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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 301 - 350 of 407

Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems Utilizing Foundation Heat Exchangers

Author(s)
Spitler Jeffrey D,
Xing Lu,
Cullin James R,
Fisher Daniel E,
Shonder John,
Im Piljae
Organization(s)
Oklahoma State University,
OSU,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
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.

Residential Solar Hot Water Systems

Author(s)
North Carolina Solar Center
Organization(s)
North Carolina State University
Publication Date
Brochure with information on residential solar hot water systems.

Retrofit Decision Tool

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Organization(s)
U.S. DOE
Publication Date
The Retrofit Decision Tool is an online tool to help homeowners, multifamily building owners and contractors to start the conversation about which retrofits they can employ to achieve zero-carbon-alignment.

Retrofit Improvements - Fuel Tank Anchoring

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A guide on how to anchor fuel tanks to avoid damage from flooding and seismic events to the home by using straps and solid concrete slabs.

Retrofitting PSC Motors with ECMs

Author(s)
Anesi Jen
Organization(s)
Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration News,
ACHR News
Publication Date
Article describing how replacing permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors with electronically commutated motors (ECM) can boost bottom line for HVAC contractors as well as improve customer comfort and satisfaction.

Revised Analysis of Efficiency Standards for Pool Pumps and Motors, and Spas

Author(s)
Fischel Ben,
Steffensen Sean
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC
Publication Date
This report discusses proposed updates to the pool pumps and motors, and portable electric spas standards in the Appliance Efficiency Regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601 to 1609). These proposed updates are part of the 2012 Appliance Efficiency Rulemaking, Phase I...

Rodent Exclusion Methods

Author(s)
Wildlife Damage Management
Organization(s)
Wildlife Damage Management
Publication Date
Website providing information about how to prevent rodent entry in homes.

Saving Energy through Advanced Power Strips

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Infographic providing details on choosing the right advanced power strip based on your habits to reduce the electricity wasted when your electronic devices are idle.

Sidewall Blowing Tips and Tricks

Author(s)
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Organization(s)
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Publication Date
High-density sidewall cavity insulation can be a major comfort and savings boost. It saves energy by slowing both conductive and convective losses, but only if the right things are done and done right. This always requires site-specific thinking.

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.

Smart Water Heater Pilot

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Website providing consumers with resources to find, select and install heat pump water heaters.

Smoke-Free Housing

Author(s)
Tobacco Free NYS
Organization(s)
Tobacco Free NYS
Publication Date
Initiatives of smoke-free housing policies in New York State.

Smoke-Free Public Housing and Multifamily Properties

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
Toolkits for residents and owner/managers who live and work in federally assisted housing.

Solar Photovoltaic - Specification, Checklist and Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Guidelines to assist builders in designing and constructing homes equipped with a set of features that make the installation of solar energy systems after the completion of the home’s construction easier and less expensive.

Solar Ready Buildings Planning Guide

Author(s)
Lisell Lars,
Tetreault Tim,
Watson Andrea
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report identifying the important aspects of building design and construction to enable installation of solar photovoltaic and heating systems at some time after the building is constructed.

Solar Water Heating - Specification, Checklist and Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
The RERH specifications and checklists take a builder and a project design team through the steps of assessing a home’s solar resource potential and defining the minimum structural and system components needed to support a solar energy system.

Solar Water Heating - Specification, Checklist and Guide

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Specifications to assist builders in designing and constructing homes equipped with a set of features that make the installation of solar energy systems after the completion of the home’s construction easier and less expensive.

Standard 62.2-2016 - Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, ANSI/ASHRAE

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Standard that defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise residential buildings. This version of the standard was published in the year 2016, and is available for...

Standard for Performance Rating of Residential Air Filter Equipment, Standard 680, ANSI/AHRI

Author(s)
American National Standards Institute,
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
ANSI,
AHRI
Publication Date
Standard 680 establishes definitions, classifications, test requirements, data requirements, ratings, operating requirements, marking and nameplate data and conformance conditions for residential air filter equipment.

Standard for testing Airtightness of Building Enclosures, Airtightness of Heating and Cooling Air Distribution Systems, and Airflow of Mechanical Ventilation Systems, ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380-2016

Author(s)
International Code Council,
Residential Energy Services Network,
American National Standards Institute
Organization(s)
ICC,
RESNET,
ANSI
Publication Date
This Standard provides a consistent, uniform methodology for evaluating the airtightness of building envelopes and heating and cooling air ducts and the air flows of mechanical ventilation systems.

Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster, ASTM C 926-22c

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2022, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...

Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster, ASTM C 926-23

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2023, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...

Standard Specification for Elastomeric Cellular Preformed Gasket and Sealing Material, ASTM C509-06(2011)

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard specification covering elastomeric cellular preformed gasket and sealing materials. This version of the standard was published in the year 2011 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions of the standard were published in the years 2021, 2015, 2006, and...

Standard Specification for Elastomeric Cellular Preformed Gasket and Sealing Material, ASTM C509-06(2021)

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard specification covering elastomeric cellular preformed gasket and sealing materials. This version of the standard was published in the year 2021 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. Other versions of the standard were published in the years 2015, 2011, 2006, and...

Standard Specification for Elastomeric Joint Sealants, ASTM C920-18

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard specification covering the properties of a cured single- or multicomponent cold-applied elastomeric joint sealant for sealing, caulking, or glazing operations on buildings, plazas, and decks for vehicular or pedestrian use, and types of construction other than highway and airfield pavements...

Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization, ASTM E779-19

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Standard describing a test method measuring air-leakage rates through a building envelope under controlled pressurization and de-pressurization which was published in the year 2019 and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link.

Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus, ASTM C518-21

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Test method providing a rapid means of determining the steady-state thermal transmission properties of thermal insulations and other materials with a high level of accuracy when the apparatus has been calibrated appropriately. This version of the standard was published in the year 2021 and is...

Stop Pests in Housing

Author(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
Organization(s)
Northeastern IPM Center
Publication Date
Website providing information on all types of pest management for multi-family housing.

Storm Water Technology Fact Sheet - Vegetated Swales

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Document describing correct construction of swales, designed to trap particulate pollutants (suspended solids and trace metals), promote infiltration, and reduce the flow velocity of storm water runoff.

Storm Windows

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
ENERGY STAR webpage describing the benefits of storm windows and a link to a product list.

Storm Windows Key Product Criteria

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Webpage providing an ENERGY STAR climate zone map and criteria for ENERGY STAR storm windows per climate zone.