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Library

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 51 - 100 of 135

Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations

Author(s)
Williams Randy
Organization(s)
Green Building Advisor,
GBA
Publication Date
Article describing what the building codes say about frost-protected shallow foundations as a cost-saving alternative to conventional concrete foundations.

How to Insulate Your Basement

Author(s)
Mathews Erin
Organization(s)
This Old House
Publication Date
An article and video of a breakdown on the preparation and installation of basement insulation.

Building Energy Efficiency Standards - Title 24

Author(s)
California Energy Commission
Organization(s)
CEC
Publication Date
Website providing information about the Title 24 building energy efficiency standards for the State of California and links to current and past standards including the 2025, 2022, 2019, and 2016 standards, etc.

Preparedness Webinars

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Database describing FEMA preparedness webinars including natural hazard preparedness.

Development and Validation of Algorithms That Analyze Communicating Thermostat Data to Identify Enclosure Retrofit Opportunities

Author(s)
Zeifman Michael,
Roth Kurt
Organization(s)
Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
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...

WaterSense Labeled Homes Program Home Certification Organization: Home Innovation Research Labs Water Rating Index

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing the home certification organization, Home Innovation Research Labs and their requirements for whole house water management in a checklist format as well their compliance with certified Water Rating Index (WRI), organization scope, and information verifiers.

Earth Tubes Exhibit

Author(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition
Organization(s)
Clean Energy Exhibition,
Solar World
Publication Date
Webpage providing details of an experimental earth tube installation at the Clean Energy Exhibition in Georgia.

Building Orientation for Optimum Energy

Author(s)
Gromicko Nick,
Gromicko Ben
Organization(s)
InterACHI
Publication Date
Webpage explaining how to site and orient a house to take advantage of the solar path.

Home Cooling Systems

Author(s)
Energy Saver
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Website providing information on low-energy and standard cooling systems, with a focus on saving energy.

Natural Ventilation

Author(s)
Energy Saver
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
DOE Energy Saver webpage providing a brief summary of natural ventilation for houses.

Passive Design

Author(s)
Green Home Technology Center
Organization(s)
Ohio State University Extension,
OSU
Publication Date
Website providing guidance on passive heating, cooling, and lighting methods.

Using Cool Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Webpage describing the use of cool roofs to reduce heat islands and and benefits and costs.

The Energy In Modular (EMOD) Buildings Method, A Guide To Energy-Efficient Design For Industrialized Construction Of Modular Buildings

Author(s)
Pless Shanti,
Podder Ankur,
Kaufman Zoe,
Klammer Noah,
Dennehy Conor,
Muthumanickam Naveen Kumar,
Rothgeb Stacey,
Louis Joseph,
Swanson Colby,
Wallace Heather,
Blazek Cedar
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Oregon State University,
Momentum Innovation Group,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report describing use of the Energy in Modular (EMOD) method to design, produce, and deliver affordable, net-zero energy, low-carbon, and healthier buildings through industrialized (factory) construction of modular buildings; modeling of whole buildings and subassemblies of components, pods, panels...

National Flood Insurance Technical Bulletins

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Resources describing the National Flood Insurance Program's technical bulletins for flood zone construction, including foundation walls, corrosion protection, floodproofing, and breakaway walls among other topics.

Evaluation of Unitary Heat Pump Water Heaters with Load-Shifting Controls in a Shared Multifamily Configuration

Author(s)
Hoeschele Marc,
Haile James,
Grant Peter
Organization(s)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
PG&E,
Energy Transition Coordinating Council,
ETCC
Publication Date
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.

The Corsi-Rosenthal Box

Author(s)
Burnes Roberta
Organization(s)
Kentucky Department of Air Quality
Publication Date
Presentation describing how to make a Corsi-Rosenthal Box for air cleaning.

Rebuild Healthy Homes App - (IOS)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Organization(s)
HUD
Publication Date
App developed by HUD to assist homeowners with lead paint and other hazards common to older homes.

Residential Toilets

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Resource that differentiates products in the marketplace that meet WaterSense requirements.

National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

FEMA Flood Data Viewers and Geospatial Data

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Online geospatial map with interactive viewer showing flood risk areas and base flood elevations

Wildfire-Resistant Buildings

Author(s)
Journal of Light Construction
Organization(s)
JLC
Publication Date
Article describing ways to design and construct a building to resist wildfires.

