Organization(s)
Cal Fire
Publication Date
Description
A webpage outlining CAL FIRE’s recommendations for creating defensible space.
This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.
Showing results 1 - 50 of 55
Organization(s)
Suntegrity Solar
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from Suntegrity Solar describing different backup power generator options to prepare for future power outages.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report evaluating HVAC building technologies based on their ability to provide grid services and the type of value provided, including efficiency, load shed, load shift, and modulation.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report evaluating lighting and electronic building technologies based on their ability to provide grid services and the type of value provided, including efficiency, load shed, load shift, and modulation.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report providing an introduction to core concepts of GEBs, and explaining how flexible building loads can be integrated and controlled to benefit consumers, the grid, and society more broadly.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report addressing the current state of these technologies and the challenges of adapting these to the GEB context.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report focuseing on dynamic window and opaque envelope technologies for GEBs, including electrochromic glazing, automated attachments, and thermal storage.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering the rainwater performance of building assemblies.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing guidance for homeowners on how much snow weight a typical roof can handle and when to consider removing snow from the roof.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet providing the wind resistant provisions of the 2015 International Residential Code.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing ways to install sheathing over existing 1x roof decking.
Organization(s)
CARB
Publication Date
Description
Web article describing utility customer’s right to use back-up generators during emergency events, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
Organization(s)
Boston Solar
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from Boston Solar describing how solar plus storage options can be beneficial for maintaining electricity during power outages.
Organization(s)
AnnDyl Policy Group,
National Association of State Energy Officials,
NASEO
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying efficient, connected, smart, and flexible GEB technologies and their future potential, including barriers and opportunities, recommendations for policymakers, and research needs.
Organization(s)
Washington University St. Louis
Publication Date
Description
Presentation by the Washington University in St. Louis Office of Sustainability on saving energy.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Report summarizing the requirements for strenghtening and protecting the roof, openings in the house, and creating a continuous load path to strengthen walls and foundation per the IBHS Fortified Homes Hurricane Standard for Existing Homes.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
A student manual for containing information on residential sprinkler systems.
Organization(s)
CleanTechnica
Publication Date
Description
Article describing a case study in which a whole-house battery and PV system was tested in a home with cooling and refrigeration during a hurricane in Florida.
Organization(s)
USDA
Publication Date
Description
Training course describing how to incorporate trees into an energy-conserving landscape.
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Report describing results of a workshop assessing current and future strategies for research into disaster resilience and energy efficiency in buildings.
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.
Organization(s)
American Plywood Association,
APA
Publication Date
Description
A publication highlighting recommendations that contribute to improved overall performance in the structural shell and focus on good connection details to tie together exterior walls, roofs and floors.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA,
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Publication Date
Description
Article defining terms and testing requirements for fire-resistant construction materials including combustible, noncombustible, fire-resistant or fire-resistance, and ignition-resistant.
Organization(s)
Minera Roof Trusses & Joints
Publication Date
Description
Report illustrating CAD drawings and modeling of bracing layouts for a gable roof truss.
Organization(s)
IBHS,
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet providing design guidance for engineers describing how to characterize snow drifts on roofs in three dimensions rather than two, as anticipated in the 2022 edition of the standards, ASCE 7 - Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.
Guidelines for Design of Structures for Vertical Evacuation from Tsunamis, Third Edition, FEMA P-646
Organization(s)
NOAA,
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report describing tsunamis and options for vertical evacuation from tsunamis; the guide addresses determination of tsunami and earthquake loads and structural design criteria and concepts, primarily for commercial buildings.
Organization(s)
EXtension Home Energy - Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI
Publication Date
Description
Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Recovery advisory presenting key wind retrofit guidelines for buildings located in hurricane-prone regions. These retrofit guidelines are intended to help building owners and designers prevent or limit wind damage and water infiltration during high-wind events.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
A factsheet providing information on how to prevent pests from entering the home by sealing cracks and openings.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist providing good and bad methods of fortifying the roof, especially in hurricanes.
Organization(s)
WTSP Television Station,
WTSP-TV
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the history and the current debate about how to adjust the Florida building codes.
Organization(s)
International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering
Publication Date
Description
Computer simulations comparing International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering wind pressure differences between a gable-ended roof versus a hip roof versus a pyramidal-shaped roof.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing a report providing best practices for reducing damages from floods to manufactured homes.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet providing an overview of FEMA P-348, Protecting Building Utility Systems From Flood Damage.
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Website article touring areas hit hardest by tornadoes to see how they are building differently to protect against the next big twister.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Article summarizing the IBHS stance on building practices that can mitigate the impact of high winds and storm surge on structures.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Checklist providing recommendations for the right tape in order to reduce the risk of leaks during storms with wind-driven rain.
Organization(s)
Materials Journal
Publication Date
Description
Report providing information on performance of mortars and concrete containing PCMs.
Organization(s)
University of Georgia
Publication Date
Description
A fact sheet providing information on termite species and how to prevent them from entering into your home.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Report providing wildfire protection guidance for homeowners in California.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Large scale simulation study investigating the effects of cool roofs and walls on buildings of various vintages across the U.S., with special attention given to California.
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing steps homeowners can take to prepare their home and car for winter storms.
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing steps homeowners can take to prepare their home and car for winter storms.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing the acceptable underlayment alternatives including ASTM D6757 Underlayment Felt Containing Inorganic Fibers for Steep-Slope Roofing for certain applications.
Organization(s)
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network,
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
A nine-part fact sheet covering a variety of common questions surrounding wildfires and how to make a home more resilient to wildfires.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
NFPA standard for design and installation of indoor automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota
Publication Date
Description
Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.
Organization(s)
Vinyl Siding Institute
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing proper methods for installing vinyl siding and soffit coverings in high wind and coastal areas.
Organization(s)
Montana State University Extension,
MSU Extension
Publication Date
Description
Article from Montana State University Extension explaining how proper insulation techniques can greatly reduce the risks of ice dams on roofs in cold climate zones.