Accessorizing Building Science: A Web Platform to Support Multiple Market Transformation Programs

摘要

As demand for improved energy efficiency in homes increases, builders need easilyrnaccessible information on building science measures, installation information, energy codes, andrntechnical requirements for labeling programs. The Building America Solution Center (BASC) isrna U.S. Department of Energy website containing hundreds of expert guides designed to helprnresidential builders and other stakeholders access energy efficiency measures for new andrnexisting homes. Users can package measures with other media such as images and architecturalrndrawings, to customize and archive content. BASC content provides technical support to marketrntransformation programs such as ENERGY STAR. This approach has also been adapted for thernBetter Buildings Residential Program.rnBASC uses Drupal, an open source content management platform, to combine a varietyrnof media in an interactive manner to make information easily accessible. Developers designed arnunique taxonomy to organize and manage content. That taxonomy was translated into web-basedrnmodules that allow users to rapidly traverse structured content with related topics and media.rnThis paper presents information on the current design of BASC and the underlying technologyrnused to manage the content. In this paper, we explore features, such as “Field Kits” that allowrnusers to bundle and save content for quick access, along with the ability to export PDF versionsrnof content. Finally, we will discuss development of mobile applications, and a visualization toolrnfor interacting with the Building Science Publications tool that allows the user to dynamicallyrnsearch the entire Building America Library.