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Library

Explore this extensive library of building science guidance including research reports from DOE’s Building America program as well as hundreds of other articles, fact sheets, webpages, and reference documents related to constructing and renovating homes.

Showing 51 - 100 of 241 results:

Earthquakes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
·
Organization(s)
DHS
Description
Website describing what to do for safety in an earthquake and other types of disasters.

ECA HVAC Units

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
NEHRP,
FEMA,
Cal OES,
SCEC,
ECA
Description
Factsheet describing methods for securing HVAC units to avoid damage during an earthquake.

Efficient Window Coverings Website

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Efficient Window Coverings
·
Organization(s)
Building Green,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
Website sponsored by DOE to provide consumers with intelligent and unbiased guidance on the best window covering for your climate, your needs, and your windows.

Energy Efficient Window Coverings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Energy Saver
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Web page providing an overview of window coverings such as blinds, shades, shutters, films, and storm windows.

Energy Rated for Added Comfort: AERC-Certified Window Attachments

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
Fact sheet poster describing the certification of window attachment products such as storm windows, roller shades, cellular shade, and solar screens by the Attachment Energy Rating Council (AERC).

Energy Savings from Window Attachments

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Curcija Charlie,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report describing a comprehensive analysis on energy savings from multiple types of shading devices in multiple climate zones.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2024

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Webpage on the ENERGY STAR website that list products that exceed the ENERGY STAR minimum criteria for their category, with links to several product categories, including windows, HVAC, home appliances, and computer monitors.

ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Website for finding rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA helping you save energy and money while protecting the environment.

Evaluation of Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sullivan Greg P,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
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 Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Peterson Joseph M,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
Report describing the methods and results of a field evaluation of the energy performance of cellular shade window coverings.

Evaluation of CNT Energy Savers Retrofit Packages Implemented in Multifamily Buildings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Farley Jene,
Ruch Russell
·
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report exploring feasibility of designing prescriptive retrofit measure packages for typical Chicago region multifamily buildings in order to achieve 25% source energy savings.

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

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Cort Katherine A,
Hunt Walter E
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
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 Interior Cellular Shades in a Residential Building

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bhandari Mahabir,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating the energy savings potential of cellular shades in homes.

Evaluation of Savings in Energy-Efficient Public Housing in the Pacific Northwest

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Kunkle Rick,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Research study documenting market-ready energy solutions to improve the efficiency of new affordable housing in the marine climate of Washington State.

Excess Flow Valve

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
City of Ellensburg
·
Organization(s)
City of Ellensburg
Description
Flyer from the City of Ellensburg WA describing what an excess flow valve is, how they work, and associated costs.

Excess Flow Valves

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Colorado Springs Utilities
·
Organization(s)
CSU
Description
Website for gas utility customers describing the installation of excess flow valves to stop the flow of natural gas into a home in the event of a line rupture.

Excess Flow Valves

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Knoxville Utilities Board
·
Organization(s)
KUB
Description
Webpage describing what excess flow valves are, how they work, and the installation process.

Excess Flow Valves

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
TECO Peoples Gas
·
Organization(s)
TECO
Description
Utility webpage describing the monetary costs associated with excess flow valves for TECO in Florida.

Expert Meeting Report: Windows Options for New and Existing Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Rothgeb Stacey
·
Organization(s)
NorthernSTAR,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Expert meeting report aimed at a greater understanding of the windows research that Building America partners and national laboratories are engaged in to help professionals and consumers choose best practice strategies.

Federal Disaster Policy: Toward a More Resilient Future

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
·
Organization(s)
HUD
Description
Newsletter reviewing federal disaster policy, the research basis for resilience, and three models of building resilient communities.

FEMA Earthquake Risk

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Website providing links to scalable guidance and tools about the importance of earthquake mitiation to the private sector, its owners, managers, and employees.

FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Activities

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Activity sheets describing questions and preparedness action items for a variety of disasters including floods, fires, earthquakes, and winter weather.

FEMA Protecting Your Property from Earthquakes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
·
Organization(s)
HUD,
FEMA,
DHS
Description
Brochure detailing how to latch and lock cabinets and drawers to prevent injury to residents of the home.

Find Your Climate Zone

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Attachments Energy Rating Council
·
Organization(s)
AERC
Description
Webpage providing assistance with finding the AERC climate zone of particular locations to aid in selecting window attachment products.

Fire Network: Windows Vulnerabilities

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
·
Organization(s)
UCANR,
University of California Cooperative Extension
Description
A report showing what happens when windows break as a result of temperature differences between the inside and outside of the home, as well as code standards for the State of California regarding window exposure to wildfires.

FLASH website

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
·
Organization(s)
FLASH
Description
Website containing resources from the nonprofit FLASH, which "is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters."

Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings, FEMA P-936

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Low David K,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Description
Report describing dry floodproofing technologies for non-residential buildings, including information about regulatory requirements, design considerations, and descriptions of floodproofing methods and equipment.

Food and Water in an Emergency, FEMA 477

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA,
American Red Cross
Description
A fact sheet on how to prepare for a natural disaster by storing food and water through an emergency food supply.

Gas Safety Tips

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
·
Organization(s)
PG&E
Description
Webpage describing the safety hazards associated with natural gas and tips on how to avoid these hazards by a step process of turning off natural gas service to a home and restoring service afterwards.

Gas Shut-Off Valve Requirements

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Town of Danville CA
·
Organization(s)
Town of Danville CA
Description
Brochure for natural gas utility customers describing seismic valves and excess flow valves for homes.

Gas Shutoff Devices

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
·
Organization(s)
PG&E
Description
Webpage describing when and how to safely turn off the natural gas to the home during an emergency.

Gas Shutoff Valve Certification for Residential Structures

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Commins Tav
·
Organization(s)
State of California Division of the State Architect
Description
Webpage with certification requirements for excess flow and earthquake valves from California's Division of the State Architect (DSA).

Glazing Hazard Mitigation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Smith Joseph L,
Renfroe Nancy A
·
Organization(s)
Whole Building Design Guide,
WBDG,
Applied Research Associates Inc.,
National Institute of Building Sciences,
NIBS
Description
Article describing the fundamentals and basics of glazing hazard mitigation practices for both new and existing buildings.

Hazard and Risk Assessment Maps

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey
·
Organization(s)
USGS
Description
Webpage providing maps and information to assess the particular hazards and risks for an area.

High Volume Excess Flow Valves

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation
·
Organization(s)
PHMSA,
DOT
Description
Webpage describing federal regulation related to excess flow valves on residential natural gas lines.

Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
California Seismic Safety Commission
·
Organization(s)
SSC,
State of California
Description
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.

How to Design a Home for a Cold Climate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Diez Roy
·
Organization(s)
New Home Source
Description
Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.