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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 101 - 150 of 206 results:

Introduction to Lighting Controls

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Craig DiLouie
·
Organization(s)
Lighting Controls Association,
LCA
Description
Video course by the Lighting Controls Association presenting an overview of the basic functionality of today’s lighting controls, benefits and the basic questions to ask when identifying an appropriate lighting control strategy

JM Spider® Drill & Fill Installation Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Johns Manville
·
Organization(s)
Johns Manville
Description
The purpose for this document is to provide basic guidance on the use of proven installation techniques that can be used by installers to help ensure correct “dense pack” application of JM Spider® in drill & fill applications.

Just Right and Airtight, BSI-053

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
BSC,
Building Science Corporation
Description
Article describing air leakage in buildings.

Laboratory Testing of Aerosol for Enclosure Air Sealing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Modera Mark,
Harrington Curtis
·
Organization(s)
Western Cooling Efficiency Center - UC Davis,
Building Industry Research Alliance,
BIRA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Research study to help development of an application protocol for aerosol sealing of building shells that will eventually be demonstrated on buildings in retrofit and new construction.

Learn About Brightness

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A website explaining the measurement of light bulbs, measurable in lumens, & brightness levels that ENERGY STAR products produce.

Learn About LED Lighting

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A website explaining the basics of LED lightning, their lifespan, their use in general lighting applications, the amount of heat produced, and why you should choose ENERGY STAR certified LED products for your home.

LED Bulbs Made Easy

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A fact sheet providing information on ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs & how to find the right one to fit your lighting fixture.

LED Lightbulb Exchange

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Energy Action Fairfax
·
Organization(s)
Fairfax County,
VA
Description
Webpage describing a lightbulb exchange program in Fairfax county, VA.

LED Lighting

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
The light-emitting diode (LED) is one of today's most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing lighting technologies.

Light Bulb Key Product Criteria

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
ENERGY STAR lightbulb criteria.

Light Bulbs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A website explaining why homeowners should install ENERGY STAR certified lightbulbs, which helps to save homeowners on utility bills and protect the environment.

Light Your Home

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
American Lighting Association
·
Organization(s)
ALA
Description
American Lighting Association website homepage.

Lighting Choices to Save You Money

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Energy Saver,
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Webpage describing high-efficiency lighting choices for homeowners including LEDs, CFLs, and halogen bulbs.

Lighting Controls

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A website exploring the use of lighting controls products like dimmers, motion sensors and timers to save energy in the home.

Lighting Controls and the Bottom Line

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Ruth Taylor,
Jessica Kelly,
Dan Blitzer
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Description
Presentation detailing key challenges with lighting controls, best practices for the design and implementation of lighting controls, and best approaches for return on controls.

Lighting Controls Association

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lighting Controls Association
·
Organization(s)
LCA
Description
Link for the webpage of the Lighting Controls Association, an industry organization dedicated to supporting adoption of advanced lighting controls in commercial buildings through education. Their webpage contains a variety of resources regarding advanced lighting controls.

Lighting Design Lab (LDL)

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lighting Design Lab
·
Organization(s)
LDL
Description
Webpage for the Lighting Design Lab (LDL), an organization which provides educational resources regarding advanced lighting controls and other electric building technologies.

Lighting Principles and Terms

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A website explaining basic lighting principles and terms & how they are applied to the home.

Long-Term Results: New Construction Occupied Test House, Urbana, Illinois

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stecher Dave,
Allison Katherine
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report about a two-year study intended to document the energy performance of a house in each sub-metered area and compare the performance to modeled predictions and to assess the thermal comfort performance of the single point mini-split heat pump.

Low-Cost Radon Reduction Pilot Study

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Francisco Paul W.,
Rose William B,
Merrin Zachary
·
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Indoor Climate Research and Training,
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report on the impact of air sealing between the foundation and the living space on radon transport reduction across the foundation and living space floor assembly at fifteen home.

Lumens and the Lighting Facts Label

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Description
A website explaining lumens & how to compare the amount of light that lightbulbs can produce when shopping for replacements.

Mass Save Deep Energy Retrofit Builder Guide, GM-1302

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Neuhauser Ken,
Gates Cathy,
Pettit Betsy
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
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.

Mastic Home Exteriors Installation Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
·
Organization(s)
Ply Gem Siding Group
Description
Siding installation guide for Ply Gem Siding Group products.

Mea Culpa Roofs, BSI-083

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Article describing methods for insulating and air sealing vented and unvented roofs in various climates zones.

Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Attics in Multifamily Buildings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Maxwell Sean,
Otis Casey
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Guideline describing the importance of the different types of multifamily building attics and their unique challenges, and outlines strategies and materials used in air-sealing them.

Measure Guideline: Air Sealing Mechanical Closets in Slab-on-Grade Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Dickson Bruce
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Document covering two fundamental retrofit strategies for air sealing around air handling systems that are located within the living space in an enclosed closet.

Measure Guideline: Guide to Attic Air Sealing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Description
Guideline describing information and specifications relevant to air-seal existing attics.

Measure Guideline: Sealing and Insulating Ducts in Existing Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb,
Puttagunta Srikanth
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Report describing the sealing and insulating of HVAC duct systems in existing homes.

Minnesota Power New Construction Energy Efficiency Program

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Minnesota Power
·
Organization(s)
Minnesota Power
Description
Website describing Minnesota Power’s New Construction Energy Efficiency program that promotes building practices and technologies that enhance new residential construction.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

Moisture Management for High R-Value Walls

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
LePage Robert,
Schumacher Christopher,
Lukachko Alex
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.

Moisture Research - Optimizing Wall Assemblies

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Arena Lois,
Mantha Pallavi
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report describing evaluation of several configurations of wall assemblies to determine the accuracy of moisture modeling and make recommendations to ensure durable, efficient assemblies.

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lubliner Michael,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Program,
Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
Description
Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.

Newporter Apartments: Deep Energy Retrofit Short-Term Results

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gordon Andrew,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report demonstrating cost-effective energy savings targets as well as improved comfort and indoor environmental quality associated with deep energy retrofits by a large public housing authority as part of a larger rehabilitation effort.

Novel, Simplified Air Delivery System Design Gets Commercialized

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Burkett Lena,
Rapport Ari
·
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS
Description
Fact sheet describing a novel, simplified air delivery system using a plug-and-play model that features 3-inch diameter flexible ducts, efficient fittings, and a simplified installation process that resulted in successful market engagement through commercialization.

Performance Evaluation and Opportunity Assessment for St. Bernard Project

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Dickson Bruce
·
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report providing information about improving the energy efficiency and long-term durability of the buildings that are being reconstructed post Katrina in New Orleans.

Performance Evaluation of a Hot-Humid Climate Community

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Osser Rosie,
Kerrigan Philip
·
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report providing information about improving the energy efficiency and long-term durability of the buildings that are being reconstructed post Katrina in New Orleans.

Predicting Envelope Leakage in Attached Dwellings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Faakye Omari,
Arena Lois,
Griffiths Dianne
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Research study exploring a test method measuring air leakage between units through common surfaces and air infiltration across exterior, noncommon surfaces of the enclosure.

Pressures in Buildings, BSD-109

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Article describing airflow within buildings due to pressure differences.

Proven Performance of Seven Cold Climate Deep Retrofit Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Osser Rosie,
Ueno Kohta,
Neuhauser Ken
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Description
Report about seven pilot homes and development of guidelines for deep energy retrofits in cold climates.