Library

Guideline describing information and specifications relevant to air-seal existing attics.

Report describing recommendations for optimizing flexible duct, constant-volume HVAC systems using junction boxes.

This document addresses adding—or improving—mechanical ventilation systems to existing homes. The purpose of ventilation is to remove contaminants from homes either directly or by dilution. This report discusses where, when, and how much ventilation is appropriate in a home, including some...

Report describing solutions for supplemental dehumidification in warm-humid climates.

Report describing a lighting and smart power strip retrofit evaluation that was conducted on 56 all-electric, existing Florida homes to see how lighting and miscellaneous electric loads might be reduced.

Standard that prescribes a testing method to determine the efficiency of space heating and/or cooling thermal distribution systems under seasonal and design conditions. This version of the standard was published in the year 2014, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. The...

This report investigates whether mini-split heat pumps can live up to their potential for one market segment: multifamily retrofits.

This paper discusses model validation using data from three thermosiphon systems.

List of products approved by the Master Painters Institute.

Report presenting performance results from tests conducted on an energy efficiency retrofit project in Stockton, California.

Information sheet providing guidance about the placement of ventilation approaches.

Manual describing design, detailing, material selection and troubleshooting for plaster, IEFs, and drywall, with information on continuous insulation, air barriers, rain screens, and ratings for fire and sound.

Article describing airflow within buildings due to pressure differences.

Webpage from DOE describing how to conserve energy and save money with a home energy audit.

Case study describing the External Thermal and Moisture Management System developed by the NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership for retrofitting roofs with rigid foam over the roof deck, especially on one and a half-story homes.

Information sheet about how to reduce thermal bridging in walls.

Document covering basic moisture control principles in the design of above-grade building enclosures; driving rain as a moisture load on walls; a classification system of the various rain control strategies available for walls; and good design practises for walls.

DOE case study findings on raised ceiling interior duct systems.

Report describing steps homeowners can take to improve the indoor air quality in their home, including ventilating, preventing pests, and reducing pollutants in the home.

Information sheet designed for the residential construction and remodeling industries, as well as owners and managers working in affordable housing. This sheet presents building guidance for both new construction and rehabilitation, as well as practices that can be used by property maintenance...

Document reviewing ventilation strategies for different climate zones that also includes schematic drawings and photographs of various ventilation installations.

Research project aimed to verify whether homes in the New Jersey HPwES program achieved 30% source energy savings, and if so, what measures were implemented to achieve them.

This study used an advanced airflow, energy and humidity modeling tool to evaluate the potential for residential mechanical pre-scooling strategies to reduce peak electriciy demand.

The ENERGY STAR criteria for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers.

A user forum discussing ways to reinforce a gable overhand that was framed using the ladder method by Mike Mahan.

Website tool intended to guide home builders in assessing whether a new home has the proper physical orientation to support a future installation of a solar energy system.

Website with information and research about residential hot water distribution systems.

Report evaluating mechanical AC precooling strategies in homes as a method for improving the load factor by shifting cooling operation from on-peak to off-peak hours.

Brochure with information on residential solar hot water systems.

Webpage with guidance document detailing voluntary interim guidelines for conducting home energy ratings on multifamily residential buildings.

Resource to help builders better understand the WaterSense requirements for labeled homes and assist them in meeting the criteria so they can receive the label for their new construction.

Article describing how replacing permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors with electronically commutated motors (ECM) can boost bottom line for HVAC contractors as well as improve customer comfort and satisfaction.

Manual describing methods for rodent-proofing buildings.

Factsheet describing air-sealing.

Standard using deficiency-based and systematic procedures that use performance-based principles to evaluate and retrofit existing buildings to withstand the effects of earthquakes.

Technical study exploring the impact of different installation faults on heat pump performance in a single-family house.

Study conducted to help determine cost-effective solutions for heating and cooling houses that are designed to be energy efficient.

Website providing information about INSULSPAN structurally insulated panels.

Paper describing the development and testing of an affordable net-zero energy house in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Website providing consumers with resources to find, select and install heat pump water heaters.

A research paper exploring the design, installation, repair and maintenance of solar water and pool heating technologies.

Proposed HVAC filter labeling standard and underlying analysis by the California Energy Commission.

Standard document establishing construction standards for one- and two-family dwellings constructed in high wind regions.

Information sheet describing correct application of stucco.

A report describing methods for constructing homes and treating soils to reduce the risk of termites in buildings.

A research paper discussing the use of foundation heat exchangers for ground source heat pump systems in European climates.

Research project evaluating the pre-and post-retrofit energy consumption of a marine climate retrofit, compare actual energy use to original predictions, and identify opportunities for cost savings in other similar retrofits in this climate.

A guide for homeowners on determining the risks from tornadoes and hurricanes and selecting a safe room type and location, as well as providing detailed plans for safe room construction.

Report providing a selected compilation of seismic rehabilitation techniques and guidance on which techniques are commonly used to mitigate specific seismic deficiencies in various model building types.

Fact sheet describing water management in a residential building.