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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 1 - 50 of 94 results:

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates, Volume 9

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report providing builders in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

ACCA Manual T - Air Distribution Basics

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
·
Organization(s)
ACCA
Description
Standard providing guidance on how to select, size, and locate the supply air diffusers, grilles and registers, and the return grilles.

An Overview of Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (BAIHP) Activities in Hot-Humid Climates

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Chandra Subrato,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
University of Central Florida,
UCF
Description
Report summarizing systems research activities for new housing in hot-humid climates, including NightCool, interior duct systems in manufactured housing, ventilation and dehumidification, plug load reduction and solar and conventional hot water.

Are Your Multi-Family Buildings Accessible?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Stratton Petter A
·
Organization(s)
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Document highlighting federal accessibility laws which may apply to a housing development, and common mistakes made in the field which, if avoided, will help to ensure compliance.

Basement Insulation, Info 511

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Information sheet describing techniques for insulating basements.

Benefits of Demand-Controlled Pumping

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Acker Larry,
Klein Gary
·
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine,
Taco Comfort
Description
Article describing how demand plumbing systems send cold water back to the water heater until hot water arrives at the sink, shower or other fixture where it is needed.

Comparison of the ENERGYGAUGE USA and BEopt Building Energy Simulation Programs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Cummings Jamie E
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
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.

Crawlspace Insulation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Southface Energy Institute,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
ORNL,
SEI,
DOE
Description
Information sheet about crawlspace insulation, including installation details.

Double Wall: Staggered or In-Line Studs?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
Steven Winter Associates
·
Organization(s)
CARB,
SWA
Description
Information sheet providing information about investigating the thermal effect of staggering the inner and outer wall studs on double walls in new construction.

Energy Flow Across Enclosures, BSI-028

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
·
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Description
Discussion of structural thermal resistance.

ETW: Building Profile: New - Albuquerque New Mexico

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Information sheet with details on a building enclosure designed for Albuquerque, NM, as an example for building enclosures built for hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.

Fire Network: Windows Vulnerabilities

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
·
Organization(s)
UCANR,
University of California Cooperative Extension
Description
A report showing what happens when windows break as a result of temperature differences between the inside and outside of the home, as well as code standards for the State of California regarding window exposure to wildfires.

General PV Specification

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Brochure on specifications for PV systems.

General Solar Thermal Specification

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Brochure on specifications for solar thermal systems.

GREENGUARD Certification for Paints and Coatings

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
·
Organization(s)
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Description
Standard describing GREENGUARD Emission Criteria for use with GREENGUARD Certification Program for Low Emitting Products.

Groundwater Control, Info-101

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Information sheet about groundwater control.

Guide to Good Leak Testing

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Institute of Refrigeration
·
Organization(s)
IOR,
Carbon Trust
Description
Guide describing refrigeration leaks, including common leak points, how to fix them, and how to prevent them.

Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
National Service Center for Environmental Publications
·
Organization(s)
EPA,
NSCEP
Description
Guidance for achieving safe and healthy indoor environments during home energy retrofits.

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.