Skip to main content

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 - 14 of 14 results:

Cost, Design, and Performance of Solar Hot Water in Cold-Climate Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Vijayakumar Gayathri
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Report describing the monitored long-term performance of two solar domestic water heating systems in northern climates.

Evaluation of CNT Energy Savers Retrofit Packages Implemented in Multifamily Buildings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Farley Jene,
Ruch Russell
·
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report exploring feasibility of designing prescriptive retrofit measure packages for typical Chicago region multifamily buildings in order to achieve 25% source energy savings.

Field and Laboratory Testing of Approaches to Smart Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation Control

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Martin Eric,
Fenaughty Karen,
Parker Danny S
·
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report outlining how Smart ventilation controls (SVC) balance energy consumption, comfort, and IAQ by optimizing mechanical ventilation operation to reduce the heating and/or cooling loads, improve management of indoor moisture, and maintain IAQ equivalence according to ASHRAE 62.2.

General Solar Thermal Specification

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Brochure on specifications for solar thermal systems.

READ THIS: Before You Design, Build or Renovate, GM-0602

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Brennan Terry,
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Document with important building science considerations, designed for members of the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers who work in affordable housing.

Residential Mechanical Precooling

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
German Alea,
Hoeschele Marc
·
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Description
Report evaluating mechanical AC precooling strategies in homes as a method for improving the load factor by shifting cooling operation from on-peak to off-peak hours.

Retrofitting Forced Air Combi Systems: A Cold Climate Field Assessment

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
McAlpine Jake,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
University of Minnesota,
UMIN
Description
This project analyzed combined condensing water heaters or boilers and hydronic air coils to provide high efficiency domestic hot water (DHW) and forced air space heating. Called "combi" systems, they provided similar space and water heating performance less expensively than installing two...