Indoor air-quality measurements in energy-efficient residential buildings

Conference · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5160048

Berk, J V; Hollowell, C D; Pepper, J H; Young, R

The potential impact on indoor air quality of energy-conserving measures that reduce ventilation is being assessed in a field-monitoring program conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Using a mobile laboratory, on-site monitoring of infiltration rate, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, total aldehydes, and particulates was conducted in three houses designed to be energy-efficient. Preliminary results show that energy-conserving design features that reduce air-exchange rates compromise indoor air quality; specifically, indoor levels of several pollutants were found to exceed levels detected outdoors. Although the indoor levels of most pollutants are within limits established by present outdoor air-quality standards, considerable work remains to be accomplished before health-risk effects can be accurately assessed and broad-scale regulatory guidelines revised to comply with energy-conservation goals.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5160048
• Report Number(s): LBL-8894(Rev.); CONF-790634-4(Rev.); EEB-Vent-80-8
• Resource Relation: Conference: 72. annual Air Pollution Control Association meeting, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 24 Jun 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
HEALTH HAZARDS
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MONITORING
VENTILATION
AEROSOLS
AIR QUALITY
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FORMALDEHYDE
MEASURING METHODS
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
OZONE
PARTICLES
STANDARDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
BUILDINGS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HAZARDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
320101* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Residential Buildings- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety