Library

Information sheet discussing the properties and benefits of insulating concrete forms.

Article describing the process of constructing concrete walls

Guidance from Zero Energy Project on construction techniques for warmer climates, such as home orientation, and insulation requirements.

Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing 'cool roofs' and their usage for passive home cooling.

DOE Energy Saver webpage summarizing the use of whole-house fans for cooling.

Report describing the analytical study of renewable energy retrofits to homes built before 1980 and whether it is cost efficient or not.

Research study examining the opportunities for cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits in residential archetypes constructed before 1980 (Pre-Code) in 14 U.S. cities.

Report providing guidance on designing buildings to be flood resistant.

Report identifying business models for the remodeling industry that foster remodelers adoption of energy efficiency services.

Technical report describing algorithms that use communicating thermostat heating data and that were developed to optimize customer adoption of energy conservation measures, enhancing the identification of retrofit opportunities, estimating post-retrofit energy savings, and enabling home-specific...

Online database with efficiency information about residential HVAC systems and commercial refrigeration equipment.

Website providing lists of WaterSense-qualified products for home plumbing and irrigation equipment that meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program.

Website listing implementation timelines and links to various versions of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home national program requirements.

Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.

Webpage providing earthquake safety tips including proactive home structure and utility action items.

Article describing earthship homes.

Factsheet describing methods for securing HVAC units to avoid damage during an earthquake.

Article describing quality of life and economic benefit from trees.

Webpage from U.S. Department of Energy describing using Earth-Sheltered home building techniques in hot climate zones.

A website with resources for emergency preparedness including videos, guides, and webinars.

Web page providing an overview of window coverings such as blinds, shades, shutters, films, and storm windows.

Research study analyzing the effects a nonlinear enthalpy profile has on thermal performance and expected energy benefits for PCM-enhanced insulation.

Document providing descriptions of the many insulation options available to homeowners, along with guidance on where, when, and how to install insulation throughout your house.

Online reference containing general information about geothermal heat pumps.

Program criteria for central air conditioner and heat pump equipment.

Comprehensive design guide describing the benefits and details of retrofit methods for buildings and equipment in flood-prone areas. Estimated costs are outdated due to publication date.

Broschure detailing water control strategies for building openings (e.g., vents and drainpipes).

Report summarizing CARB's analysis of Boulder, Colorado's SmartRegs ordinance in the existing home market.

Document reviewing four cold-climate northern Illinois energy efficiency retrofit programs to identify practices, tools, and approaches to streamline and reduce costs of comprehensive retrofits, and to improve the consistency of audit and retrofit delivery practices across different programs.

DOE-sponsored report describing a study investigating condensation buildup on windows when using insulating shades.

Report describing the performance, cost, and carbon impacts of unitary heat pump water heaters with load-shifting controls in a shared configuration for a multi-family project, highlighting significant savings in energy usage, CO2 emissions, and utility costs.

A webpage by the DOE on tips for saving energy with an evaporative cooler.

Article describing how evaporative coolers work and how to maintain them.

Image of design wet bulb temperatures in the U.S. and where evaporative cooling is most appropriate.

Web article describing the evolution of evaporative coolers, water usage of evaporative coolers, and links to information on selecting an evaporative cooler.

Expert meeting identifying installation practices that provide the best installed efficiency for residential gas furnaces, explain how AFUE and field efficiency can differ, and investigate the impact of installation practices on the efficiency and long-term durability of the furnace.

Report about the Advanced Envelope Research effort will provide factory homebuilders with urgently-needed, cost effective methods for meeting emerging energy code requirements.

Expert Meeting about interior insulation retrofit of mass masonry wall assemblies held on July 30, 2011.

Expert meeting describing meeting details for key innovations for adding energy efficiency upgrades to maintenance projects.

Expert meeting describing meeting details for recommendations for applying water heaters in combination space and domestic water heating systems.

Study characterizing how foundation heat exchangers (FHXs) used in residential ground source heat pump systems represent a potential cost savings due to their lesser first cost over other types of heat exchangers.

Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

Website describing and providing links to FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, which home owners and builders can use to determine the flood risk of their location.

Website describing and providing a map showing the tsunami risk index for the United States, which home owners and builders can use to determine the tsunami risk of their location.

Research study evaluating the dynamic heat transmission characteristics through two identical Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) wall assemblies in Ottawa, Canada.

Research study evaluating a low-cost and scalable way to reduce heating energy consumption using the energy-saving features of programmable thermostats (i.e., automatic daytime and nighttime setbacks).

Wildfire construction guidelines from the Colorado State Forest Service focusing on site design and building materials to mitigate damage to homes in wildfire-prone areas.

Article describing methods to manage moisture, rainwater, and vapor in basements and crawlspaces.

This document includes tips for safely and effectively cleaning up a home after a flood. It is available in several languages.

Website providing information to the public about preparing for floods and floods related to fires.