Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Description
Article describing different kinds of water-resistant backer boards.
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 - 50 of 52
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information about dense pack, cellulose insulation.
Organization(s)
Energy Vanguard
Publication Date
Description
Article describing products that can enhance the efficiency and safety of clothes dryer vents.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Paper examining the monitored performance of four newly constructed near zero energy homes in Florida.
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing guidance on how to improve the wind resistance of existing residential buildings in Mississippi and across the Gulf Coast.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing NFIP requirements for repairs, remodeling, and additions, and discussing opportunities for retrofitting in coastal flood hazard areas with recommendations for exceeding the minimum NFIP requirements; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction...
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Description
If your kitchen has a powerful exhaust fan, it may be pulling air down your chimney or water-heater flue.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Report on the performance of range hood exhaust fans.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about mold mitigation.
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Research study exploring retrofit procedures and simulated post-occupancy data for three homes in an effort to determine the effectiveness of retrofit packages.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Florida Home Energy and Resources Organization,
Florida HERO,
Energy Smart Home Plans,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Document presenting a cost effective method that was used by four builders in the Gainesville, FL area to construct interior ducts in over a dozen site built homes.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report highlighting the evaluation methods used and extent of wind washing found in a study analyzing wind washing in thirty-two two-story homes.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
J. Neymark & Associates
Publication Date
Description
Document providing an example procedure for establishing acceptance-range criteria to assess results from software undergoing BESTEST-EX.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
J. Neymark & Associates
Publication Date
Description
Document providing an example procedure for establishing acceptance-range criteria to assess results from software undergoing BESTEST-EX.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Description
Report presenting the process of a residential retrofit project for houses in the states of Florida and Alabama, including findings at the time of reporting and highlights of the first home to meet the target HERS Index of 70.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Presentation providing information about correctly installing ductwork in new and existing homes.
Organization(s)
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
Publication Date
Description
Even as the worst housing market correction in more than 60 years appeared to turn a corner in 2009, the fallout from sharply lower home prices and high unemployment continued.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report evaluating the accuracy of the regression technique used in 2006 by using the same least-squares regression analysis on data created from hourly energy simulation software.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about air barriers.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about envelope and roof moisture control retrofit for a home.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about window retrofit strategies for hot-dry climates.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Brochure describing insulation and air-sealing details.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
EPA’s 2008 Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule (as amended in 2010 and 2011), aims to protect the public from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation, repair and painting activities.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report comparing the performance of seven differing types of residential water heating systems in a side-by-side test configuration over a full year period.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing the importance of system charging, superheat and subcooling.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing refrigerant line installation and system startup procedures.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report describing ventilation system design, including a central fan integrated supply (CFIS) system, made up of a 6-inch outdoor air intake duct connected to the return side of the air handler with a fan cycling control to make sure the fan runs a programmed minimum amount of time.
Organization(s)
National Association of Home Builders,
NAHB,
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA
Publication Date
Description
The objective of this research was to quantify the field performance of wood-frame walls clad with a variety of common claddings in a mixed-humid climate.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report identifying the steps to take, with the help of a qualified home performance contractor, to seal unwanted air leaks while ensuring healthy levels of ventilation and avoiding sources of indoor air pollution.
Organization(s)
University of Waterloo,
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document describing a hygrothermal modeling study, including all of the US climate zones, a range of interior humidity levels and numerous arrangements and types of insulation.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Building science insight into crawlspaces.
Organization(s)
California Department of Public Health (CDHP)
Publication Date
Description
Detailed requirements for testing, exposure modeling, and allowable limits for modeled indoor air concentrations.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Document providing background and approach for the prep work necessary prior to adding attic insulation - focusing on combustion safety, ventilation for indoor air quality, and attic ventilation for durability.
Organization(s)
Johns Manville
Publication Date
Description
The purpose for this document is to provide basic guidance on the use of proven installation techniques that can be used by installers to help ensure correct “dense pack” application of JM Spider® in drill & fill applications.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information about a roof retrofit using a metal, cool roof system.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing tankless hot water heating systems in existing homes.
Organization(s)
Green Seal
Publication Date
Description
Standards for paints and coatings.
Organization(s)
NAIMA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet with HVAC duct insulation, testing, maintenance and performance information.
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Publication Date
Description
Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.
Organization(s)
NFRC
Publication Date
Description
Standard for determining fenestration attachment product SHGC and visible transmittance.
Organization(s)
NFRC
Publication Date
Description
Standard providing a procedure for determining fenestration attachment product U-factors.
Organization(s)
Oklahoma State University,
OSU,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Description
Paper covering a parametric study of foundation heat exchanger-based ground source heat pump systems for several house configurations in a range of European locations, with an emphasis on determining feasible combinations.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about exterior insulation in the hot-dry climate zones.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about HVAC equipment design to maximize energy efficiency in the hot-dry climate zone.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing tankless hot water heating systems in existing homes.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing solar hot water systems in existing homes.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet about insulation retrofits for the hot-dry climate zones.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA
Publication Date
Description
Report summarizing information on wood as an engineering material, and presents properties of wood and wood-based products of particular concern to the architect and engineer.