2021 International Existing Building Code - IEBC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2021 edition of code establishing a baseline for existing building retrofits to reach appropriate safety levels under new construction requirements covered in other ICC codes.

WaterSense Labeled Homes Program-Home Certification Organization: RESNET

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
WaterSense
Organization(s)
EPA,
WaterSense
Publication Date
Webpage describing the home certification organization, RESNET and its requirements for whole house water management in a checklist format as well as the scope, information verifiers, and partners of the program.

Introduction to the National Seismic Hazard Maps

Author(s)
U.S. Geological Survey,
Earthquake Hazards Program
Organization(s)
USGS
Publication Date
Website providing a probabilistic map of the expected number of damaging earthquakes around the U.S.

Advanced Water Heating Specification Version 8.0.

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Specification sheet for residential, commercial, multifamily, and industrial water heaters and heating systems.

Advanced Water Heating Specification

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Specifications for water heating systems designed to advance higher performing electric and gas heat pump water heaters.

Understanding HPWH Interaction with Space Conditioning Systems in the Field

Author(s)
Larson Ben
Organization(s)
Ecotope,
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
ACEEE
Publication Date
Presentation report detailing Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) interaction with space conditioning systems in real-life test scenarios that explains some of the problems arising from these interaction and information that can be used to make the system more efficient.

Wildfire Smoke Impacts on Residential IAQ

Author(s)
Antonopoulos Chrissi A,
Emmerich Steven,
Karg Rick,
Singer Brett C
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Article describing the impacts of wildfire smoke on indoor air quality and some ways ASHRAE is responding.

Suggested Emergency Food Supplies

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Organization(s)
USDHS
Publication Date
Article describing suggested food supplies, sanitation, safety, and cooking for during and after an emergency.

Affordable Solid Panel "Perfect Wall" System

Author(s)
Schirber Tom,
Jacobson Rolf,
Mosiman Garrett,
Handeen Daniel,
Huelman Patrick H
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota,
UMN,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
NothernSTAR
Publication Date
Technical report describing the SPS (Structural Panel System), an innovative implementation of the "perfect wall" concept, situating environmental control layers on the exterior side of structural components for improved constructability, cost-effectiveness, and performance, validated through the...

North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for Windows, Doors, and Skylights

Author(s)
American National Standards Institute,
Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance,
American Architectural Manufacturers Association,
Window & Door Manufacturers Association,
Canadian Standards Association
Organization(s)
ANSI,
FGIA,
AAMA,
WDMA,
CSA
Publication Date
Standard/specification establishing requirements for fenestration products to be referenced by model codes.

Proper Mulching

Author(s)
Fayetteville NC
Organization(s)
Fayetteville NC
Publication Date
Pamphlet describing proper mulching around trees and problems and benefits associated with mulching.

Mulching Your Trees and Landscapes

Author(s)
University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service
Organization(s)
University of Tennessee
Publication Date
Pamphlet describing different types of mulches and their benefits.

Types of Plumbing Leak Detection Tests

Author(s)
Home Inspector Potomac
Organization(s)
Home Inspector Potomac
Publication Date
Article describing water leak detection and modes of testing (video camera inspection, hydrostatic pressure, electronic listening, isolation, and digital testing).

Mulching with Lawn Clippings

Author(s)
Garden City Harvest
Organization(s)
Garden City Harvest
Publication Date
Article describing mulching with lawn clippings.

Mulching to Improve Soil Health, E484A

Author(s)
Sabata,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USDA
Publication Date
Article describing mulch requirements and benefits.

Evaporative Coolers: General History of the Evaporative Cooler

Author(s)
Pima County Public Library
Organization(s)
Pima County Public Library
Publication Date
Web article describing the evolution of evaporative coolers, water usage of evaporative coolers, and links to information on selecting an evaporative cooler.

Evaporative Coolers

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Article describing how evaporative coolers work and how to maintain them.

Town of Marana AZ

Author(s)
Town of Marana AZ
Organization(s)
Town of Marana AZ
Publication Date
Website regarding the town of Marana's services and departments.

Designing for Floods, BSI-128

Author(s)
Lstiburek Joseph W
Organization(s)
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report providing guidance on designing buildings to be flood resistant.

Troubleshooting Water Pressure and Flow

Author(s)
City of Portland,
State of Oregon
Organization(s)
City of Portland,
State of Oregon
Publication Date
Guide addressing troubleshooting and frequently asked questions about water pressure.