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Library

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 51 - 100 of 109

Fort Benning Indianhead Townhome Renovations

Author(s)
Stephenson R,
Roberts S,
Butler Tom,
Kim E
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Southface Energy Institute,
SEI
Publication Date
Report outlining the energy upgrade package implemented in Ft. Benning, GA, Indianhead Townhomes project and the findings of the Southface Energy Institute's post-renovation analysis.

Greenbelt Homes Pilot Energy Efficiency Programs Phase 1 Summary: Existing Conditions and Baseline Energy Use

Author(s)
Wiehagen Joseph,
Del Bianco Marie,
Wood Amber
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report detailing field walk-through evaluations, energy simulations for projected savings with exterior insulation upgrades, building envelope energy improvement cost estimates, and installation and maintenance of monitoring equipment and data.

Greenbuilt Retrofit Test House Final Report

Author(s)
Earle Lieko,
Tabares-Velasco Paulo Cesar,
Barker Greg M,
Hudon Kate,
Sparn Bethany,
Hancock C E
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Mountain Energy Partnership
Publication Date
Research report presenting results of short term tests on measures used in an energy efficiency retrofit project in California.

Guide for Team Leaders to Help Disaster Victims Get Back to a Healthy Home

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
Organization(s)
HUD,
CDC,
EPA,
FEMA,
OSHA
Publication Date
Guidance from HUD for volunteer team leaders, project managers and supervisors who work in recovery and rebuilding after natural disasters.

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

Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety

Author(s)
California Seismic Safety Commission
Organization(s)
SSC,
State of California
Publication Date
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.

Housing Stock Characterization Study: An Innovative Approach to Measuring Retrofit Impact

Author(s)
Kipp Jennison M,
Taylor Nicholas W,
Jones Pierce H
Organization(s)
Building Energy Efficient Housing for America,
BEEHA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report detailing an evaluation of Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) residential energy efficiency demand side management (DSM) programs to assess their impacts and relative measures of energy and economic performance.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)
Neuhauser Ken,
Gates Cathy,
Pettit Betsy
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

Measured Performance of Occupied, Side-by-Side, South Texas Homes

Author(s)
Chasar Dave,
vonSchramm Valerie
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report summarizing a case study about the performance of three occupied homes built in 2009 in San Antonio, Texas.

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
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.

National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot

Author(s)
Neuhauser Ken
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report about a test home project evaluating strategies to elevate the performance of existing homes to a level commensurate with best-in-class implementation of high performance new construction homes.

Newporter Apartments: Deep Energy Retrofit Short-Term Results

Author(s)
Gordon Andrew,
Howard Luke,
Kunkle Rick,
Lubliner Michael,
Auer Dan,
Clegg Zach
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report demonstrating cost-effective energy savings targets as well as improved comfort and indoor environmental quality associated with deep energy retrofits by a large public housing authority as part of a larger rehabilitation effort.

NightCool: A Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept

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

Performance Evaluation and Opportunity Assessment for St. Bernard Project

Author(s)
Dickson Bruce
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report providing information about improving the energy efficiency and long-term durability of the buildings that are being reconstructed post Katrina in New Orleans.

Performance of a Hot-Dry Climate Whole-House Retrofit

Author(s)
German Alea,
Porse Erik,
Weitzel Elizabeth
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Report presenting performance results from tests conducted on an energy efficiency retrofit project in Stockton, California.

Performance of Four Near Zero Energy Homes: Lessons Learned

Author(s)
Colon Carlos J,
Parker Danny S,
Martin Eric,
Sherwin John S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Paper examining the monitored performance of four newly constructed near zero energy homes in Florida.

Phased Retrofits in Existing Homes in Florida Phase I: Shallow and Deep Retrofits

Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
Chasar Dave,
Montemumo Joseph,
Amos Bryan,
Kono Jamie E,
Parker Danny S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report describing research on how to reduce energy used by residential homes by applying shallow and deep retrofits to an existing home.

Phased Retrofits in Existing Homes in Florida Phase II: Shallow Plus Retrofits

Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
Martin Eric,
Chasar Dave,
Amos Bryan,
Parker Danny S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC
Publication Date
Report describing single retrofit measures applied to shallow retrofitted homes that could be used to refine the deep retrofit package.

Pilot Evaluation of Energy Savings and Persistence from Residential Energy Demand Feedback Devices in a Hot Climate

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Hoak David,
Cummings Jamie E
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
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.

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
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.

Public Housing: A Tailored Approach to Energy Retrofits

Author(s)
Dentz Jordan,
Conlin Francis,
Podorson David,
Alaigh Kunal,
Davis T
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions,
ARIES,
Levy Partnership,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report presenting ways public housing authorities (PHAs) can develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost-effectively implement with their own staff in the normal course of housing operations at the time when units are refurbished between occupancies.

