Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet profiling a simple modification that can be made to window air-conditioners to improve their energy efficiency.
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 101 - 146 of 146
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Australian Government
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing guidance on the use of thermal mass with passive heating and cooling strategies.
Organization(s)
Arborilogical Services Inc
Publication Date
Description
Article describing tree preservation during the construction process.
Organization(s)
Permaculture Research Institute
Publication Date
Description
Article describing earthship homes.
Organization(s)
GCCA,
R20
Publication Date
Description
Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.
Organization(s)
California Public Utilities Commission,
CPUC
Publication Date
Description
Document describing recommended modeling rules, potential compliance credits, and eligibility criteria for residential night ventilation cooling systems for California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards.
Organization(s)
Ready.gov,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
USDHS
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from Ready.gov explaining what qualifies as 'extreme heat', how to be safe during an extreme heat event, and how to prepare for extreme heat in homes
Organization(s)
University of Western Australia,
Auburn University
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing the effects of tree shade on residential electricity consumption and energy savings in summer and winter.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article from Building Science Corporation on construction techniques for extreme heat conditions in Dubai and Las Vegas.
Organization(s)
International Society of Arboriculture
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing an experiment to quantify shade tree impacts on cooling-related electricity consumption, finding that there may be sizable benefits in hot regions.
Organization(s)
University of Texas
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.
Organization(s)
Big Ass Fans,
HPAC Engineering
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how air speed affects thermal comfort and how fans can provide energy savings.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Guidance document describing urban heat islands, what they are, how they form, why we care, and including some strategies to reduce them.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure providing information on the design of the EPA Region 8 headquarters in Denver, CO.
Organization(s)
USFA
Publication Date
Description
Manual describing scientific, technical, and practical information needed to work with communities on urban forestry, including a section on trees and construction.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook meant to provide public officials with information on excessive heat event.
Organization(s)
Australian Council of Building Design Professions Ltd,
BDP
Publication Date
Description
Design guide providing technical information regarding building with thermal mass.
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.
Organization(s)
AEC,
App State
Publication Date
Description
Study from Appalachian State University on passive solar design to take advantage of local climate zones for energy conservation.
Organization(s)
PG&E,
California Public Utilities Commission
Publication Date
Description
Technical fact sheet describing proper operation, sizing, and installation of whole-house fans.
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Public Interest Energy Research Program,
PIER,
Laboratory Directed Research and Development,
LDRD,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Description
Report detailing passive design strategies used at the Zion National Park Visitor Center, including evaporative cool towers.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy performance in side-by-side identical homes with varying roof types, including cool roof technologies.
Organization(s)
NAHB,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
HUD,
Office of Policy Development and Research,
PDR
Publication Date
Description
Article from NAHB research center describing home building techniques for homes in hot climate zones.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of various roof types on cooling energy performance in a test facility.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ECEEE
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing the effects of tree canopies on residential climates indicating tree cover to be beneficial to climate conditions
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Report describing a study using parametric computer simulations of 112 single-family and 63 multi-family residential building prototypes to quantify the contributions of building components such as roofs, walls, windows, infiltration, outside air, lighting, equipment, and people to the aggregate...
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Government of Canada
Publication Date
Description
Article by the Canadian Government on attic ventilation and considerations for moisture and ice dams.
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating,
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
Technical article presenting the results of an analysis on the effect of insect screens on window solar heat gain coefficients and U-values.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings in homes across the U.S. from the installation of roofing with higher solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing a study on savings in peak power and cooling energy for homes with shade trees.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Article describing what evaporative coolers are, how they work, different types, performance, where they are appropriate, and how to install and maintain them.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing energy savings in space cooling from shading condenser units.
Organization(s)
University of California Los Angeles,
UCLA
Publication Date
Description
Paper summarizing passive and low-energy cooling systems for buildings.
Organization(s)
University of California
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing landscaping influences on heat gain through shading, infiltration shielding, and microclimate creation for nearby buildings.
Organization(s)
MIT Press,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
MIT
Publication Date
Description
Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Van Nostrand Reinhold
Publication Date
Description
Book detailing passive cooling methods including airflow methods, evaporative cooling, and earth cooling.
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Technical research paper explaining how thermal mass influences heating and cooling energy needs.
Organization(s)
Northumberland County Conservation District,
Society of American Foresters
Publication Date
Description
Journal article describing energy impacts from shade trees and forests and solar heating and air infiltration.
Organization(s)
Florida International University,
Society of American Foresters
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing vegetation impacts on cooling load for buildings.
Organization(s)
American Meteorological Society,
AMS
Publication Date
Description
Study on the effects of wind, radiation, and pressure on apparent temperature.
Organization(s)
Princeton University
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing wind influences on air infiltration related energy losses for residential housing and the shielding effects of fences, adjacent structures, and vegetation.
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.