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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 - 48 of 48 results:

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.

Building with SIPs: Need to Know

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Structural Insulated Panel Association
·
Organization(s)
SIPA
Description
Guide informing builders and developers about efficient building practice for constructing homes with structural insulated panels.

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.

Designing with SIPs: Design Considerations

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Structural Insulated Panel Association
·
Organization(s)
SIPA
Description
Guide informing architects and engineers about designing buildings to be constructed with structural insulated panels.

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.

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.

Expert Meeting Report: Advanced Envelope Research for Factory Built Housing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Levy Emanuel,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions,
ARIES,
Levy Partnership,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report about the Advanced Envelope Research effort will provide factory homebuilders with urgently-needed, cost effective methods for meeting emerging energy code requirements.

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.

NightCool: A Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Hermelink Andreas H,
Sherwin John S
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
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.

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.

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.

Practical Residential Wall Systems: R-30 and Beyond

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Arena Lois,
Zoeller William
·
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Document with information about the most practical methods to achieve whole-wall performance of R-30 or above.

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.

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.

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.

Thermal Mass

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Reardon Chris,
McGee Caitlin,
Milne Geoff
·
Organization(s)
Australian Government
Description
Webpage providing guidance on the use of thermal mass with passive heating and cooling strategies.

Thermal Mass in Building Design

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Baggs David,
Mortensen Neal
·
Organization(s)
Australian Council of Building Design Professions Ltd,
BDP
Description
Design guide providing technical information regarding building with thermal mass.

Thermal Mass Solutions

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Habian Bob
·
Organization(s)
National Council of Structural Engineers Association,
NCSEA
Description
Article detailing a case study in which thermal mass was used as part of an overall Net Zero solution for a university building.

Whole House Fans

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
·
Organization(s)
PG&E,
California Public Utilities Commission
Description
Technical fact sheet describing proper operation, sizing, and installation of whole-house fans.

Window Orientation and Shading

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center
·
Organization(s)
FSEC
Description
Web article providing information on how to reduce solar gains through windows.