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 - 19 of 19

Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps: Market Status, Barriers to Adoption, and Actions to Overcome Barriers

Author(s)

Hughes Patrick J

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

December, 2008

Report investigating the status of the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry and technology in the United States, assembling GHP energy savings potential, identifying key barriers to application of GHPs, and identifying actions that could accelerate adoption of GHPs.

Research Results from A Few Alternate Methods of Interior Duct Systems in Factory Built Housing Located In the Hot Humid Climate

Author(s)

Moyer Neil,

Stroer Dennis,

Hoak David,

McIlvaine Janet,

Chandra Subrato

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC,

Calcs Plus

Publication Date

December, 2008

Document presenting results from testing prototype HVAC duct system designs that would locate the entire length of duct work within the air and thermal barriers of the building envelope. These include one that incorporated a high-side supply register, one that utilized a single soffit located within...

Ceiling Fans - Tips for Maximizing Energy Savings

Author(s)

Calwell Chris,

Horowitz Noah

Organization(s)

Massachusetts Department of Energy,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

Home Energy Magazine,

State of Massachusetts

Publication Date

October, 2008

Article describing customer tip sheet and how ceiling fans are one of the most popular and generally well regarded of all home energy efficiency features.

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.

Very Low Energy Homes in the United States: Perspectives on Performance from Measured Data

Author(s)

Parker Danny S

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

September, 2008

Document describing the measured annual performance data from 12 recent-vintage very low energy homes in the US.

How Energy Efficient are Modern Dishwashers?

Author(s)

Hoak David,

Parker Danny S,

Hermelink Andreas H

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

August, 2008

Report about measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers.

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

August, 2008

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.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

Author(s)

Lubliner Michael,

Kerr Ryan,

Gordon Andrew,

Murray Chuck

Organization(s)

WSU Extension Energy Program,

Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development

Publication Date

August, 2008

Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.

Fixing Air Leakage in Connecticut Town Houses

Author(s)

Moriarta Courtney

Organization(s)

Home Energy Magazine,

National Property Inspections,

NPI

Publication Date

July, 2008

Journal article describing energy and cost savings potential from air sealing multifamily town homes.

Concrete Floor Problems, BSI-003

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

June, 2008

Information guide describing issues with concrete floors, in multiple climate zones.

Gable End Retrofit Guide

Author(s)

Florida Division of Emergency Management

Organization(s)

Florida Disaster

Publication Date

May, 2008

Guide describing retrofit procedures for gable end roofs.

Evaluation of the NightCool Nocturnal Radiation Cooling Concept: Annual Performance Assessment in Scale Test Buildings Stage Gate 1B

Author(s)

Parker Danny S,

Sherwin John S

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

March, 2008

Report about an experimental evaluation conducted on a night sky cooling system designed to substantially reduce space cooling needs in homes in North American climates.

Towards Sustainability - Green Building, Sustainability Objectives, and Building America Whole House Systems Research, BA-0801

Author(s)

Lukachko Alex,

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

February, 2008

Report discussing Building America whole house systems research within the broad effort to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of building and provides specific recommendations for future Building America research based on Building Science Corporations experience with several recent...

Alaska Residential Building Manual, 7th Edition

Author(s)

Deer Charlie,

George Marquam,

Kaluza Phil,

Loudon Phil,

Moore Ginny,

Musick Mike,

Musick Ritchie,

Woodward John,

Seifert Richard

Organization(s)

University of Alaska,

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation

Publication Date

February, 2008

Manual describing best practices or home construction in Alaska and northern climates.

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.

Fiberglass Duct Board - Fabrication Instructions

Author(s)

Johns Manville

Organization(s)

Johns Manville

Publication Date

January, 2008

Information sheet providing detail about hand fabrication of a one-piece straight duct from a 48" x 120" x 1" thick (1.22 m x 3.05 m x 25 mm) sheet where the total inside duct dimensions equals 112" (2.84 m) or less.

Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site-Built Single Family Residential Structures, Florida Statutes Section 553.844

Author(s)

Florida Building Code

Organization(s)

FBC

Publication Date

January, 2008

Article presenting the 2008 update on the 2006 details on when required hurricane mitigation retrofits are required and the cost cap on required hurricane mitigation retrofits.

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.

Thermal Bypass Checklist Guide

Author(s)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Organization(s)

EPA

Publication Date

January, 2008

Document providing an overview of the Thermal Bypass Checklist for the ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes program.