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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 1788

Tips for Natural Gas Safety at Home

Author(s)
NorthWest Natural
Organization(s)
NW Natural
Publication Date
Website providing consumer tips for using natural gas safely in the home, including guidance on cooking, fireplaces, ventilation, pilot lights, piping, etc.

GLP Emissions Criteria

Author(s)
Carpet and Rug Institute
Organization(s)
CRI
Publication Date
Document describing the emissions criteria for carpets, cushions, and adhesives to qualify as those with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions under the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality Testing Program.

Home Fire Safety

Author(s)
American Red Cross
Organization(s)
American Red Cross
Publication Date
Website describing ways to prevent home house fires.

Scaling Up to Zero Energy Ready - and Down to 530 ft2

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Organization(s)
NREL
Publication Date
Research report detailing Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) partnership with Manatee County Habitat for Humanity to design a compact, Zero Energy Ready Home in Florida, tackling challenges like equipment sizing and indoor air quality, offering insights for projects surpassing building code...

IoT-Based Comfort Control and Fault Diagnostics System for Energy-Efficient Homes

Author(s)
O'Neill Zheng,
Tao Yang,
Jin Wen,
Kimball Richard,
Ningxuan Wen,
Taasevigen Danny,
Xiao Hai
Organization(s)
Texas A&M University,
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
Research report discussing the reduction of HVAC energy consumption to meet U.S. greenhouse gas targets and DOE's energy-efficient building goals. It introduces iComfort, an IoT-based system for optimizing home comfort and energy savings.

Advanced HVAC Humidity Control for Hot-Humid Climates

Author(s)
Mallay David
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE
Publication Date
The research report outlines a practical and cost-effective strategy utilizing central HVAC systems to optimize humidity control and ventilation in energy-efficient homes located in hot-humid climates, demonstrating significant improvements without requiring complex equipment upgrades.

2024 Rating the States: Hurricane Coast

Author(s)
Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Organization(s)
IBHS
Publication Date
Report assessing building codes for the 18 Atlantic and Gulf coast states which are most prone to hurricanes, as of 2018.

U.S. Experience with Sprinklers

Author(s)
McGree Tucker
Organization(s)
National Fire Protection Association,
NFPA
Publication Date
A report examining the presence, reliability, effectiveness, and impact of sprinkler systems in structure fires.

Ductless Heat Pump Project

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
Webpage describing the successes and ongoing efforts of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's Go Ductless ductless heat pump program which successfully encouraged the installation of more than 150,000 minisplit heat pumps in the Northwest between 2010 and 2021.

Energy Saver: Heat Pump Systems

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website with consumer information about residential heat pump systems.

ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (Ducted)

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Searchable list of heat pumps that meet ENERGY STAR criteria.

Guide to Staying Safe During Wildfires

Author(s)
Gabriele Rob
Organization(s)
SafeHome.org
Publication Date
Webpage describing how to guard homes and properties against wildfire, as well as what to do during a wildfire, whether sheltering in place or attempting evacuation.

Commercial HPWH Qualified Products List

Author(s)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Organization(s)
NEEA
Publication Date
List of multifamily commercial heat pump water heater products that meet the NEEA Advanced Water Heating Specification Requirements.

New Life for Old Double Hung Windows

Author(s)
Davis John Michael
Organization(s)
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Publication Date
An article about double-hung windows.

DOE Weatherization Assistance Program

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organization(s)
DOE
Publication Date
Website providing information about the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of approximately 35,000 homes every year.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2024

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Webpage on the ENERGY STAR website that list products that exceed the ENERGY STAR minimum criteria for their category, with links to several product categories, including windows, HVAC, home appliances, and computer monitors.

ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA
Publication Date
Website for finding rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA helping you save energy and money while protecting the environment.

Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website from the EPA containing information for homeowners and renters about how to identify asbestos in the home and how to deal with it to reduce exposure to it.

