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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 60

2009 International Fuel Gas Code - IFGC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2009 edition of code establishing a baseline for the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas fired appliances through performance requirements.

2009 International Plumbing Code - IPC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2009 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2012 International Plumbing Code - IPC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2012 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2015 International Plumbing Code - IPC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2015 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

2018 International Plumbing Code - IPC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2018 edition of code establishing minimum regulations for plumbing facilities, including fixtures, water heaters, water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage, storm drainage, etc.

Advanced Water Heating Specification Version 8.0.

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Specification sheet for residential, commercial, multifamily, and industrial water heaters and heating systems.

Benefits of Demand-Controlled Pumping

Author(s)
Acker Larry,
Klein Gary
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine,
Taco Comfort
Publication Date
Article describing how demand plumbing systems send cold water back to the water heater until hot water arrives at the sink, shower or other fixture where it is needed.

Best Practices for the Retrofit Installation of Heat Pump Water Heaters

Author(s)
Richard Health & Associates
Organization(s)
RHA
Publication Date
Report describing the best practices for the safe, efficient, and compliant installation of residential air source heat pump water heaters (HPWH) in California, aligning with the state's climate goals and providing guidance for educators, installers, and industry stakeholders.

Boiler Inspections for Safety, Life and Efficiency

Author(s)
Kleva Stephen
Organization(s)
Contractor Magazine
Publication Date
Article explaining the importance of regular inspections of boiler systems in maintaining their safety, lifespan, and efficiency.

CEE Residential Product Directory

Author(s)
Consortium for Energy Efficiency; Air-Conditioning,
Heating,
and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
CEE; AHRI
Publication Date
AHRI-hosted directory of residential products meeting CEE's highest tier

Commercial HPWH Qualified Products List

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
List of multifamily commercial heat pump water heater products that meet the NEEA Advanced Water Heating Specification Requirements.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Water Heater

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure water heaters to resist seismic activity.

Ecosizer Sizing Tool

Author(s)
Ecotope
Organization(s)
Ecotope
Publication Date
Free online tool for sizing central heat pump water heater systems.

ENERGY STAR® Certified Heat Pump Water Heaters Sales Guide

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Informational guide describing the benefits, functionality, and cost savings of ENERGY STAR® certified heat pump water heaters, addressing common misconceptions and highlighting incentives.

Features, Advantages of Condensing Boilers

Author(s)
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Engineering
Organization(s)
HPAC Engineering
Publication Date
An engineering design guide for hydronic heat loops, discussing the features and advantages of condensing boilers.

Field Performance of Heat Pump Water Heaters in the Northeast

Author(s)
Shapiro Carl,
Puttagunta Srikanth
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB
Publication Date
Report describing the in situ performance evaluation of newly released heat pump water heaters (HPWHs), highlighting their energy and cost savings potential compared to conventional electric resistance water heaters and other alternatives, based on data collected from installations in Massachusetts...

Fixing an Expansion Tank with Excess Water

Author(s)
PEX Universe
Organization(s)
PEX Universe
Publication Date
A webpage discussing how water heater expansion tanks operate and how to repair them.

Gas-fired Water Heaters, Volume III, Storage Water Heaters with Input Ratings Above 75,000 Btu per Hour, Circulating and Instantaneous (ANSI Z21.10.3:19/CSA 4.3:19)

Author(s)
American National Standards Institute
Organization(s)
ANSI,
CSA Group
Publication Date
Standard that applies to storage water heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and circulating water heaters including booster water heaters; the current version of this standard was published in the year 2019 and it is available for purchase along with a digital preview on the ANSI webstore page.

Getting to All-Electric Multifamily Zero Net Energy Construction

Author(s)
Dryden Amy,
Brooks Andrew,
Duff Meghan,
Pfotenhauer Greg,
Stone Nehemiah,
Armstrong Sean,
Higbee Emily
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission
Publication Date
Report describing the cost-effectiveness and performance of all-electric, zero net energy multifamily buildings in California, detailing technical challenges and providing recommendations for design, construction, codes, standards, and operations to support future projects.

Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Best Practices Guide

Author(s)
Hot Water Solutions NW,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
HWS NW,
NEEA
Publication Date
Report describing the advantages and best practices for installing heat pump water heaters (HPWH), highlighting their improved energy efficiency, reliability, and critical considerations such as condensate management, proper sizing, and optimal installation location to enhance performance and...

