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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 51 - 100 of 145 results:

FEMA Protecting Your Property from Earthquakes

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
·
Organization(s)
HUD,
FEMA,
DHS
Description
Brochure detailing how to latch and lock cabinets and drawers to prevent injury to residents of the home.

Fiberglass Duct Board - Fabrication Instructions

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Johns Manville
·
Organization(s)
Johns Manville
Description
Information sheet providing detail about hand fabrication of a one-piece straight duct from a 48" x 120" x 1" thick (1.22 m x 3.05 m x 25 mm) sheet where the total inside duct dimensions equals 112" (2.84 m) or less.

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.

Fixing Air Leakage in Connecticut Town Houses

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Moriarta Courtney
·
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine,
National Property Inspections,
NPI
Description
Journal article describing energy and cost savings potential from air sealing multifamily town homes.

Gable End Retrofit Guide

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Florida Division of Emergency Management
·
Organization(s)
Florida Disaster
Description
Guide describing retrofit procedures for gable end roofs.

Gable-End Retrofits

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Reynolds Richard
·
Organization(s)
Journal of Light Construction,
JLC
Description
A builder's guide describing hurricane-resistant reinforcements for gable ends.

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.

Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps: Market Status, Barriers to Adoption, and Actions to Overcome Barriers

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hughes Patrick J
·
Organization(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
ORNL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Description
Report investigating the status of the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry and technology in the United States, assembling GHP energy savings potential, identifying key barriers to application of GHPs, and identifying actions that could accelerate adoption of GHPs.

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.

How Energy Efficient are Modern Dishwashers?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Hoak David,
Parker Danny S,
Hermelink Andreas H
·
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Description
Report about measurements of three recent vintage dishwashers of very different efficiencies showing that while they are substantially more efficient than older dishwashers.

IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
·
Organization(s)
SMACNA
Description
Book providing project management guidance in maintaining satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) of occupied buildings undergoing renovation or construction.

Indirect/Passive Air-Flow Systems

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Kang Bhujon,
Lutz-Carillo Sky
·
Organization(s)
University of Texas
Description
Report detailing natural ventilation and passive airflow systems.

IRC FAQ: Conditioned Attics, GM-0905

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Building Science Corporation
·
Organization(s)
BSC
Description
Report discussing how to create livable space in the attic that meets IRC code requirements by either creating a ventilated roof assembly, or and unvented attic assembly.

Is There a Downside to High-MERV Filters?

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Springer David
·
Organization(s)
Home Energy Magazine
Description
Information sheet about efficiency and health benefits of MERV filters.

Keeping Warm during Winter Power Outages

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences & Family and Consumer Sciences
·
Organization(s)
University of Georgia
Description
Webpage describing how to conserve heat or find alternative heat sources during a power outage to keep one room warm.

Living with Fire: Homeowners' Firesafe Guide for Montana

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
FireSafe Montana
·
Organization(s)
FireSafe Montana
Description
Guide for homeowners describing actions they can take to modify their home and the surrounding site to create a survivable space to reduce the amount of damage a home would likely experience during a wildfire.

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.

Metal Roof Systems in High-Wind Regions - Hurricane Ike Recovery Advisory

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
·
Organization(s)
FEMA
Description
A Recovery Advisory guide reccomending practices for designing and installing metal roof systems that will enhance wind resistance in high-wind regions (i.e., greater than 90-miles per hour [mph] gust design wind speed).

Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders, Scientists Find Common Ground

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
Lubliner Michael,
et al.
·
Organization(s)
WSU Extension Energy Program,
Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
Description
Conference paper making the case that moving ducts to conditioned space saves energy, is practical for production builders (when accompanied by careful pre-planning), and creates significant andmarketable energy savings for homebuyers.