Library

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

A fact sheet providing information on termite species and how to prevent them from entering into your home.

Webpage explaining what causes the formation of ice dams on roofs and steps to take to prevent them.

Article from The Home Energy Community of Practice on designing energy efficient homes in hot climate zones, including home orientation, window location, and roof design considerations.

Report providing guidance on designing buildings to be flood resistant.

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...

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.

Checklist for the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements Mandatory Requirement 7 (Renewable Ready).

Checklist describing solar water heating recommendations per the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program.

Technical report describing a market assessment conducted on new home builders' window purchasing practices revealing insights to inform the development of thin triple-pane windows, utilizing a center pane of thin glass and krypton gas fill to achieve the performance of standard triple-pane windows...

Report covering the rainwater performance of building assemblies.

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.

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

Article describing quality of life and economic benefit from trees.

Computer simulations comparing International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering wind pressure differences between a gable-ended roof versus a hip roof versus a pyramidal-shaped roof.

Report describing an investigation into multiple occupancy-based ventilation control strategies and the associated energy savings.

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

Article describing a case study in which a whole-house battery and PV system was tested in a home with cooling and refrigeration during a hurricane in Florida.

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.

Calculator to help homeowner's calculate the size of pool pump they need.

Program criteria for central air conditioner and heat pump equipment.

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.

Technical report detailing the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid to weather-related failures.

Technical report describing the impact of orientation on thermal comfort.

A recovery advisory guide presenting important recommendations to reduce wind and water infiltration damage to new and existing residential buildings.

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.

Article defining terms and testing requirements for fire-resistant construction materials including combustible, noncombustible, fire-resistant or fire-resistance, and ignition-resistant.

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.

Article describing the history and the current debate about how to adjust the Florida building codes.

Fact sheet describing the acceptable underlayment alternatives including ASTM D6757 Underlayment Felt Containing Inorganic Fibers for Steep-Slope Roofing for certain applications.

Checklist providing recommendations for the right tape in order to reduce the risk of leaks during storms with wind-driven rain.

Factsheet describing ways to install sheathing over existing 1x roof decking.

Report summarizing the requirements for strenghtening and protecting the roof, openings in the house, and creating a continuous load path to strengthen walls and foundation per the IBHS Fortified Homes Hurricane Standard for Existing Homes.

Checklist providing good and bad methods of fortifying the roof, especially in hurricanes.

Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for high wind resistance.

Checklist providing information about the specific requirements of FORTIFIED Roof™ design and construction standard for re-roofing specific for hurricane resistance.

Checklist providing selection and installation guidance for residential, non-structural metal roof systems installed over wood roof decks with a roof slope 2:12 or greater to comply with section R905.1 of the 2015 IRC for a FORTIFIED Roof – New Roof Designation.

Website providing technical documents of checklists, calculators, bulletin, modular home toolkit, standard details, and corrosion resistance requirements – map set; describing the requirements of the IBHS Fortified Home program to improve the disaster resistance of new and existing homes.

Article describing what the building codes say about frost-protected shallow foundations as a cost-saving alternative to conventional concrete foundations.