Library | Building America Solution Center

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 - 23 of 23

Advanced Wall Framing

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

National Association of Home Builders

Organization(s)

NAHB,

SEI,

ORNL,

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2002

Fact sheet describing advanced wall framing.

Basement Insulation Technology Fact Sheet

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute

Organization(s)

SEI,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2002

Fact sheet describing basement insulation considerations.

Building America Building Science Advisor

Author(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

U.S. Department of Energy

Organization(s)

ORNL,

DOE

Publication Date

January, 2019

Web based tool providing decision-making guidance for selecting wall assembly components.

Ceilings and Attics

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Organization(s)

ORNL,

SEI

Publication Date

February, 2000

Information sheet with information about insulating and ventilating attics.

Extreme Weather and Climate Vulnerabilities of the Electric Grid: A Summary of Environmental Sensitivity Quantification Methods

Author(s)

Allen-Dumas Melissa R,

KC Binita,

Cunliff Colin I

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

August, 2019

Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.

Feasibility of Foundation Heat Exchangers for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems in the United States

Author(s)

Cullin James R,

Xing Lu,

Lee Edwin,

Spitler Jeffrey D,

Fisher Daniel E

Organization(s)

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE,

Oklahoma State University,

OSU,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

January, 2012

Study characterizing how foundation heat exchangers (FHXs) used in residential ground source heat pump systems represent a potential cost savings due to their lesser first cost over other types of heat exchangers.

Foundation Design Handbook

Author(s)

Carmody John,

Mosiman Garrett,

Handeen Daniel,

Huelman Patrick H,

Christian Jeffrey E

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

University of Minnesota

Publication Date

January, 2013

Handbook providing guidance on the design and construction of foundations for homes, including insulation, air sealing, and water management details for basements, crawlspaces, and slabs.

Foundation Heat Exchanger Model and Design Tool Development and Validation

Author(s)

Spitler Jeffrey D,

Fisher Daniel E,

Cullin James R,

Xing Lu,

Lee Edwin,

Fan David D,

Rees Simon J

Organization(s)

Oklahoma State University,

OSU,

De Montfort University,

DMU,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

September, 2011

Report describing a project aimed at developing validated models and design tools for foundation heat exchangers.

Foundation Heat Exchangers for Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems - Numerical Modeling and Experimental Validation

Author(s)

Xing Lu,

Cullin James R,

Spitler Jeffrey D,

Im Piljae,

Fisher Daniel E

Organization(s)

Oklahoma State University,

OSU,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

December, 2011

Article describing a numerical model that can be used to size foundation heat exchanger (FHX) systems.

Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps: Market Status, Barriers to Adoption, and Actions to Overcome Barriers

Author(s)

Hughes Patrick J

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

December, 2008

Report investigating the status of the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry and technology in the United States, assembling GHP energy savings potential, identifying key barriers to application of GHPs, and identifying actions that could accelerate adoption of GHPs.

Guidelines for Ventilating Attics and Cathedral Ceilings to Avoid Icings at Their Eaves

Author(s)

Tobiasson Wayne N,

Buska James S,

Greatorex Alan R

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Publication Date

January, 2001

Report describing the use of fresh air ventilation systems to eliminate the formation of icicles and ice dams along the eaves of roofs.

High Performance Home Technologies: Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems, Volume 6

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Ruiz Kathi,

Steward Heidi,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

June, 2007

Report providing an introduction to current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices.

How to Build a Zero Electric Utility Cost House

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,

ACEEE

Publication Date

January, 2006

Report presenting construction methods, building products, appliances and equipment of four single-family houses that achieve dramatic energy reductions and approach “net zero energy” use.

Hygrothermal Performance Study: A Field Study Comparison of the Energy and Moisture Performance Characteristics of Ventilated Versus Sealed Crawl Spaces in the South

Author(s)

Davis Bruce,

Dastur Cyrus,

Warren William E

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

Advanced Energy,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

June, 2005

Report outlining results from a 2005 hygrothermal pilot study in the South.

Radiant Barrier Calculator

Author(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Organization(s)

ORNL

Publication Date

January, 2011

Website providing an online calculator for determining energy and cost savings from installing radiant barriers in attics.

Residential Ground Source Heat Pump Systems Utilizing Foundation Heat Exchangers

Author(s)

Spitler Jeffrey D,

Xing Lu,

Cullin James R,

Fisher Daniel E,

Shonder John,

Im Piljae

Organization(s)

Oklahoma State University,

OSU,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

January, 2010

Paper covering a parametric study of foundation heat exchanger-based ground source heat pump systems for several house configurations in a range of European locations, with an emphasis on determining feasible combinations.

The Performance Check Between Whole Building Thermal Performance Criteria and Exterior Wall Measured Clear Wall R-Value, Thermal Bridging, thermal mass and airtightness

Author(s)

Kosny Jan,

Christian Jeffrey E,

Desjarlais Andre O,

Kossecka Elisabeth,

Berrenberg Lance

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

Polish Academy of Sciences,

PAN,

American Polysteel Forms,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

June, 1998

Paper that illustrates a performance check between the thermal performance of a Massive Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) wall system mocked up and Whole Building Performance criteria such as total space heating and cooling loads (thermal comfort).

Thermal Mass and Its Effect on the Whole Building Energy Performance, Part I and II

Author(s)

Kosny Jan

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

January, 2001

Report sumarizing a workshop to initiate a professional discussion about eventual benefits of the application of massive technologies in US buildings.

Thermal Mass Assessment: An Explanation of the Mechanisms by Which Building Mass Influences Heating and Cooling Energy Requirements

Author(s)

Childs Kenneth W,

Courville George E,

Bales E L

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

September, 1983

Technical research paper explaining how thermal mass influences heating and cooling energy needs.

Thermal Performance and Wall Ratings

Author(s)

Christian Jeffrey E,

Kosny Jan

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

March, 1996

Report proposing a procedure for estimating the whole opaque wall R-value (whole-wall R-value), independent of system type and construction materials.

Whole House Fan: How to Install and Use a Whole House Fan

Author(s)

Southface Energy Institute,

U.S. Department of Energy,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Organization(s)

SEI,

DOE,

ORNL

Publication Date

March, 1999

Brochure about how to install and use a whole-house fan.

Why We Need to Know More About Basement Moisture

Author(s)

Cheple Marilou,

Huelman Patrick H

Organization(s)

University of Minnesota,

UMN,

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,

ASHRAE,

NorthernSTAR,

NSTAR,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

January, 2001

Conference paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Thermal Performance of Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings describing moisture from basements and crawlspaces as a source of indoor humidity and providing recommendations for finishing below-grade spaces to limit potential indoor...

Workshop on the Nexus of Resilience and Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Proceedings Report

Author(s)

Ott Ronald D,

Morgan Scott,

Antes Matthew

Organization(s)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL

Publication Date

September, 2019

Report describing results of a workshop assessing current and future strategies for research into disaster resilience and energy efficiency in buildings.