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 401 - 450 of 2100
Organization(s)
ECP
Publication Date
Description
Webpage providing information on how window shading can reduce heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
Organization(s)
USGCRP,
Climate Science Special Report,
CSSR
Publication Date
Description
Report assessing the science of climate change with a focus on the U.S.
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report on improving passive design adoption rates.
Organization(s)
Advanced Energy
Publication Date
Description
Report aimed to quantify the impact of closed crawlspaces in new homes, and investigate modeling software to ensure accuracy of energy consumption predictions in these homes.
Organization(s)
Advanced Energy
Publication Date
Description
Guide about designing and installing closed crawlspaces in the Southeast.
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Publication Date
Description
Article describing how closed crawlspaces can do "double duty" by controlling moisture and providing energy savings.
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
ENERGY STAR clothes dryer buying guidance for consumers.
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
ENERGY STAR criteria that requires clothes dryers meet this set of efficiency and cycle time requirements using eligibility and energy performance metrics.
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
ENERGY STAR clothes washers key product criteria eligibility and energy performance metrics.
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing the characteristics that make for a successful coastal residential building, including design and construction recommendations; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact Sheet Series.”
Organization(s)
Department of City Planning New York City
Publication Date
Description
Report describing retrofitting options and methodology for architects, developers, and property owners to use when making decisions about retrofits for common building types in NY.
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
Description
Report providing tools and resources to help community planners to improve coastal resilience.
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Publication Date
Description
Volume II of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to design, construction, and renovation of homes located in coastal environments.
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA,
Applied Technology Council,
ATC,
URS Group,
DK Low and Associates,
Atkins,
TLSmith Consulting
Publication Date
Description
Volume 1 of a two-volume report providing a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, and risk management for homes constructed in coastal environments.
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Description
Article summarizing the IBHS stance on building practices that can mitigate the impact of high winds and storm surge on structures.
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Description
Website providing a link for purchasing NFPA 914, Code for the Protection of Historic Structures.
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
Description
Fact sheet describing what builders need to know about designing a structure for flood loads.
Organization(s)
NEEP
Publication Date
Description
Specification defining performance and reporting requirements to meet the voluntary “Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump Specification” (ccASHP Specification) for air source heat pumps suited to heat efficiently in cold climates (IECC cz 4 and higher).
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Description
Webpage outlining how to optimize the installations and performance of mini-split heat pump systems. As well, it discusses a set of design considerations for multi-level homes, low load homes, and heat distribution to rooms without a heat source.
Organization(s)
U.S. DOE
Publication Date
Description
The Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool guides contractors and installers through the decision-making process for heat pump (HP) sizing, identifying personalized CCHP recommendations, and applicable tax credits, with a focus on retrofits in cold climates.
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Description
A website explaining the various shades of light, from warm to cool colors, with a visual diagram illustrating the various shades of light.
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota,
UMN,
NothernSTAR,
NSTAR,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing combined space- and water-heating (combi) systems using a high-efficiency direct-vent burner.
Organization(s)
Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit,
PARR,
NothernSTAR,
NSTAR,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report on a simplified test procedure for combustion safety that is easier to implement and should produce fewer false positives than the previous procedure.
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report summarizing one year of monitoring and analysis of the effectiveness of a space conditioning system at maintaining temperature and relative humidity levels in a test home, as well as room-to-room differences and the actual measured energy consumption by the space conditioning system.
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report describing how space-conditioning systems are operating in the field and if these systems are meeting required standards.
Organization(s)
Fraunhofer CSE,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Report documenting the results of an in-depth evaluation of thermal comfort for two potential net zero-energy homes (NZEHs) in Massachusetts.
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Description
List of commercial heat pump water heater systems that comply with NEEA's Advanced Water Heating Specification.
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Description
List of multifamily commercial heat pump water heater products that meet the NEEA Advanced Water Heating Specification Requirements.
Organization(s)
The Building Consultant
Publication Date
Description
An article illustrating common errors found in fiber cement siding installations. Many of these errors and poor flashing examples apply to siding materials beyond fiber cement siding.
Organization(s)
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report investigating the nature, strength, and durability of connections between high performance dwellings and developments.
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
Description
Report outlining the steps developers can take to create high-performance standards on a community-wide scale.
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL
Publication Date
Description
Report on heating and cooling air-distribution ducts that are insulated, installed close to the ceiling in a vented attic and covered with attic insulation to minimize energy loss.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Description
Study investigating measured cooling energy performance in side-by-side identical homes with varying roof types, including cool roof technologies.
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Research report providing a comparison of the most common residential water heating technologies to determine energy-efficient and cost-effective water heating technologies are when subjected to a variety of typical operating conditions.
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Description
Technical report detailing a study in which actual cooling loads are compared to modeled cooling loads.
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Description
Two hourly energy simulation software, BEopt and Energy Gauge USA, were compared to ensure accuracy and evaluate agreement on the impact of various energy efficiency improvements.
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor
Publication Date
Description
Document containing a 3D drawing (CAD) of advanced framing details.
Organization(s)
FTC
Publication Date
Description
Article introducing the FTC’s new EnergyGuide label, including estimates of annual energy usage.
Organization(s)
Tile Roofing Institute,
TRI,
Western States Roofing Contractors Association,
WSRCA
Publication Date
Description
Manual assisting architects, engineers, owners and roofing contractors for designing, specifying and installing roof tiles in areas of snow and ice.
Organization(s)
TRI
Publication Date
Description
Installation manual describing proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.
Organization(s)
TRI,
WSRCA
Publication Date
Description
Installation manual outlining proper installation practices, industry standards and the code requirements of roofing tiles.
Organization(s)
Portland Cement Association
Publication Date
Description
Document discussing moisture considerations and testing techniques for concrete floors.
Organization(s)
PCA
Publication Date
Description
Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.
Organization(s)
HIRL,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
HUD,
Office of Policy Development and Research,
PDR
Publication Date
Description
Attachment or installation of foundations, floors, roofs, insulation, utilities, and finishes to concrete masonry walls as well as on special tools and fasteners available for use with concrete masonry.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report covering insulating crawlspaces.
Organization(s)
The Constructor
Publication Date
Description
Article describing the process of constructing concrete walls
Organization(s)
National Research Council Canada,
NRCC
Publication Date
Description
Document about condensation between the panes, on the inside surface of the outer glass of double pane windows.
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Description
Report outlining how conditioned crawlspaces perform better than vented crawlspaces in terms of safety, health, comfort, durability and energy consumption.
Organization(s)
CEE
Publication Date
Description
Website for CEE, the US and Canadian consortium of natural gas and electric efficiency program administrators.