Organization(s)
SMUD
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing benefits of adding battery storage to homes and an estimation tool.
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 51 - 100 of 102
Organization(s)
Boston Solar
Publication Date
Description
Webpage from Boston Solar describing how solar plus storage options can be beneficial for maintaining electricity during power outages.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings in homes across the U.S. from the installation of roofing with higher solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
University of Central Florida,
UCF
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy savings from the installation of wall finishes with higher solar reflectance.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
University of Colorado,
CU,
University of Colorado-Boulder,
CU Boulder
Publication Date
Description
This paper discusses model validation using data from three thermosiphon systems.
Organization(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
Publication Date
Description
This report requires all elements of rooftop PV panel systems to be designed for component and cladding pressures per ASCE 7-10.
Organization(s)
UL
Publication Date
Description
Standard covering overs mounting systems, including mounting devices, clamping devices and ground lugs for use with photovoltaic modules and panels and contains requirements for ground-mounted and roof systems as part of a nonstructural building component.
Organization(s)
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners,
NABCEP
Publication Date
Description
This Photovoltaic (PV) Installer Resource Guide is an informational resource covering basic requirements for PV installations intended for individuals pursuing the Photovoltaic Installer Certification credential offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
Organization(s)
NRCA
Publication Date
Description
A document providing guidance on integrating a PV array with a roof system.
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Description
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of off-grid inverters for solar power systems.
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Large scale simulation study investigating the effects of cool roofs and walls on buildings of various vintages across the U.S., with special attention given to California.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report aiming to "de-mystify" technology and economic considerations of residential PV systems.
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Description
Website estimating energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Searchable database of over 3,000 roofing products that have undergone solar reflectance and thermal emittance testing.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Searchable database of wall cladding and coating products that have undergone solar reflectance and thermal emittance testing.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A report presenting alternative approaches for reducing the costs of roof-mounted, grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Organization(s)
EIA
Publication Date
Description
Data tables on U.S. renewable energy consumption and general trends in the market for renewable energy.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Website tool intended to guide home builders in assessing whether a new home has the proper physical orientation to support a future installation of a solar energy system.
Organization(s)
North Carolina State University
Publication Date
Description
Brochure with information on residential solar hot water systems.
Organization(s)
City of Burnsville
Publication Date
Description
Brochure detailing the guidelines, recommendations, and preferences of the City of Burnsville for citizens installing solar photovoltaics.
Organization(s)
D&R International,
D+R International,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
DOE report characterizing the installed base of windows and window coverings, and how users operate window coverings in order to enable precise quantification of energy savings.
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet describing solar PV upgrade for an existing homes.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Solar Rating & Certification Corporation,
SRCC,
Thermal Energy System Specialists,
TESS
Publication Date
Description
Document discussing changes in testing the annual performance ratings for solar water heaters.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Recovery advisory guide providing guidance on existing code requirements as well as recommend best practices for attachment design, installation, and maintenance of rooftop solar panels to increase panel wind resistance in the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Maria.
Organization(s)
California Air Resources Board
Publication Date
Description
Webpage discussing the characteristics of sunlight and how cool roofs work to reduce solar heat gain.
Organization(s)
SIL International,
GTIS
Publication Date
Description
Web page describing the basics of how to size and build a battery bank for electricity storage.
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
Paper describing the development and testing of an affordable net-zero energy house in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Organization(s)
Clean Energy Reviews,
CER
Publication Date
Description
Website article describing the way solar panels are coupled to AC and DC battery energy storage systems.
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing a synopsis of a project to evaluate the performance of a roof-integrated solar water heating system.
Organization(s)
SEIA
Publication Date
Description
SEIA resources page.
Organization(s)
Solar Pathfinder
Publication Date
Description
Tool determining the most economical and efficient photovoltaic array location and position.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
SRCC
Publication Date
Description
The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation is the leading solar heating and cooling product certification program in North America, certifying to the requirements of International and Uniform Codes and Standards
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
A research paper exploring the design, installation, repair and maintenance of solar water and pool heating technologies.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Website describing how solar water heaters -- also called solar domestic hot water systems -- can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home.
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
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.
Organization(s)
Energy Trust of Oregon
Publication Date
Description
Outlines the minimum criteria for a solar water heating system installed by a Solar Water Heating Program trade ally under Energy Trust of Oregon’s Solar Water Heating Program.
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Webpage describing the basics of solar plus storage operations on homes.
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
University of Southern California,
USC,
University of California San Diego,
UC San Diego
Publication Date
Description
California Energy Commission report presenting the concept of cool walls and providing guidelines for their building- and climate-appropriate use to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
Organization(s)
Solmetric Inc.
Publication Date
Description
Handheld solar site analysis tool capturing whole-horizon images for a site and generating shading analysis reports.
Organization(s)
SEAOC
Publication Date
Description
The 2017 publication update to the SEAOC Wind Committee and SEAOC Solar Photovoltaic Systems Sub-Committee's 2012 report.
Organization(s)
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
FSEC certification and testing page for solar systems.
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Efficiency Solutions
Publication Date
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing the experimental design and results of testing the energy performance of Hunter Douglas double-cell cellular shades under various control schemes in the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Lab Homes.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Oregon State University,
Momentum Innovation Group,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing use of the Energy in Modular (EMOD) method to design, produce, and deliver affordable, net-zero energy, low-carbon, and healthier buildings through industrialized (factory) construction of modular buildings; modeling of whole buildings and subassemblies of components, pods, panels...
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report on investigating the effectiveness of using solar thermal water heaters to address heat losses from piping while recirculating water in multifamily buildings.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Web page explaining what a cool exterior wall is and how they work, as well as benefits to their use and links to research studies.
Organization(s)
CRRC
Publication Date
Description
Web page explaining what a cool roof is and how they work, as well as benefits to their use and links to research studies.