Library | Building America Solution Center

Showing 1 - 50 of 57 results:

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

Webpage providing mapping tool for obtaining ground snow load, based on ASCE 7-10, for any location in the contiguous United States, with the exception of locations requiring a case study due to extreme local variations in ground snow loads. Fee required for some data.

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.

CARB Regulations Allow for the Use of Back-Up Generators During a Public Safety Power Shutoff

2019

California Air Resources Board

CARB

Web article describing utility customer’s right to use back-up generators during emergency events, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).

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.

De-Icing Ice Dams, BSI-097

2018

Lstiburek Joseph W

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Article describing the importance of air sealing, insulation, and roof ventilation in reducing the likelihood of ice dam formation on roofs in cold snowy climates.

Dealing with and preventing ice dams

2019

University of Minnesota Extension

University of Minnesota

Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

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.

Evaluation of the NightCool Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept: Annual Performance Assessment in Scale Test Buildings Stage Gate 1B

2008

Parker Danny S,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report about an experimental evaluation conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates.

Even in Frigid Temperatures, Air-Source Heat Pumps Keep Homes Warm From Alaska Coast to U.S. Mass Market

2021

Rettig Molly

National Renewal Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Article describing a study of the potential to use heat pumps to heat and cool homes across the United States, including cold climate locations like Alaska.

Extreme Weather and Climate Vulnerabilities of the Electric Grid: A Summary of Environmental Sensitivity Quantification Methods

2019

Allen-Dumas Melissa R,

KC Binita,

Cunliff Colin I

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.

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.

FEMA How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

2017

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Fact sheet providing an overview of how to properly prepare for a winter storm and how to protect yourself before, during, and after one.

Guidelines for Ventilating Attics and Cathedral Ceilings to Avoid Icings at Their Eaves

2001

Tobiasson Wayne N,

Buska James S,

Greatorex Alan R

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Report describing the use of fresh air ventilation systems to eliminate the formation of icicles and ice dams along the eaves of roofs.

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.

HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Top Tips for Making Your Home More Disaster Resistant

2024

Theresa Gilbride,

Kaltreider Christian E

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Factsheet describing tips for building or renovating with a focus on disaster resistance.

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

NightCool: A Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept

2008

Parker Danny S,

Hermelink Andreas H,

Sherwin John S

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report about an experimental evaluation has been conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates.

NightCool: Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept Long Term Performance Evaluation

2009

Parker Danny S,

et al.

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Report describing the experimentally evaluated potential of a novel residential night cooling concept.

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.

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.

Preparedness Webinars

2022

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA

Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Preparing for a Winter Storm

2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC

Webpage describing steps homeowners can take to prepare their home and car for winter storms.

Reduce Ice Dam and Icicle Damage

2013

Hellevang Kenneth

North Dakota State University,

NDSU

Webpage explaining how to mitigate heat loss through roofs for ice dam prevention.

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.

Snow Loads: Guide to the Snow Load Provisions of ASCE 7-16

2017

O'Rourke Michael

American Society of Civil Engineers,

ASCE

Guide providing detailed explanations of the snow load provisions contained in Standard ASCE/SEI 7-16: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.

Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) and Snow Course Data and Products

2021

Natural Resources Conservation Service,

National Water and Climate Center,

Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program

NRCS,

NWCC,

SSWSF

The website by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center tracks snowpack sensor stations at multiple sites across the country providing an interactive US map of snow loads.

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.

Suggested Emergency Food Supplies

2022

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

USDHS

Article describing suggested food supplies, sanitation, safety, and cooking for during and after an emergency.

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.