Energy Efficient New Homes and Apartments

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA,
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
Website describing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR New Homes and Apartments program with links to builder and homeowner resources.

Winter Weather: Before, During, and After

Author(s)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Organization(s)
CDC
Publication Date
Website providing information to prepare for winter storms, prevent cold temperature-related health problems, and protect yourself during all stages of a winter storm.

Users Guide: Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing Support Tools

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Organization(s)
NEEP
Publication Date
Users guide to help contractors and homeowners use the Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing Support Tools developed by NEEP to size and select the best air source heat pumps for their cold climate location.

Erosion Control Blanket Construction Guidance Checklist

Author(s)
Mile High Flood District
Organization(s)
MHFD
Publication Date
Guidance documents describing Erosion Control Blankets (ECBs) use as a construction material that provides temporary cover and support for establishing vegetation on bare soil. ECB holds topsoil and seed (typically grass) in place to minimize erosion during germination of seed.

Lead-Safe Renovations for DIYers

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization(s)
EPA
Publication Date
Website describing best practices for minimizing exposure to lead while doing repairs and renovations in homes built in 1978 or earlier.

Color and Mood

Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
Organization(s)
ENERGY STAR
Publication Date
A website explaining the various shades of light, from warm to cool colors, with a visual diagram illustrating the various shades of light.

Accelerating Residential Building Decarbonization: Market Guidance to Scale Zero-Carbon-Aligned Buildings

Author(s)
Webster Brett,
Satre-Meloy Aven,
Badger Leslie,
Donovan Alison,
Lane Damon,
McGrath Kevin,
Wilson Eric,
Reyna Janet,
Metzger Cheryn E,
Pilet Tyler J,
Campbell Martha,
Toffoli Lucas
Organization(s)
Advanced Building Construction Collaborative,
ABC Collaborative,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
NREL,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
PNNL,
Rocky Mountain Institute,
RMI,
Vermont Energy Investment Corporation,
VEIC
Publication Date
Report providing product manufacturers, fabricators, contractors and installers, design professionals, owners, and real estate developers with technical performance and cost guidance for scalable zero-carbon-aligned new construction pathways and retrofit packages to achieve zero carbon retrofits and...

GIS Geography

Author(s)
GIS Geography
Organization(s)
GIS Geography
Publication Date
A website providing free access to a variety of U.S. and international maps.

Efficiency Vermont

Author(s)
Efficiency Vermont
Organization(s)
Efficiency Vermont
Publication Date
Website to support the state of Vermont transition to a more affordable and cleaner future by affiliate with partners throughout Vermont to save customers money, strengthen our state’s economy, and lower carbon emissions.

Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices, CSA 6.19-17 (R2022)

Author(s)
Canadian Standards Association
Organization(s)
CSA Group
Publication Date
Standard covering provisions for electrically operated single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide (CO) alarming devices used in various types of residential occupancies to protect against acute effects of exposure to CO. This version of the standard, originally published in 2017 and revised in...

Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool

Author(s)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Organization(s)
U.S. DOE
Publication Date
The Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool guides contractors and installers through the decision-making process for heat pump (HP) sizing, identifying personalized CCHP recommendations, and applicable tax credits, with a focus on retrofits in cold climates.

Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2024 Edition

Author(s)
American Wood Council,
American National Standards Institute
Organization(s)
AWC,
ANSI
Publication Date
Manual providing design and construction provisions for connections, wall systems, floor systems, and roof systems; a range of structural elements are covered, including sawn lumber, structural glued laminated timber, wood structural sheathing, I-joists, and trusses.

Washington State Energy Code - WSEC

Author(s)
Washington State Building Code Council
Organization(s)
Washington State Department of Enterprise Services
Publication Date
State building energy code for the State of Washington.

NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1: National Fuel Gas Code

Author(s)
National Fire Protection Association
Organization(s)
NFPA
Publication Date
Code providing minimum safety requirements for the design and installation of fuel gas piping systems in homes and other buildings.

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...