Heat Pump Water Heaters in Small Spaces Lab Testing: “The Amazing Shrinking Room”

Author(s)
Larson Sam,
Larson Ben
Organization(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA,
Cascade Engineering Services,
Larson Energy Research
Publication Date
Report describing a laboratory assessment that provides insights into space requirements and venting strategies for heat pump water heaters (HPWH) to enhance retrofit installations and provide actionable guidance for manufacturers, designers, engineers, installers, and owners.

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.

Hot Water Runs Cold

Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Article describing the factors that can lead to inefficient hot water distribution systems in homes.

Hot Water Solutions: Buyer's Guide

Author(s)
Hot Water Solutions NW
Organization(s)
HWS NW
Publication Date
Guide describing how to choose energy-efficient water heaters, including heat pump models, with tips on installation, rebates, and incentives for maximizing energy savings.

How it Works - Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs)

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
ENERGY STAR webpage describing how a heat pump water heater works.

HPWH Installation and Design Concepts for Low-Rise Multifamily Buildings

Author(s)
Larson Ben
Organization(s)
Larson Energy Research,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NREL
Publication Date
Report describing the identification of barriers and proposed practical solutions for the design, installation, and market adoption of heat pump water heaters in new low-rise multifamily housing, focusing on studio and one-bedroom units.

Installed Performance of Heat Pump Water Heaters in a Cold Climate

Author(s)
Cautley Dan,
Gries Kevin,
Cacko Dianna,
Margolies Justin
Organization(s)
Slipstream
Publication Date
Report describing the performance, economics, space heating impacts, and user satisfaction of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) in the upper Midwest, based on a field study and survey of participants in the MECA HPWH incentive program.

Insulate Steam Distribution and Condensate Return Lines

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing principles of insulating steam distribution and condensate return lines as an effective way to prevent energy loss.

Interactive Walk-Through of a Residential Heat Pump Water Heater Installation in Massachusetts

Author(s)
D+R Learn,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships,
Home Works Energy Inc.,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
This webpage provides an interactive walk-through of the installation of a heat pump water heater in a home in Massachusetts, including how-to videos of the installation, video interviews with the homeowners, installer, and utility program partners, and visual tours of the home before and after...

Laboratory Testing of Heat Pump Water Heater Performance: Impact of Airflow and Space Configurations

Author(s)
Larson Ben,
Larson Sam,
Gantley Maya
Organization(s)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
PG&E,
Energy Transition Coordinating Council,
ETCC
Publication Date
Report describing research conducted to support California’s Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards by analyzing the impact of installation location and ventilation on heat pump water heater (HPWH) performance, emphasizing the need for proper installation to maximize efficiency...

Maine Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Interactive Tour

Author(s)
D+R Learn,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships,
Home Works Energy Inc.,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE,
NEEP
Publication Date
This webpage provides an interactive walk-through of the installation of a heat pump water heater in a home in Maine, including how-to videos of the installation, video interviews with the homeowners, installer, and utility program partners, and visual tours of the home before and after installation...

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Author(s)
Neuhauser Ken,
Gates Cathy,
Pettit Betsy
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Guidebook providing useful examples of high performance retrofit techniques for the building enclosure of wood frame residential construction in a cold and somewhat wet climate.

Mechanical Insulation Design Guide - Installation

Author(s)
National Mechanical Insulation Committee
Organization(s)
NMIC
Publication Date
Web resource that lays out the pre-work considerations, methods and finishes for installing mechanical insulation.

Performance of Combination Hydronic Systems

Author(s)
Butcher Thomas
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Article investigating how a linear input/output relationship can be used as a simple model of the performance of a combination hydronic heating system over heating only, DHW only, and combined loads.

Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heaters: An Early Look to 120-Volt Products

Author(s)
Larson Ben,
Larson Sam
Organization(s)
Larson Energy Research,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA
Publication Date
Report describing a laboratory assessment on the performance of Rheem 120-volt heat pump water heaters (HPWH), aimed at identifying optimal installation locations for these new "plug-in" models based on comprehensive testing under various conditions.

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 Improvements - Elevate & Secure Water Heater

Author(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs
Organization(s)
HIRL
Publication Date
A retrofit sheet providing information on elevating and securing water heaters to protect against damage during a flood.

Securing Your Water Heater

Author(s)
Washington State Department of Health
Organization(s)
Washington State Department of Health
Publication Date
A fact sheet providing homeowners with guidance on properly securing water heaters to prevent them from tipping in an earthquake.

Sizing a New Water Heater

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
A website providing information on how to properly size a water heater based on tank size, volume, peak hour demand and other factors.

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.