Rebuild Healthy Homes App - (IOS)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
App developed by HUD to assist homeowners with lead paint and other hazards common to older homes.

Residential Best Practices Criteria, Info-001

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
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.

Results From Development of Model Specifications for Multifamily Energy Retrofits

Author(s)
Brozyna Kevin
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report describing how modification of model specifications to include guidance on energy efficiency measures can create a greater level of consistency in executing energy efficiency retrofit measures across the multiple regions where a developer may work.

Retrofit Audits and Cost Estimates: A Look at Quality and Consistency

Author(s)
Eisenberg Liz,
Shapiro Carl,
Fleischer Wendy
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report describing research efforts focused on examining the audit reports for quality, comprehensiveness, and consistency.

Retrofitting a 1960s Split-Level, Cold-Climate Home

Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Report on air-sealing programs for energy-efficiency retrofits.

Retrofitting America: A 1970s Home Energy Efficiency Analysis

Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Report about a tool developed to enable users to compare a typical 1970s ranch home against an IECC 2009 code-compliant home of the same configuration and against the 70s base case plus retrofits.

Retrofitting the Southeast: The Cool Energy House

Author(s)
Puttagunta Srikanth,
Vijayakumar Gayathri,
Shapiro Carl,
Zoeller William
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report about a deep energy retrofit Cool Energy House.

ReVision Home: Plumbing Fixtures

Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Information sheet describing tankless hot water heating systems in existing homes.

ReVision Home: Solar Hot Water

Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Information sheet describing solar hot water systems in existing homes.

ReVision Home: Weatherization Products

Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Information sheet about envelope and roof moisture control retrofit for a home.

Short-Term Test Results: Multifamily Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit

Author(s)
Lyons James
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report summarizing commissioning, short-term testing, and analysis that occurred before, during, and just after the actual retrofit of the Bay Ridge project.

Short-Term Test Results: Transitional Housing Energy Efficiency Retrofit in the Hot Humid Climate

Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
Martin Eric
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report evaluating the renovation of a 5,800-ft2, multiuse facility located in St. Petersburg, on the west coast of central Florida, in the hot-humid climate.

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

Sonoma House: Monitoring of the First U.S. Passive House Retrofit

Author(s)
German Alea,
Weitzel B,
Backman Christine,
Hoeschele Marc,
Dakin Bill
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Research study presenting a unique opportunity to both identify and evaluate deep retrofit measures that are practical and potentially cost effective for the retrofit market, as well as review the cost effectiveness of the Passive House design approach for achieving energy savings in deep retrofits.

Strategy Guideline: Application of a Construction Quality Process to Existing Home Retrofits

Author(s)
Mallay David,
Del Bianco Marie
Organization(s)
Partnership for Home Innovation,
PHI,
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report following the evolution of the construction quality process from its development for new homes to its application construction of a HPH with enhanced specifications, and its application in a crawlspace renovation.

Strategy Guideline: Mitigation of Retrofit Risk Factors

Author(s)
Berman Mark,
Smith Pepper,
Porse Erik
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Document targeting retrofit program managers, retrofit contractors, policy makers, academic researchers, and non-governmental organizations that work to realize energy savings from home energy upgrades (HEUs).

Test Methods and Protocols for Environmental and Safety Hazards Associated with Home Energy Retrofits

Author(s)
Viner James E,
Pearce M,
Cautley Dan,
Lord M
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership,
NorthernSTAR,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Minnesota,
UMN,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report using data from various sources to characterize the impact on human health and property damage from indoor environmental quality and other hazards.

The Next Step Toward Widespread Residential Deep Energy Retrofits

Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Martin Eric,
Elam Laura,
Baden Steve,
Bordelon Ed,
Saunders Susan
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
TexEnergy Solutions,
Residential Energy Services Network,
RESNET
Publication Date
Report providing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis inherent to different models as a way of thinking about the transition from traditional business models into a viable model for delivering deep energy retrofits.

The reHABITAT Guide: For Energy- and Resource-Efficient Retrofit Strategies

Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Steven Winter Associates
Organization(s)
CARB,
NREL,
SWA
Publication Date
Report developed for Habitat for Humanity about lessons learned from demonstration retrofit projects undertaken by Habitat for Humanity affiliates in New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania; with building systems consulting and technical assistance provided by Steven Winter Associates.

The Role of Appraisals in Energy Efficiency Financing

Author(s)
Doyle Victoria
Organization(s)
Building Industry Research Alliance,
BIRA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Research study identifying barriers, industry status, critical obstacles to documenting added value from energy efficiency improvements, current opportunities to support reporting about energy efficiency, and next steps toward enabling energy efficiency financing market transformation.