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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 158 results:

Earthquake Valve Overview

Publication Date
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Author(s)
MBS Engineering
·
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Description
A one-page fact sheet outlining the purpose of an earthquake valve and how the valve can stop gas from flowing into a residence or building.

Energy Saver

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Website from the U.S. Department of Energy providing consumers with information on saving energy and using renewable energy technologies.

Energy Saver: Laundry

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
DOE's consumer information about energy and laundry.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2021 - Clothes Dryers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Description
A list of clothes dryers that made the EnergyStar Most Efficient list for 2021, delivering cutting technological innovation along with energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2024

Publication Date
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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.

Expert Home Improvements

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
ENERGY STAR's Expert Home Improvements webpage.

Find a Fridge or Freezer Recycling Program

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
ENERGY STAR article on finding a refrigerator or freezer recycling program.

Firebreak - Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Urban Land Institute
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Organization(s)
Urban Land Institute
Description
Updated wildfire risk assessment, community impacts, and building science measures following the disastrous 2020 wildfire season in the western U.S.

Fixing an Expansion Tank with Excess Water

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

Flip Your Fridge Calculator

Publication Date
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Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Description
Calculator helping users determine cost savings of refrigerator replacement.

Furniture Stability

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
American Home Furnishings Alliance
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Organization(s)
AHFA
Description
Regulatory compliance regarding furniture stability requirements

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings

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

Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings

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

Guide to Good Leak Testing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Institute of Refrigeration
·
Organization(s)
IOR,
Carbon Trust
Description
Guide describing refrigeration leaks, including common leak points, how to fix them, and how to prevent them.

Heat-Pump Clothes Dryers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Rice Joseph
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Description
Blog post about heat pump clothes dryers.

High-Efficiency Products

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Parternship
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Organization(s)
NEEP
Description
A website detailing initiatives on the east coast for the installation and use of high efficiency products.

High-Efficiency Window Air Conditioners

Publication Date
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Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
·
Organization(s)
DOE
Description
Factsheet profiling a simple modification that can be made to window air-conditioners to improve their energy efficiency.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Gerbis Nicholas
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Organization(s)
Home & Garden
Description
Resource that explains how water softeners work to reduce scale.

How Energy Efficient are Modern Dishwashers?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hoak David,
Parker Danny S,
Hermelink Andreas H
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report about measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers.

How to Anchor Furniture to a Wall

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wirecutter Staff
·
Organization(s)
New York Times
Description
Installation tips and product suggestions for mounting hardware.

How to Choose a Room Air Cleaner

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Park Ga-Young
·
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. EPA,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Description
Article describing considerations for choosing a room-level air cleaner to improve indoor air quality.

How-to Anchor it and Protect a Child

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Green Smart Links
·
Organization(s)
Green Smart Links
Description
Includes several good how-to videos for anchoring furniture to different wall types

HUD 2024 Housing Innovation Showcase Poster: Induction Cooking

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Edward Louie,
Theresa Gilbride
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Description
Factsheet describing the advantages and disadvantages of induction cooktops and the role they play in energy efficiency.

IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
·
Organization(s)
SMACNA
Description
Book providing project management guidance in maintaining satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) of occupied buildings undergoing renovation or construction.

Inspecting the Dryer Exhaust

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
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Organization(s)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
InterNACHI
Description
Article describing the correct installation of clothes dryer exhaust ducts.

Inspection and Verification Guidance for WaterSense Labeled New Homes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Organization(s)
EPA
Description
PDF detailing the inspection and verification guidance for WaterSense labeled new homes including indoor and outdoor efficiency requirements, and homeowner and building management education.

List of Codes & Standards

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
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Organization(s)
NFPA
Description
Webpage published by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) that lists more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

Makeup Air for Range Hoods

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
·
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Description
If your kitchen has a powerful exhaust fan, it may be pulling air down your chimney or water-heater flue.

Measure Guideline: Combustion Safety for Natural Draft Appliances Using Indoor Air

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Brand Larry
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Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
Gas Technology Institute,
GTI Energy
Description
This measure guideline provides guidance on combustion safety inspection procedures for appliances and heating equipment that use indoor air for combustion and dilution of flue gases in low-rise residential buildings.

Measure Guideline: Condensing Boilers - Optimizing Efficiency and Response Time During Setback Operation

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Arena Lois
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Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report providing step-by-step instructions for heating contractors and hydronic designers for selecting the proper control settings to maximize system performance and improve response time when using a thermostat setback.

Measured Performance of Heat Pump Clothes Dryers

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Martin Eric,
Sutherland Karen,
Parker Danny S
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Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Repor ourlining testing results from a 53 home monitored sample, long-term energy use of electric resistance clothes dryers.

Measured Retrofit Savings from Efficient Lighting and Smart Power Strips

Publication Date
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Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
et al.
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Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report describing a lighting and smart power strip retrofit evaluation that was conducted on 56 all-electric, existing Florida homes to see how lighting and miscellaneous electric loads might be reduced.