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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 1551 - 1600 of 2352

Off-Grid Inverter Comparison Chart

Author(s)
Clean Energy Reviews
Organization(s)
CER
Publication Date
Website providing comparison charts and reviews of off-grid inverters for solar power systems.

Oilheat America: Burners

Author(s)
Oilheat America
Organization(s)
Oilheat America
Publication Date
A website providing information on the purpose of burners and the components used in burners.

One-Stop Hurricane Resource Guide

Author(s)
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
Organization(s)
FLASH
Publication Date
Report providing quick reference guide information to help a family prepare for hurricane season, including seven steps to a wind resistant home, a wind inspection checklist, and how to find a contractor.

Optimizing Hydronic System Performance in Residential Applications

Author(s)
Arena Lois,
Faakye Omari
Organization(s)
Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,
CARB,
Steven Winter Associates,
SWA,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Research study using modeling to determine optimal combination(s) of components/pumps, high efficiency heat sources, plumbing configurations and controls that result in the highest overall efficiency for a hydronic system.

OSHA Fact Sheet: Using Portable Generators Safely

Author(s)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Organization(s)
OSHA
Publication Date
A fact sheet educating the public on the potential hazards and safe use of portable generators.

OSHA Fact Sheet: Working Safely with Chainsaws

Author(s)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Organization(s)
OSHA
Publication Date
A fact sheet educating the public on the proper operation of chainsaws to reduce the risk of injury from use.

Outdoor and Wildfire Fire Safety Pictographs

Author(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Organization(s)
U.S. Fire Administration
Publication Date
A webpage that provides wildfire preparedness and safety pictographs.

Overheating in Hot-Water and Steam-Heated Multifamily Buildings

Author(s)
Dentz Jordan,
Henderson Hugh,
Podorson David
Organization(s)
Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions,
ARIES,
Levy Partnership,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report providing information to researchers, utility program managers, and building owners interested in controlling heating energy waste and improving resident comfort.

Particulate Matter

Author(s)
American Lung Association
Organization(s)
ALA
Publication Date
American Lung Association web page providing information on particulate matter and indoor air quality.

Passive Cooling

Author(s)
Cook Jeffrey,
Martin Marlo,
Chandra Subrato,
Yellott John,
Labs Kenneth,
Clark Gene
Organization(s)
MIT Press,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
MIT
Publication Date
Book describing passive cooling techniques from a technical and academic perspective.

Passive Cooling

Author(s)
Smarter Homes NZ
Organization(s)
Smarter Homes NZ
Publication Date
Article from Smarter Homes NZ on home building techniques that incorporate passive cooling.

Passive Cooling Designs to Improve Heat Resilience of Homes in Underserved and Vulnerable Communities

Author(s)
Sun Kaiyu,
Zhang Wanni,
Zeng Zhaoyun,
Levinson Ronnen,
Wei Max,
Hong Tianzhen
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
This study evaluated 11 measures for passive cooling using four heat resilience metrics with and without grid power in Fresno CA and found the two most effective measures were installing solar-control window films and adding roof insulation; natural ventilation also helped reduce overheating in...

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.

Passive Solar Design

Author(s)
Williams College
Organization(s)
Williams College
Publication Date
Article from Williams College on the key elements of passive solar design for homes.

Peak Power and Cooling Energy Savings of Shade Trees

Author(s)
Akbari Hashem,
Bretz Sarah E,
Kurn Dan M,
Hanford James W
Organization(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL
Publication Date
Paper describing a study on savings in peak power and cooling energy for homes with shade trees.

Performance Evaluation and Opportunity Assessment for St. Bernard Project

Author(s)
Dickson Bruce
Organization(s)
Integrated Building and Construction Solutions,
IBACOS,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Report providing information about improving the energy efficiency and long-term durability of the buildings that are being reconstructed post Katrina in New Orleans.

Performance Evaluation of a Hot-Humid Climate Community

Author(s)
Osser Rosie,
Kerrigan Philip
Organization(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Building Science Corporation,
BSC
Publication Date
Report providing information about improving the energy efficiency and long-term durability of the buildings that are being reconstructed post Katrina in New Orleans.

Performance of a Hot-Dry Climate Whole-House Retrofit

Author(s)
German Alea,
Porse Erik,
Weitzel Elizabeth
Organization(s)
Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,
ARBI,
Davis Energy Group
Publication Date
Report presenting performance results from tests conducted on an energy efficiency retrofit project in Stockton, California.

Performance of Combination Hydronic Systems

Author(s)
Butcher Thomas
Organization(s)
American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
ASHRAE
Publication Date
Article investigating how a linear input/output relationship can be used as a simple model of the performance of a combination hydronic heating system over heating only, DHW only, and combined loads.

Performance of Four Near Zero Energy Homes: Lessons Learned

Author(s)
Colon Carlos J,
Parker Danny S,
Martin Eric,
Sherwin John S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Paper examining the monitored performance of four newly constructed near zero energy homes in Florida.

