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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 1001 - 1050 of 2100

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Organization(s)
LBNL
Publication Date
Description
Online calculator for estimating payback of adding additional insulation to your house.
Author(s)
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
American Red Cross
Publication Date
Description
Website describing ways to prevent home house fires.
Author(s)
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
Organization(s)
HFSC
Publication Date
Description
Website containing educational and marketing resources for residential fire sprinklers.
Author(s)
Newport Partners,
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Report assessing the costs of home fire sprinkler systems.
Author(s)
Sanchez
Organization(s)
Home Power
Publication Date
Description
Web article about solar site assessment.
Author(s)
Quarles Stephen L,
Valachovic Yana,
Nakamura Gary M,
Nader Glenn A,
DeLasaux Michael J
Organization(s)
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Publication Date
Description
A guide that summarizes building materials and design considerations for increasing wildfire-resistivity of homes in areas that are prone to wildfires.
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Organization(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Publication Date
Description
Website providing certified rating programs to help manufacturers, builders, contractors and homeowners compare performance of ventilation products for air flow, sound, and other performance characteristics.
Author(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
National Institutes of Health,
Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
Organization(s)
FEMA,
EPA,
HUD,
NIH,
CDC
Publication Date
Description
Guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on how to deal with asbestos in homes following natural disasters.
Author(s)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
National Institutes of Health,
Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
Organization(s)
CDC,
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD,
NIH
Publication Date
Description
Homeowner guidance from CDC, EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on how to safely clean up mold issues following flooding from a natural disaster.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
National Institute of Health Division of Technical Resources
Organization(s)
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD,
NIH
Publication Date
Description
Guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on homeowner safety dealing with lead contaminants.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
EPA,
FEMA,
HUD
Publication Date
Description
Homeowner guidance from EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on dealing with radon following a natural disaster.
Author(s)
University of California
Organization(s)
University of California
Publication Date
Description
Wildfire mitigation guidelines from the University of California outlining how to mitigate fire risk for attached decks.
Author(s)
California Seismic Safety Commission
Organization(s)
SSC,
State of California
Publication Date
Description
Guidebook that provides information on earthquake hazards that can damage homes, the design and retrofit of earthquake resistant housing, and how to find more information on earthquake safety.
Author(s)
Hales David
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Programs,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC
Publication Date
Description
Report documenting short-term test results of the Shift House and compares the results of Passive House Planning Package and Building Energy Optimization modeling of the project.
Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc,
Weitzel Elizabeth
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Description
Report on a project that enhanced the HWSIM distribution system model to more accurately model pipe heat transfer.
Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the factors that can lead to inefficient hot water distribution systems in homes.
Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Description
Website for consumers describing heat pump water heater technology and linking to retailers and installers.
Author(s)
Hot Water Solutions NW
Organization(s)
HWS NW
Publication Date
Description
Guide describing how to choose energy-efficient water heaters, including heat pump models, with tips on installation, rebates, and incentives for maximizing energy savings.
Author(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Organization(s)
Siding Cost Guide
Publication Date
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.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing the function of housewrap, its attributes, and common problems associated with its use, including housewrap vs. building paper and housewrap installation; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the impact of stack effect on building performance, highlighting how pressure differences caused by temperature and height affect air infiltration and exfiltration, and detailing strategies like compartmentalization and distributed mechanical systems to manage airflow and maintain...
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the stack effect in buildings.
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing effects of planning, siting, and design decisions on coastal home costs, including initial, operating, and long-term costs; risk determination; and the effect on costs of meeting and exceeding code and NFIP design and construction requirements; also published in FEMA P-499...
Author(s)
Gerbis Nicholas
Organization(s)
Home & Garden
Publication Date
Description
Resource that explains how water softeners work to reduce scale.
Author(s)
Hoak David,
Parker Danny S,
Hermelink Andreas H
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Report about measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers.
Author(s)
Corvidae Jacob,
Ayyagari Sheha
Organization(s)
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI
Publication Date
Description
Article from RMI on how climate change is leading to an increase in critical extreme heat hours and what smart building strategies can be taken to mitigate some of these effects including paint color and insulation.
Author(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Organization(s)
Home Ventilating Institute
Publication Date
Description
Website with articles on home ventilation and indoor air quality.
Author(s)
Wirecutter Staff
Organization(s)
New York Times
Publication Date
Description
Installation tips and product suggestions for mounting hardware.
Author(s)
Christian Jeffrey E
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Description
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.
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet presenting the correct methods for building an insulated cathedral ceiling.
Author(s)
Williams Jeremy
Organization(s)
The Earthbound Report
Publication Date
Description
Article from The Earthbound Report on passive cooling design strategies for homes located in hot climates.
Author(s)
Diez Roy
Organization(s)
New Home Source
Publication Date
Description
Article summarizing for potential homeowners items to check or demand from the builder in designing a home for a cold climate.
Author(s)
Parlee Mark
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how omission of two small but critical wall details, a kick-out flashing and a weep screed, lead to extensive water damage to a wall.
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Description
Companion document to the Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications, providing guidance on identifying compliant products, including industry databases and examples of product labeling.
Author(s)
Green Building Advisor
Organization(s)
GBA
Publication Date
Description
Website that explains and provides diagrams for covering up above-grade rigid foam insulation.
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet presenting techniques for installing cellulose insulation.
Author(s)
Holladay Martin
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Description
Blog entry describing methods for insulating basement walls on the interior or exterior.
Author(s)
Mathews Erin
Organization(s)
This Old House
Publication Date
Description
An article and video of a breakdown on the preparation and installation of basement insulation.
Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Factsheet describing defensible space and wildfire risk reduction steps that homeowners can take to make their homes safer during a wildfire.