Skip to main content

Library

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 60 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.

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.

Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Hot and Humid Climate, Volume 1

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Baechler Michael C,
Love Pat M
·
Organization(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Document providing a resource to help builders large and small build high-quality, energy-efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in the hot and humid climate.

Building America Performance Analysis Procedures, Revision 1

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hendron Robert,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Partnership for Resource Conservation,
Mountain Energy Partnership,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Document illustrating some analysis concepts that are proven to be effective and reliable in analyzing the transient energy usage of advanced energy systems as well as of entire houses.

Community-Scale Evaluation Results, BA-0405

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Report investigating the nature, strength, and durability of connections between high performance dwellings and developments.

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.

Cool Colored Materials for Roofs

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Akbari Hashem,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
California Energy Commission,
CEC,
Public Interest Energy Research Program,
PIER,
Laboratory Directed Research and Development,
LDRD,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Description
Study describing efforts and outcomes in developing color-pigmented roofing products with coatings to increase solar reflectance.

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.

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.

Groundwater Control, Info-101

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

Introduction to Buildings Systems Performance: Houses that Work II

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
·
Organization(s)
BSC,
NREL
Description
Report that describes BSC's Houses That Work II (HTWII) climate-specific technical resource, beginning with an overall HTWII introduction and four sections explaining the four most important hygro-thermal climate regions: Hot-Humid, Mixed-Humid, Cold, and Hot-Dry/Mixed-Dry.

Local Officials Guide for Coastal Construction, FEMA P-762

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
Guide describing sound mitigation measures to lower building natural disaster vulnerability to assist local officials and community decision makers in coastal areas.

Smart Vapor Barrier - CertainTeed Dryright-vs-Kraft-Faced Insulation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Zhong Zhipeng
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Report describing a comparison of hydrothermal performances of DryRightTM fiberglass batts and kraft-faced fiberglass batts in a south facing wall assembly with a moisture storage cladding material.

Solar Domestic Water Heating - a Roof-Integrated Evaluation

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Aldrich Robb
·
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA
Description
Report providing a synopsis of a project to evaluate the performance of a roof-integrated solar water heating system.