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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 1 - 50 of 93

A Guide to Residential Energy Storage and Rooftop Solar: State Net Metering Policies and Utility Rate Tariff Structures

Author(s)
Kerby Jessica,
Tarekegne Bethel
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Article describing utility rates, net metering policies, installation costs, financial incentives, and other info for both consumers who are interested in installing renewable energy systems and for energy justice and clean energy advocates.

A Practical Guide to Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements

Author(s)
Global Cool Cities Alliance,
R20 Regions of Climate Action
Organization(s)
GCCA,
R20
Publication Date
Guide developed to help contractors, building operators, and city officials successfully adopt cool roof and pavement technology.

AC vs. DC Coupling Energy Storage Systems

Author(s)
Miller Lucas
Organization(s)
Mayfield Renewables
Publication Date
Website article describing the advantages and disadvantages of AC and DC battery energy storage systems and inverters for solar power systems.

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Comparison

Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of battery energy storage systems for solar power systems.

Cool Colored Materials for Roofs

Author(s)
Akbari Hashem,
Levinson Ronnen,
Wiel Stephen,
Miller William,
Jenkins Nancy,
Rosenfeld Arthur,
Scruton Chris,
Desjarlais Andre O
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Public Interest Energy Research Program,
PIER,
Laboratory Directed Research and Development,
LDRD,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.

Cool Roofs

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
ENERGY STAR webpage discussing the costs and benefits of cool roofs.

Cool Roofs Help Reduce Energy Costs

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Web page providing information on the types of cool roofs and their benefits to consumers.

Cool Surfaces Savings Explorer

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Tool developed by LBNL to calculate potential savings from increasing wall and roof solar reflectance.

Cooling Related Performance of Finished and Unfinished Metal Roofing Systems

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Sherwin John S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of finished and unfinished metal roofing systems on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

Discussion of Strategies for Mounting Photovoltaic Arrays on Rooftops

Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.

DOE Solar Decathlon Website

Author(s)
Solar Decathlon,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes

Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Fact sheet poster describing benefits and qualification of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) certified Zero Energy Ready Homes and providing eight examples of certified homes.

Energy-Efficient Florida Home Building, Third Printing

Author(s)
Vieira Robin K,
Sheinkopf Kenneth G,
Sonne Jeffrey K
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Document talking about the topic Energy-Efficient Florida Home Building.

Evaluation of Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes

Author(s)
Peterson Joseph M,
Sullivan Greg P,
Cort Katherine A,
Merzouk Massine B,
Weber JM
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Report describing the methods and results of a field evaluation of the energy performance of cellular shade window coverings.

Evaluation of Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes

Author(s)
Sullivan Greg P,
Cort Katherine A,
Merzouk Massine B,
Metzger Cheryn E,
Petersen Joseph M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using interior cellular shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain in summer and reduce heat loss in winter.

Evaluation of Exterior Shades at PNNL Lab Homes and Occupied Field Sites

Author(s)
Cort Katherine A,
Hunt Walter E
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental setup and results of field studies on using exterior fabric shading attachments to reduce solar heat gain, reduce glare, and improve comfort.

Evaluation of the Thermal and Moisture Performance of Insulating Shades

Author(s)
Cort Katherine A,
Pilet Tyler J,
Mullaly Stephen,
Bauer Eric
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating condensation buildup on windows when using insulating shades.

Flexible Roofing Facility: 2001 Summer Test Results

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Sonne Jeffrey K,
Sherwin John S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Study reporting the results of comparative testing of the effect of various roof types on cooling energy performance in a test facility.

For Homes

Author(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Website with information for consumers about solar thermal systems for homes.

General PV Specification

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Brochure on specifications for PV systems.

General Solar Thermal Specification

Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Brochure on specifications for solar thermal systems.

Geospatial Data Science

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
A website providing geospatial data , tools, and maps including data on the U.S. solar resources for solar power.

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings

Author(s)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website highlighting the DOE Building Technologies Office Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Initiative, including technical reports, other publications, resources, and presentations.

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Fact sheet defining a grid-interactive efficient building and its benefits.

Heat Island Group - Berkeley Lab

Author(s)
Heat Island Group,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
LBNL webpage introducing heat island effect and cool materials concepts, and providing links to LBNL pages explaining cool pavements, cool roofs, and cool walls.

Heat Island Group: Resources

Author(s)
Heat Island Group,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
LBNL webpage providing resources and tools related to cool technologies, including the SRI calculator and the DOE Cool Roof Calculator.

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.

High Performance Home Technologies: Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems, Volume 6

Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Gilbride Theresa L,
Ruiz Kathi,
Steward Heidi,
Love Pat M
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report providing an introduction to current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices.

Home Power

Author(s)
Sanchez
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
Web article about solar site assessment.

How to Build a Zero Electric Utility Cost House

Author(s)
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Report presenting construction methods, building products, appliances and equipment of four single-family houses that achieve dramatic energy reductions and approach “net zero energy” use.

How To: Mounting Solar on Sips

Author(s)
Sughrue Patrick
Organization(s)
Premier SIPS Structural Insulated Panels,
Home Power Magazine
Publication Date
A structural insulated panel (SIP) roof has no embedded lumber in the structure, and therefore nothing substantial for attaching PV array and solar hot water mounts. Single or double lumber splines could be put into the panels, or I-joists at 4-foot intervals could be added.

Hybrid Inverter Comparison Chart

Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of hybrid inverters for solar power systems.

Introduction to Buildings Systems Performance: Houses that Work II

Author(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
BSC,
NREL
Publication Date
Report that describes BSC's Houses That Work II (HTWII) climate-specific technical resource, beginning with an overall HTWII introduction and four sections explaining the four most important hygro-thermal climate regions: Hot-Humid, Mixed-Humid, Cold, and Hot-Dry/Mixed-Dry.

Is Battery Storage Right for You?

Author(s)
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Organization(s)
SMUD
Publication Date
Webpage describing benefits of adding battery storage to homes and an estimation tool.

Measured and Simulated Performance of Reflective Roofing Systems in Residential Buildings

Author(s)
Huang Yu Joe,
Konopacki Steven,
Gartland Lisa,
Gu Lixing,
Parker Danny S,
Sherwin John S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings in homes across the U.S. from the installation of roofing with higher solar reflectance.