Related Links
Building America has assembled a list of Web sites for homeowners that offer tips and ideas on making new and existing homes more energy-efficient.
Here you will find links to Web sites that offer resources related to energy-efficient homes. Specifically, you can link to information pertaining to:
- Energy-Efficient Home Construction Information
- Educational and Research Organizations
- Government Resources
Energy-Efficient Home Construction Information
- Advanced Energy Corporation—A national resource with great information about energy-efficient construction. See the Knowledge Library and a listing of Courses.
- Building Energy Codes—Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), this is a resource for tools to facilitate energy code compliance, development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement.
- BuildingGreen.com—Lots of news stories and feature articles offered online that deal with energy efficiency in design and construction and a great listing of green products.
- Building Industry Research Alliance—This Building America team offers details about projects and publications based on its research.
- BuildIQ—Creates, publishes, and hosts a comprehensive curriculum of web-based training courses, online content and tools, which focus on Best Practices in Homebuilding™.
- Building Science—This Building America Research Team offers practical information, seminars, and design recommendations to build energy-efficient homes.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for Housing Industry Professionals—Lots of quality information and technical resources about cold climates for builders.
- Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings—This Building America Research Team, led by Steven Winter Associates, offers helpful building information to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes.
- EnergyValue Housing Awards—Announced at the International Builders' Show, these awards honor builders who voluntarily incorporate energy efficiency in the design, construction, and marketing of new homes.
- DOE's Efficient Windows Collaborative—Provides unbiased information on the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and recommendations for their selection and use.
- DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy—A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
- ENERGY STAR®: ENERGY STAR, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, offers product-specific information on high performance appliances and lighting for the home. You can also view information about home improvement, new homes, and tax credits for energy efficiency.
- Home Energy Magazine—Good technical information for both builders and consumers.
- Integrated Building and Construction Solutions—This Building America Research Team posts various builder resources including reports, fact sheets, presentations, and newsletters on the Publications page.
- Industrialized Housing Partnership—Building America Research Team, led by the Florida Solar Energy Center, offers excellent technical case studies and publications, particularly on energy efficiency for hot-humid climates.
- Insulation Fact Sheet and Tool—This fact sheet, provided by the DOE, covers a variety of information regarding insulation. You can also access an online tool, the ZIP-Code Insulation Program, to help determine the amount of insulation appropriate for your house based on your location.
- National Association of Home Builders—Comprehensive resource for the home building industry including an Energy & Green Building section that offers a variety of green building information and events.
- National Energy Affordability and Accessibility Project—The Residential Energy Efficiency Database helps consumers find energy efficiency programs a utility or state offers to help save energy and money.
- Oikos Green Building Source—Produced by Iris Communications, this is one of the oldest and best commercial sources of publications, products, and news on sustainable and energy-efficient construction.
- Residential Commissioning—Procedures for new or retrofitted homes to ensure construction and operation achieve safety, health, comfort, and energy design goals.
- Residential Duct Systems—Information on problems concerning residential duct systems, including leakage testing, duct sealing, duct insulation and other topics.
- Simply Insulate—Helpful information about insulation and links to information about incentives in your area. This Web site was created and is maintained by North American Insulation Manufacturers Association.
- Southface Energy Institute—This Building America partner, based in Atlanta, has great resources on sustainability and energy efficiency. See Fact Sheets and Technical Bulletins for specific construction information.
- ToolBase Services—Great resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems. Provided by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.
- Yankee Barn Homes—Designs, manufactures, and assembles post-and-beam houses.
Educational and Research Organizations
- Air Conditioning Contractors of America—Information to help design residential heating and cooling systems. Also, get best practices manuals—specifically Manuals J, S, and D.
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy—A non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
- Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems—A non-profit education, research, and demonstration organization specializing in life cycle planning and design with a focus on site, regional and global sustainability and human health.
- Cold Climate Housing Research Center—An industry-based, non-profit corporation created to facilitate the development, use, and testing of energy-efficient, durable, healthy, and cost-effective building technologies for cold climate regions.
- Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA)—A housing industry association that provides education and resources to transform residential design, development and construction to profitably deliver energy efficient and environmentally responsible homes. EEBA also offers the Houses That Work™ educational series.
- Florida Solar Energy Center—This Building America team leader offers excellent technical industry resources, particularly on energy efficiency for hot- humid climates.
- HGTVPro.com—Web site for professional homebuilders, contractors, and remodelers. Offers information on green building and green products.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Energy Performance of Buildings Group-Residential Research—A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory offers building information based on current research on a variety of topics.
- National Institute of Building Sciences—Serves the public interest by promoting a more rational regulatory environment for the building community
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory—A DOE laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development, and deployment—provides residential research and field support for Building America.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Buildings Technology Center—A DOE research facility devoted to the development of technologies that improve the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of residential and commercial buildings.
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory—A DOE multi-program national laboratory. The Building Systems Program develops tools to improve the performance of buildings.
- Residential Energy Services Network—Develops a national market for home energy ratings systems and energy-efficient mortgages.
- Rocky Mountain Institute—An energy policy research institute offering tools for sustainable design through the Built Environment Team initiative. Also offers a series of Home Energy Briefs.
- Sustainable Buildings Industry Council—An independent, non-profit trade association that seeks to dramatically improve the long-term performance and value of buildings through outreach, advocacy and education programs.
- Southwest Energy Efficiency Project—A public-interest initiative that promotes greater energy efficiency in a six-state region, including: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Government Resources
- Alaska Housing Finance Corporation—Provides Alaskans with access to safe, quality, affordable housing.
- Built Green Colorado—A voluntary industry-driven program offered to builders across the state to encourage the use of technologies, products, and practices that result in homes that are better built and better for the environment.
- Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation—Colorado's lead state agency on energy efficiency issues.
- Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority—Provides environmental and energy efficiency financing, coordination, and education to governmental units and non-profit organizations in Georgia.
- Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing—A voluntary initiative that seeks to accelerate the creation and widespread use of advanced technologies to improve housing in the United States.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)—Advances the national, economic, and energy security of the United States and promotes scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission.
- DOE's Building Technologies Program—This program partners with states, industry, and manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. On this site you'll find information about the program's research and development of innovative new technologies.
- DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program—Enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.