.

Passive Solar Design

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Williams College
·
Organization(s)
Williams College
Description
Article from Williams College on the key elements of passive solar design for homes.

Pest Prevention by Design: Authoritative Guidelines for Designing Pests out of Structures

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Geiger Chris A,
Cox Caroline
·
Organization(s)
San Francisco Department of the Environment,
SF Environment,
Center for Environmental Health,
CEH,
International Code Council,
ICC
Description
Report providing detailed steps for builders, architects, and property managers to take for integrated pest management for control of a variety of pests including insects, rodents, and birds.

Plymouth Community Center Project

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
City of Plymouth,
State of Minnesota
·
Organization(s)
City of Plymouth,
State of Minnesota
Description
City of Plymouth webpage providing information on the Plymouth Community Center Project.

Rats: Information for Tenants and Property Owners

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
City of New York
·
Organization(s)
City of New York
Description
Website providing information about how to keep the properties rat-free and address conditions that can lead to rats.

Reduce Pest Intrusion

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Energy Codes Program,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Guide describing ways builders can block off entry points and otherwise make homes inhospitable to all manner of pests.

Renewable Energy Annual

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Energy Information Administration
·
Organization(s)
EIA
Description
Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.

Rodent Exclusion Methods

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wildlife Damage Management
·
Organization(s)
Wildlife Damage Management
Description
Website providing information about how to prevent rodent entry in homes.

Solar Pathfinder

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Solar Pathfinder
·
Organization(s)
Solar Pathfinder
Description
Tool determining the most economical and efficient photovoltaic array location and position.

Solar Radiation Data Manual for Buildings

Author(s)
Marion William,
Wilcox Stephen
·
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Document providing incident solar radiation data and window overhang sizing guidance for multiple locations across the U.S.

Solmetric SunEye

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Solmetric Inc.
·
Organization(s)
Solmetric Inc.
Description
Handheld solar site analysis tool capturing whole-horizon images for a site and generating shading analysis reports.

Stop Pests in Housing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
·
Organization(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
Description
Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.

Stop Pests in Housing - Rodents

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stop Pests
·
Organization(s)
Stop Pests
Description
Webpage providing information how to deal with rodents by knowing what they look like, where they live, and what they do.

Sun Control and Shading Devices

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Prowler Don,
Bourg Joseph
·
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide
Description
Article providing fundamental information and recommendations for shading windows for energy savings.

Termite Damaged Weatherboard

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
·
Organization(s)
CSIRO
Description
Image depicting damage from termites in weatherboard cladding.

Termite Infestations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Green Jody
·
Organization(s)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln,
Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County
Description
Article describing identification of termite infestations in homes and treatment options.

Termites

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Peterson Chris,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Forest Service,
USDA
Description
An introduction to the insect termites.

Termites and ICFs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Insulated Concrete Forms Association
·
Organization(s)
ICF Builder
Description
Document with information on preventing termites when using ICFs.