To make it easier for you to find what you need, we've consolidated all of our guideline documents here. Each link will open in a new browser window. Simply close that window to return to our site.

Advanced VAV System Design Guide
The Advanced VAV System Design Guide provides recommendations to help engineers improve the efficiency of large HVAC systems. It focuses on built-up variable-air-volume systems in multistory office buildings.

• Link to VAV Design Guide (.pdf – 3.94MB)
• Link to VAV Design Guide - UC/CSU version (.pdf – 3.94 MB)

Small Commercial HVAC System Design Guide
This design guide addresses practices in design for improving performance of small package HVAC systems.

• Link to Small HVAC System Design Guide (.pdf – 1.59 MB)

Home Builders Guide to Ducts in Conditioned Space
This Guide recommends approaches for modifying house designs to locate ductwork within the conditioned space for energy savings and improved delivery of indoor comfort.

• Link to Guide to Ducts in Conditioned Space (.pdf – 791 KB)

Absorption Chillers
This advanced design guideline is based on careful evaluation and analysis of gas absorption cooling to determine when it is appropriate, how it is best implemented, how cost effective it is, and how its energy savings are described.

• View or Print the Gas Absorption Chillers (.pdf – 1.13 MB)

Gas Engine Driven Chillers
This advanced design guideline is based on careful evaluation and analysis of gas engine-driven cooling to determine when it is appropriate, how it is best implemented, how cost effective it is, and how its energy savings are described.

• View or Print Gas Engine-Driven Chillers (.pdf – 1.13 MB)

Water Heaters
This design guideline is based on careful evaluation and analysis of energy efficient gas water heaters to determine when the measure is appropriate, how it is best implemented, how cost effective it is, and how its energy savings are described.

• View or Print Water Heater Guidelines (.pdf – 5.33 MB)

Gas Furnaces
This design guideline is based on careful evaluation and analysis of high efficiency gas furnaces to determine when the measure is appropriate, how it is best implemented, how cost effective it is, and how its energy savings are described.

• View or Print Gas Furnaces (.pdf – 373 K)

Gas Boilers
This design guideline is based on careful evaluation and analysis of energy efficient gas boilers to determine when the measure is appropriate, how it is best implemented, how cost effective it is, and how its energy savings are described.

• View or Print Gas Boilers (.pdf – 757 K)

Small HVAC Installation Guidelines - Consortium for Energy Efficiency
These guidelines, developed by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), encourage proper installation of commercial HVAC equipment.

• Link to Small HVAC Guidelines

Roof Insulation Guideline
This Advanced Design Guideline is based on careful evaluation and analysis of various roof insulation levels to the most cost-effective option. These Guidelines describe efficiency measures that are more advanced than standard practice, yet still cost effective in all, or select markets.

• View or Print Roof Insulation (.pdf - 1 MB)