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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 151 - 200 of 351 results:

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 Performance Walls in Hot-Dry Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Article from NREL on wall construction guidelines for homes in hot climate zones.

High-Efficiency Products

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Parternship
·
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
·
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.

High-R Roofs Case Study Analysis, BA-1006

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Straube John,
Grin Aaron
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report that considers a number of promising wall systems that can meet the requirement for better thermal control.

High-R Walls for New Construction Structural Performance: Wind Pressure Testing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Desjarlais Andre O,
Kochkin Vladimir
·
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Report with test results that serve as a baseline of data for further material tests of other high-R wall systems and for comparison to whole-house wind pressure testing.

High-R Walls for Remodeling: Wall Cavity Moisture Monitoring

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Wiehagen Joseph,
Kochkin Vladimir
·
Organization(s)
NAHB Research Center,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Description
Research study presenting results of an existing home monitoring project designed to measure wall cavity moisture characteristics.

House Siding Options, Plus Costs, Pros & Cons 2020

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Siding Cost Guide
·
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Description
A starting point for ballparking and comparing the cost of different siding materials and a brief overview of the pros and cons of different siding materials.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gerbis Nicholas
·
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.

Hurricane Retrofit Guide - Wood Frame Walls

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Florida Disaster
·
Organization(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Description
Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.

ICC-ES Evaluation Report, ESR-1679

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
·
Organization(s)
ICC Evaluation Service
Description
ICC-ES Evaluation Report reviewing proprietary steel shear wall panels developed by Simpson Strong-Tie Company to resist vertical and lateral loads in walls resulting from wind or earthquakes.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Bennett Richard M,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Canada Masonry Design Centre,
CMDC
Description
An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Inspecting the Dryer Exhaust

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
·
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
·
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.

Insulated Siding Provides Continuous Insulation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Dobson Matt
·
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Description
Article describing how insulated siding can save homeowners energy by providing continuous exterior insulation.

Inward Drive – Outward Drying, BSI-061

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Report covering reservoir claddings, back ventilation and vapor throttles.

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.

Joni Mitchell, Water and Walls, BSI-071

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
BSC,
Building Science Corporation
Description
Article describing walls and moisture development on them.

Lead-Safe Renovations for DIYers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
·
Organization(s)
EPA
Description
Website describing best practices for minimizing exposure to lead while doing repairs and renovations in homes built in 1978 or earlier.

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.

Make your home more resilient for hurricane season

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Blanchard Tobie,
Reichel Claudette Hanks
·
Organization(s)
LSU Ag Center Research Extension
Description
Web article describing many ways homeowners, contractors, and builders can make homes more resistant to hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, and hail.