Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 21 of 21

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Mixed-Humid Climate, Volume 16

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Adams Karen T,

Butner Ryan S,

Ortiz S J,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2011

Report describing measures that builders in mixed-humid climates can use to build homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Building America Performance Analysis Procedures, Revision 1

Author(s)

Hendron Robert,

Anderson Ren,

Judkoff Ron,

Christensen Craig B,

Eastment Mark,

Norton Paul,

Reeves Paul,

Hancock Ed

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Partnership for Resource Conservation,

Mountain Energy Partnership,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

June, 2004

Document illustrating some analysis concepts that are proven to be effective and reliable in analyzing the transient energy usage of advanced energy systems as well as of entire houses.

Building Science Corporation (BSC) Building America Quality Control Checklist, GM-0802

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

October, 2008

Document with the Quality Control Checklist developed as both a guide to assist in the transition to high performance home building, and as a simplified tool to be used as part of any builder's on-site quality control procedures.

Carpentry, 7th Edition

Author(s)

Koel Leonard

Organization(s)

American Technical Publishers,

ATP

Publication Date

January, 2023

Book describing Carpentry and Construction, Construction Materials, Hand Tools, Power Tools, Construction Equipment, Jobsite Safety, and Working Conditions, Building Design and Print reading, Inspections Survey Instruments and Operations, Foundation and Outdoor Slab Construction, Floor, Wall, and...

Comparison of the ENERGYGAUGE USA and BEopt Building Energy Simulation Programs

Author(s)

Parker Danny S,

Cummings Jamie E

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

August, 2009

Two hourly energy simulation software, BEopt and Energy Gauge USA, were compared to ensure accuracy and evaluate agreement on the impact of various energy efficiency improvements.

Construction Instruction

Author(s)

Construction Instruction Experience Center

Organization(s)

CIEC

Publication Date

March, 2021

Website providing building science based guidance and training for residential construction.

Deep in Data: Empirical Data Based Software Accuracy Testing Using the Building America Field Data Repository

Author(s)

Neymark Joel,

Roberts David

Organization(s)

J. Neymark & Associates,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

June, 2013

Report describing the progress toward and issues related to developing a usable, standardized, empirical data-based software accuracy test suite.

DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

Author(s)

NC Clean Energy Technology Center

Organization(s)

NC Clean Energy Technology Center,

North Carolina State University,

NC State University

Publication Date

July, 2020

Website for finding policies and incentives by state for renewables and efficiency.

Electric Energy Management in the Smart Home: Perspectives on Enabling Technologies and Consumer Behavior

Author(s)

Zipperer Adam,

Aloise-Young Patricia A.,

Suryanarayanan Siddharth,

Roche Robin,

Earle Lieko,

Christensen Dane,

Bauleo Pablo,

Zimmerle Daniel

Organization(s)

Colorado State University,

CSU,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard,

UTBM,

Fort Collins Utilities

Publication Date

August, 2013

Journal article presenting a discussion of the state-of-the- art in electricity management in smart homes, the various enabling technologies that will accelerate this concept, and topics around consumer behavior with respect to energy usage.

Healthy and Affordable Housing: Practical Recommendations for Building, Renovating and Maintaining Housing

Author(s)

Brennan Terry,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2001

Document providing guidance about building healthy homes using building science principles.

Home Energy Displays: Consumer Adoption and Response

Author(s)

LaMarche Janelle,

Cheney Kate,

Akers Craig,

Roth Kurt,

Sachs Olga

Organization(s)

Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,

Fraunhofer CSE,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

December, 2012

Research study investigating the factors influencing consumer adoption of HEDs and evaluating the resulting electricity consumption.

IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction

Author(s)

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association

Organization(s)

SMACNA

Publication Date

January, 2008

Book providing project management guidance in maintaining satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) of occupied buildings undergoing renovation or construction.

Increasing the Durability of Building Constructions, BSD-144

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSD

Publication Date

December, 2006

Report discussing the importance of durability and energy efficiency in building construction.

Method for Determining Optimal Residential Energy Efficiency Packages

Author(s)

Polly Benjamin,

Gestwick Mike,

Bianchi Marcus V A,

Anderson Ren,

Horowitz Scott,

Christensen Craig B,

Judkoff Ron

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

April, 2011

Report describing an analysis method for determining optimal residential energy efficiency retrofit packages and applies the analysis method to a 1960s-era home in eight U.S. cities.

Pilot Evaluation of Energy Savings from Residential Energy Demand Feedback Devices

Author(s)

Parker Danny S,

Hoak David,

Cummings Jamie E

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

January, 2008

Report briefly reviewing past research on the effects of occupant behavior on residential energy use and then covering a two year pilot evaluation of a low cost residential energy feedback system installed in twenty case study homes in Florida.

Residential Best Practices Criteria, Info-001

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2013

Document containing some of the basic characteristics for energy performance, durability, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality that should be met in all high performance homes.

Sensitivity Analysis of Installation Faults on Heat Pump Performance

Author(s)

Piotr Domanski,

Hugh Henderson,

Payne W Vance

Organization(s)

National Institute of Standards and Technology,

NIST

Publication Date

September, 2014

Technical study exploring the impact of different installation faults on heat pump performance in a single-family house.

Small House with Construction Cost of $100K, Total Energy Cost of $0.88 a Day

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E,

Childs Phillip W,

Pate Paige,

Atchley Jerald A

Organization(s)

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Publication Date

January, 2006

Paper describing the development and testing of an affordable net-zero energy house in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Ultra-Low Energy Residences

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E

Organization(s)

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE

Publication Date

January, 2005

Case study about affordable housing in a mixed, humid climate.

Western Red Cedar Siding General Installation

Author(s)

Western Red Cedar Lumber Association

Organization(s)

Western Red Cedar Lumber Association

Publication Date

September, 2024

Webpage describing how to flashing installation

Why Expansion Tanks Need to be Understood

Author(s)

Eatherton Mark

Organization(s)

Contractor Magazine

Publication Date

January, 2000

Article explaining the importance of expansion tank knowledge.