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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 1 - 50 of 99

Assessment of Suite Compartmentalization and Depressurization in New High-Rise Residential Buildings: Final Report

Author(s)
Cooke George
Organization(s)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation,
Tridel Group of Companies
Publication Date
Technical report describing the evaluation of air management systems in a high-rise apartment building in Toronto, Ontario, focusing on air leakage, suite depressurization, and the performance of in-suite exhaust and corridor ventilation systems.

Interactive Walk-Through of a Residential Heat Pump Water Heater Installation in Massachusetts

Author(s)
D+R Learn,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships,
Home Works Energy Inc.,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
This webpage provides an interactive walk-through of the installation of a heat pump water heater in a home in Massachusetts, including how-to videos of the installation, video interviews with the homeowners, installer, and utility program partners, and visual tours of the home before and after...

Maine Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Interactive Tour

Author(s)
D+R Learn,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships,
Home Works Energy Inc.,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE,
NEEP
Publication Date
This webpage provides an interactive walk-through of the installation of a heat pump water heater in a home in Maine, including how-to videos of the installation, video interviews with the homeowners, installer, and utility program partners, and visual tours of the home before and after installation...

ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction, OR-WA Program Requirements

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Webpage with links to documents providing the program requirements and checklists for ENERGY STAR Certified Multifamily Homes, national and regional program requirements.

ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program Requirements

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Website showing compliance timelines for various versions of the ENERGY STAR Multi-Family New Construciton program requirements with links to national program requirements documents and checklists.

Laboratory Testing of Heat Pump Water Heater Performance: Impact of Airflow and Space Configurations

Author(s)
Larson Ben,
Larson Sam,
Gantley Maya
Organization(s)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
PG&E,
Energy Transition Coordinating Council,
ETCC
Publication Date
Report describing research conducted to support California’s Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards by analyzing the impact of installation location and ventilation on heat pump water heater (HPWH) performance, emphasizing the need for proper installation to maximize efficiency...

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Author(s)
Gerbis Nicholas
Organization(s)
Home & Garden
Publication Date
Resource that explains how water softeners work to reduce scale.

Tips & Resources - Evaporative Coolers

Author(s)
City of Fresno
Organization(s)
City of Fresno
Publication Date
Webpage from the City of Fresno's Water Conservation Program describing household water conservation recommendations, including tips for maintaining evaporative coolers.

Re-Side Right: A Systems Approach to High-Performance Re-Siding Projects

Author(s)
Liaukus Christine
Organization(s)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Publication Date
Technical report describing the Re-Side Right initiative by the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Building America research team that proposes enhancing home efficiency during the re-siding process by incorporating an insulating layer that acts as both an air barrier and water resistive barrier...

Earthquake Safety Checklist, FEMA B-526

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Organization(s)
FEMA,
NEHRP
Publication Date
Reference guide helping families prepare for an earthquake and prevent earthquake-related damage.

Best Practices for the Retrofit Installation of Heat Pump Water Heaters

Author(s)
Richard Health & Associates
Organization(s)
RHA
Publication Date
Report describing the best practices for the safe, efficient, and compliant installation of residential air source heat pump water heaters (HPWH) in California, aligning with the state's climate goals and providing guidance for educators, installers, and industry stakeholders.

Furniture Stability

Author(s)
American Home Furnishings Alliance
Organization(s)
AHFA
Publication Date
Regulatory compliance regarding furniture stability requirements

2023 (2020) Standard for Performance Rating of Unitary Air-Conditioning and Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment, AHRI Standard 210/240

Author(s)
Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Organization(s)
AHRI
Publication Date
Performance rating standards for unitary air-conditioners and unitary air-source heat pumps, including definitions, classifications, testing, rating, and operating requirements, as well as minimum data requirements for published ratings and markings.

Map of Radon Zones

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website providing links to the EPA developed map of radon risk in the United States.

FEMA National Risk Index

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Website providing maps for natural disaster risk in the United States.

Load Calculation Tools for Ductless Heat Pumps

Author(s)
BetterBuilt Northwest,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
BetterBuiltNW,
NEEA
Publication Date
Web article describing two options for sizing ductless minisplit heat pumps, including a free HVAC sizing tool.

Geospatial Data Science

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
A website providing geospatial data , tools, and maps including data on the U.S. solar resources for solar power.

Eclipse Shading

Author(s)
Professional Awning Manufacturers Association,
Industrial Fabrics Association International
Organization(s)
PAMA,
IFAI
Publication Date
Webpage providing information on using awnings to enhance outdoor living space.

Find Your Climate Zone

Author(s)
Attachments Energy Rating Council
Organization(s)
AERC
Publication Date
Webpage providing assistance with finding the AERC climate zone of particular locations to aid in selecting window attachment products.

Hurricane Shutter Types

Author(s)
Hurricane Research Division,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Organization(s)
NOAA
Publication Date
NOAA webpage providing images and short descriptions of different types of hurricane shutters.