Performance of Windows in Walls With Continuous Insulation

Author(s)
Peavey John,
Shah Nay B
Organization(s)
Home Innovation Research Labs,
HIRL,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL
Publication Date
Technical report describing research aimed to provide window manufacturers with foundational guidance for installing windows in walls with continuous insulation (CI), addressing critical aspects such as evaluating common installation methods, establishing acceptance criteria for window performance...

Performance profiles of exterior fire protective building envelopes

Author(s)
Jarnskjold Tobias,
Jensen Geir,
Knudsen Atle
Organization(s)
Edition Diffusion Presse Sciences,
EDP Sciences
Publication Date
A study on how fires spread through exterior building envelopes with discussion on how fires propagate in a rain screen cavity.

Permeable Pavement

Author(s)
City of Mercer Island
Organization(s)
City of Mercer Island
Publication Date
Brochure describing what permeable pavement is, where to install it, and how to maintain it.

Pest Prevention by Design: Authoritative Guidelines for Designing Pests out of Structures

Author(s)
Geiger Chris A,
Cox Caroline
Organization(s)
San Francisco Department of the Environment,
SF Environment,
Center for Environmental Health,
CEH,
International Code Council,
ICC
Publication Date
Report providing detailed steps for builders, architects, and property managers to take for integrated pest management for control of a variety of pests including insects, rodents, and birds.

Phased Retrofits in Existing Homes in Florida Phase I: Shallow and Deep Retrofits

Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
Chasar Dave,
Montemumo Joseph,
Amos Bryan,
Kono Jamie E,
Parker Danny S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report describing research on how to reduce energy used by residential homes by applying shallow and deep retrofits to an existing home.

Phased Retrofits in Existing Homes in Florida Phase II: Shallow Plus Retrofits

Author(s)
Sutherland Karen,
Martin Eric,
Chasar Dave,
Amos Bryan,
Parker Danny S
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC,
Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction,
BA-PIRC
Publication Date
Report describing single retrofit measures applied to shallow retrofitted homes that could be used to refine the deep retrofit package.

Pile Design and Installation, FEMA Technical Fact Sheet No. 3.2

Author(s)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Organization(s)
FEMA
Publication Date
Fact sheet describing basic information about pile design and installation, including pile types, sizes and lengths, layout, installation methods, bracing, field cutting, connections, and verifying capacities; also published in FEMA P-499 “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction: Technical Fact...

Pilot Evaluation of Energy Savings and Persistence from Residential Energy Demand Feedback Devices in a Hot Climate

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Hoak David,
Cummings Jamie E
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report briefly reviewing past research on the effects of occupant behavior on residential energy use and then covering a two year pilot evaluation of a low cost residential energy feedback system installed in twenty case study homes in Florida.

Pilot Evaluation of Energy Savings from Residential Energy Demand Feedback Devices

Author(s)
Parker Danny S,
Hoak David,
Cummings Jamie E
Organization(s)
Florida Solar Energy Center,
FSEC
Publication Date
Report briefly reviewing past research on the effects of occupant behavior on residential energy use and then covering a two year pilot evaluation of a low cost residential energy feedback system installed in twenty case study homes in Florida.

Plant for the Sun!

Author(s)
Forestry and Natural Resources
Organization(s)
Purdue University
Publication Date
Blog article describing considerations for how to use trees for shading to reduce cooling energy demand.

Plaster and Drywall Assemblies Manual

Author(s)
Fowler Mark,
Stanley Bryan,
Coats Darin
Organization(s)
Technical Services Information Bureau,
Walls & Ceilings
Publication Date
Manual describing design, detailing, material selection and troubleshooting for plaster, IEFs, and drywall, with information on continuous insulation, air barriers, rain screens, and ratings for fire and sound.

Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater Field Study Findings & Market Commercialization Recommendations

Author(s)
Khanolkar Amruta,
Egolf Mischa,
Gabriel Noah
Organization(s)
New Buildings Institute,
NBI
Publication Date
Report describing the key findings from the first third-party field validation of 120-volt heat pump water heater (HPWH) technology, addressing the significant barriers to their adoption and emphasizing their potential role in reducing carbon emissions from residential water heating.

Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heaters: An Early Look to 120-Volt Products

Author(s)
Larson Ben,
Larson Sam
Organization(s)
Larson Energy Research,
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
NEEA
Publication Date
Report describing a laboratory assessment on the performance of Rheem 120-volt heat pump water heaters (HPWH), aimed at identifying optimal installation locations for these new "plug-in" models based on comprehensive testing under various conditions.

Plymouth Community Center Project

Author(s)
City of Plymouth,
State of Minnesota
Organization(s)
City of Plymouth,
State of Minnesota
Publication Date
City of Plymouth webpage providing information on the Plymouth Community Center Project.

Pool Pumps Key Product Criteria

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Table of criteria for pool pumps to achieve ENERGY STAR certification.