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Library

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 451 - 500 of 1873

Directory of WaterSense Labeled Products

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website providing lists of WaterSense-qualified products for home plumbing and irrigation equipment that meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program.

Disconnect or Redirect Your Downspout Brochure

Author(s)
Mid-America Regional Council
Organization(s)
MARC
Publication Date
A guide on the use of rain barrels for greater water efficiency and use in gardens and lawns.

Discover how to stay safe during a flood

Author(s)
Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization(s)
PG&E
Publication Date
Guidelines from PG&E outlining how to stay safe during a flood event by shutting off natural gas and electric service to the home.

Discussion of Strategies for Mounting Photovoltaic Arrays on Rooftops

Author(s)
Barkaszi Stephen F,
Dunlop James P
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
A research paper exploring the installation and mounting of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops and the challenges faced by system designers and installers.

DOE Building Energy Codes Program

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website providing information on U.S. residential and commercial building codes including adoption status.

DOE Solar Decathlon Website

Author(s)
Solar Decathlon,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.

DOE Steep Slope Calculator

Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
ORNL,
DOE
Publication Date
Simple web-based tool allowing homeowners to calculate the potential savings from installing a cool roof.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Homepage for DOE's Zero Energy Ready Homes program.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home PV-Ready Checklist (Revision 07)

Author(s)
Zero Energy Ready Home,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
ZERH,
DOE
Publication Date
Checklist for the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements Mandatory Requirement 7 (Renewable Ready).

DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes

Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL
Publication Date
Fact sheet poster describing benefits and qualification of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) certified Zero Energy Ready Homes and providing eight examples of certified homes.

Don’t Try Building Hugel Swales

Author(s)
Spirko Jack
Organization(s)
Permaculture Research Institute
Publication Date
Article describing the difference between swales and hugels (berms used to create soil from woody debris).

Double or TDouble or Triple? Factors Influencing the Window Purchasing Decisions of High-Performance Home Buildersriple? Factors Influencing the Window Purchasing Decisions of High-Performance Home Builders

Author(s)
Gilbride Theresa L,
Selkowitz Stephen,
Dingus Olivia G,
Cort Katherine A
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Technical report describing a market assessment conducted on new home builders' window purchasing practices revealing insights to inform the development of thin triple-pane windows, utilizing a center pane of thin glass and krypton gas fill to achieve the performance of standard triple-pane windows...

Drip Irrigation: The Basics

Author(s)
Schuch Ursula
Organization(s)
University of Arizona,
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences,
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing drip irrigation for landscaping.

Dryer Safety Tips

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Information sheet with safety tips for home owners on proper maintenance of clothes dryers.

DSA Gas Shut off Valves Certification Program

Author(s)
California Division of the State Architect,
California Department of General Services
Organization(s)
DSA,
DGS
Publication Date
A quick guide from the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) explaining the three types of gas shutoff devices to stop the flow of natural gas into buildings in the event of an earthquake or rupture of the gas line.

DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

Author(s)
NC Clean Energy Technology Center
Organization(s)
NC Clean Energy Technology Center,
North Carolina State University,
NC State University
Publication Date
Website for finding policies and incentives by state for renewables and efficiency.

Duct and HVAC Insulation

Author(s)
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Organization(s)
NAIMA
Publication Date
Information sheet with HVAC duct insulation, testing, maintenance and performance information.

Duct System Flammability and Air Sealing Fire Separation Assemblies in the International Residential Code

Author(s)
Prahl Duncan,
Rudd Armin
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report identifying two barriers that limit the ability of builders to explore opportunities for higher levels of energy efficiency in housing: the use of duct system materials that inherently achieve airtightness and are right-sized for low-load houses, and, the ability to air seal fire separation...

Ductless Heat Pump Project

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Webpage describing the successes and ongoing efforts of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's Go Ductless ductless heat pump program which successfully encouraged the installation of more than 150,000 minisplit heat pumps in the Northwest between 2010 and 2021.

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners

Author(s)
Energy Saver
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Webpage describing the advantages and disadvantages of ductless mini-split air conditioner.

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Comfort Evaluation

Author(s)
Roth Kurt,
Sehgal N,
Akers Craig
Organization(s)
Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,
Fraunhofer CSE,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Research report with results from field tests in two homes in Austin, Texas, from October 2011 to June 2012 to evaluate the comfort performance of ductless mini-split heat pumps

Durability by Design: 2nd Edition: A Professional's Guide to Durable Home Design

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Office of Policy Development and Research
Organization(s)
HUD,
PD&R
Publication Date
Designer checklist covering hazards involving ground and surface water, rain and water vapor, HVAC and plumbing, sunlight, insects, decay, and natural hazards, and builder checklist covering all disaster resistance, sorted by building component.

Earth Tubes Exhibit

Author(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition
Organization(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition,
Solar World
Publication Date
Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Refrigerators

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure refrigerators and other major appliances to wall studs using earthquake appliance straps or angle brackets and bolts.

Earthquake Country Alliance: TVs, Computers and Electronics

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure televisions, microwaves, computers, and other electronics to prevent damage during earthquakes.

Earthquake Country Alliance: Water Heater

Author(s)
Earthquake Country Alliance,
Southern California Earthquake Center
Organization(s)
ECA,
SCEC
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to secure water heaters to resist seismic activity.

Earthquake Home Hazard Hunt, FEMA 528

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Poster describing earthquake safety tips and protection measures to take at home.

Earthquake Retrofit Your Home

Author(s)
City of San Jose,
State of California,
Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Organization(s)
City of San Jose,
State of California,
Planning Building and Code Enforcement
Publication Date
Factsheet describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more earthquake resistant.

Earthquake Safety

Author(s)
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
American Red Cross
Publication Date
Webpage providing earthquake safety tips including proactive home structure and utility action items.

Earthquake Safety at Home, FEMA P-530

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide provides homeowners ways to prepare for an earthquake and protect a home against earthquake damage.

Earthquake Safety Checklist, FEMA B-526

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Organization(s)
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Reference guide helping families prepare for an earthquake and prevent earthquake-related damage.

Earthquake Valve Overview

Author(s)
MBS Engineering
Organization(s)
MBS Engineering
Publication Date
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.

Earthquake-Actuated Automatic Gas Shutoff Devices, ANSI/ASCE/SEI 25-16

Author(s)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Organization(s)
ASCE
Publication Date
Standard providing minimum functionality requirements for earthquake-actuated automatic gas shutoff devices; applicable to systems carrying natural gas and propane, the devices are used in piping, equipment, and appliances typically found in structures of three stories or less.

Earthquakes

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

ECA HVAC Units

Author(s)
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services,
Southern California Earthquake Center,
Earthquake Country Alliance
Organization(s)
NEHRP,
FEMA,
Cal OES,
SCEC,
ECA
Publication Date
Factsheet describing methods for securing HVAC units to avoid damage during an earthquake.

Eclipse Shading

Author(s)
Professional Awning Manufacturers Association,
Industrial Fabrics Association International
Organization(s)
PAMA,
IFAI
Publication Date
Webpage providing information on using awnings to enhance outdoor living space.