Window Attachments: Call to Action

Author(s)
Attachments Energy Rating Council
Organization(s)
AERC
Publication Date
Fact sheet providing information on window attachments and their potential for improving energy efficiency.

DOE Solar Decathlon Website

Author(s)
Solar Decathlon,
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website for the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon competition.

Efficient Window Coverings Website

Author(s)
Efficient Window Coverings
Organization(s)
Building Green,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Website sponsored by DOE to provide consumers with intelligent and unbiased guidance on the best window covering for your climate, your needs, and your windows.

Wildland-Urban Interface Growth in the U.S.

Author(s)
U.S. Forest Service
Organization(s)
USDA
Publication Date
Article describing the growth of the wildland urban interface in the United States from 1990 to 2010, expanding from 30.8 to 43.4 million homes (a 41% increase), and growing from 581,000 to 770,000 kM2 (33% growth), an increase of 189,000 km2, an area that is larger than Washington State.

Manufactured Home Factory Duct Leakage Testing

Author(s)
Slipstream
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Factsheet describing how to test the duct leakage of a manufactured home in the manufactured home factory.

Residential Solar System Guidelines

Author(s)
City of Burnsville
Organization(s)
City of Burnsville
Publication Date
Brochure detailing the guidelines, recommendations, and preferences of the City of Burnsville for citizens installing solar photovoltaics.

Energy Savings With Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Through Improved Airflow Control in Residential Retrofits

Author(s)
Francisco Paul W.,
Sun Yigang,
Merrin Zachary,
Gilleade Kiel,
Graham Molly,
Wilson Jonathan,
Jacobs David,
Brand Larry,
Lafluer Jason
Organization(s)
Gas Technology Institute
Publication Date
Technical report describing the enhancement of energy efficiency in existing buildings through a systems approach, assessing airflow-focused retrofits for improved energy savings and indoor air quality, considering factors like air leakage, distribution system dynamics, duct leakage, and ventilation...

Wildfire Statistics

Author(s)
Congressional Research Service
Organization(s)
CRS
Publication Date
Fact sheet providing recent statistics on wildfires in the U.S.

Attachments Energy Rating Council Homepage

Author(s)
Attachments Energy Rating Council
Organization(s)
AERC
Publication Date
Website developed by the Attachments Energy Rating Council to provide consumers with credible, relevant, and comparable information about window attachments and their performance.

Residential Windows, Doors, and Skylights

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Homepage for ENERGY STAR’s windows, skylights, and doors program providing information for consumers and links to product directories.

Provide Flood Protection for Appliances

Author(s)
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
Organization(s)
FLASH
Publication Date
Webpage describing how to elevate major appliances in case of a flood.

ENERGY STAR® Certified Mini Split Heat Pumps

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Factsheet describing mini split heat pumps and their benefits for consumers.

Flood Cleanup: Protecting Indoor Air Quality

Author(s)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
This five-page brochure contains basic information on flood cleanup with illustrations and links to more detailed information.

Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website providing series of short how-to videos, infographics and more resources on cleaning up a home after a flood.

Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings - In Hurricane-Prone Regions, Second Edition, FEMA P-804

Author(s)
Escarment Jadon W,
Ibraheem Abdullah,
Lelfhelt Jr Donald L,
O'Connor Brian,
Overcash Glenn,
Reeder Adam,
Stafford T Eric,
Willsey Brian
Organization(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
FEMA
Publication Date
Guide presents mitigation measures in a Mitigation Package which combined set of retrofit measures that must be implemented for a house to provide a defined level of protection; identifies three successive Mitigation Packages: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Implementing the Mitigation Packages...

2018 International Wildland Urban Interface Code - IWUIC

Author(s)
International Code Council
Organization(s)
ICC
Publication Date
2018 edition of the code establishing regulations to safeguard life and property from the intrusion of wildland fire and to prevent structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels; regulates defensible space and provides ignition-resistant construction requirements to protect against fire exposure...

Emergencies and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website that lists references that can help you determine how to control you indoor air quality while combating an emergency.

Evaporative Cooler

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Webpage providing tips for installing and maintaining an evaporative cooler.

Filtration and Disinfection FAQ

Author(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Organization(s)
ASHRAE
Publication Date
ASHRAE Q&A addressing HVAC filtration and disinfection for reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster, ASTM C 926-23

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2023, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...

Standard Specification for Application of Portland Cement-Based Plaster, ASTM C 926-22c

Author(s)
American Society for Testing and Materials,
ASTM International
Organization(s)
ASTM
Publication Date
Specification covering the standard requirements for application of full thickness Portland cement-based plaster for exterior (stucco) and interior work. This standard was produced in the year 2022, and is available for preview and purchase at the reference link. There are also other versions of...

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners

Author(s)
Energy Saver
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Webpage describing the advantages and disadvantages of ductless mini-split air conditioner.