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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 701 - 750 of 752

Ultra-Low Energy Residences

Author(s)
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Case study about affordable housing in a mixed, humid climate.

Strategies for Energy Efficient Remodeling: SEER 2003 Case Study Report

Author(s)
Drumheller S Craig,
Wiehagen Joseph
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Report providing information based on research and case studies, to remodelers and consumers about opportunities to increase home energy performance.

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.

Community-Scale Evaluation Results, BA-0405

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Report investigating the nature, strength, and durability of connections between high performance dwellings and developments.

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
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.

Garage Performance Testing

Author(s)
Health Canada,
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Organization(s)
CMHC,
Environment Canada
Publication Date
Results from a research program testing airtightness, implications of air leakage and contaminant reduction over the garage-to-house interface.

Choosing Thermostatic Radiator Valves

Author(s)
Gifford Henry
Organization(s)
American Boiler Manufacturers Association
Publication Date
Part 2 of an article discussing how to maximize two-pipe steam systems for resident space heating.

Toward Simple, Affordable Zero Energy Houses

Author(s)
Christian Jeffrey E,
Beal David,
Kerrigan Philip
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Paper describing testing for the first of a series of six near net-zero-energy test houses, using the results to work towards the construction of a true net-zero-energy house.

Heat your Water with the Sun

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Provides consumers with general information on solar water heating systems and how to select a contractor.

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.

Characterization of Framing Factors for Wood-Framed Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Carpenter Stephen C,
Schumacher Christopher
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Case study characterizing the framing factors for the exterior walls, ceilings, and floors of 180 wood-framed low-rise residential buildings across the United States.

Unvented Roof Summary, RR-0301

Author(s)
Ueno Kohta
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Document summarizing the various papers on unvented conditioned cathedralized attics found on BSC's website.

Basement Insulation Systems, BA-0202

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Report describing approaches to insulating basements in homes built to meet Energy Star levels of performance of heat loss reduction.

Design and Construction of Interior Duct System

Author(s)
McIlvaine Janet E R,
Beal David,
Fairey Philip W
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
This study focuses on the design, construction, and performance of the interior chase approach as implemented by five different builders in Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.

PV Primer, BA-0212

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Report aiming to "de-mystify" technology and economic considerations of residential PV systems.

Air Leakage in Recessed Lighting

Author(s)
Van der Meer Bill
Organization(s)
Pennsylvania Housing Research/Resource Center,
PHRC
Publication Date
Article describing recessed lighting, which if installed incorrectly may contribute to air leakage and compromise building envelope efficiency.

Energy Retrofitting Advanced Technologies in a Hot Climate, Henderson Nevada

Author(s)
National Association of Home Builders
Organization(s)
NAHB,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
HUD,
Office of Policy Development and Research,
PDR
Publication Date
Article from NAHB research center describing home building techniques for homes in hot climate zones.

High Hats, Swiss Cheese, and Fluorescent Lighting?

Author(s)
McCullough Jeff J,
Gordon Kelly L
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Report discussing the potential energy savings of new high-efficiency downlights, and the results of product testing to date.

Air Infiltration from Attached Garages in Canadian Houses

Author(s)
Fugler Don
Organization(s)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation,
CMHC,
Environment Canada,
Health Canada,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Document reporting results from a study done to evaluate effects of automotive emissions from attached garages on the indoor environment.

Thermal Protection in Recessed Luminaires

Author(s)
Pierce Jim
Organization(s)
Independent Alliance of the Electrical Industry,
IAEI
Publication Date
Article on thermal protectors in recessed light fixtures.

Attached Garages and Indoor Air Quality

Author(s)
Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre
Organization(s)
AIVC
Publication Date
Report describing information for builders and retrofitters about eliminating hazards and coincidental energy losses that come from attached garages.

Technology Fact Sheet: Weather-Resistive Barriers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Brochure with information about how to select and install house wrap and other weather-resistive barriers.

Ceilings and Attics

Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Organization(s)
ORNL,
SEI
Publication Date
Information sheet with information about insulating and ventilating attics.

Air Sealing - Seal Air Leaks and Save Energy!

Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE,
SEI
Publication Date
Brochure describing the benefits of air-sealing for homeowners.

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.

The Performance Check Between Whole Building Thermal Performance Criteria and Exterior Wall Measured Clear Wall R-Value, Thermal Bridging, thermal mass and airtightness

Author(s)
Kosny Jan,
Christian Jeffrey E,
Desjarlais Andre O,
Kossecka Elisabeth,
Berrenberg Lance
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Polish Academy of Sciences,
PAN,
American Polysteel Forms,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Paper that illustrates a performance check between the thermal performance of a Massive Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) wall system mocked up and Whole Building Performance criteria such as total space heating and cooling loads (thermal comfort).

Is Your Home Ready for an Earthquake?

Author(s)
Yeats Robert
Organization(s)
Oregon State University
Publication Date
Article describing dozens of ideas on how to retrofit a home so it is more earthquake ready.

Wood Drying: Equilibrium Moisture Content

Author(s)
University of Minnesota,
NorthernSTAR
Organization(s)
UMN,
NSTAR
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the moisture properties of wood.

Thermal Performance and Wall Ratings

Author(s)
Christian Jeffrey E,
Kosny Jan
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL
Publication Date
Report proposing a procedure for estimating the whole opaque wall R-value (whole-wall R-value), independent of system type and construction materials.

Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) Demonstration Project

Author(s)
McNamara Michael
Organization(s)
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority,
NYSERDA
Publication Date
This report describes the results of a multiyear research project that investigated the energy savings attributable to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) installed on one-pipe steam distribution systems.

Combustion Appliance Safety & Efficiency Testing

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Information sheet summarizing inspection and testing of combustion appliances taught during the 2006 Florida whole-house weatherization training as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hot Climate Initiative.

Radon Mitigation Standards

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Standard providing information on contractors who offer radon control services to homeowners.

Carbon Monoxide - Environmental Health Effects Research Series

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
National Service Center for Environmental Publications
Organization(s)
EPA,
NSCEP
Publication Date
Source for information about Carbon Monoxide including health effects and measures to reduce exposure.