Energy-conserving retrofits and indoor air quality in residential housing
The impact on indoor air quality by a utility's weatherization program appears to be minimal. There was no significant change in either leakage area or pollutant concentrations before and after the retrofit. No pollutants, however, reached levels approaching health guidelines or standards. On the one hand, it may be concluded that such retrofit programs improve the thermal integrity of houses and can probably continue without fear of significantly increasing indoor air pollution. On the other hand, the potential for reducing air leakage has not been fully realized. Leakage in the ductwork was rather high in this study. In many parts of the country, ductwork in houses is contained within conditioned spaces where leakage will have little effect. In areas where the ductwork enters unconditioned spaces, the possibility of leakage in the ducts should be fully investigated in weatherization programs. In addition, builders and subcontractors should be alerted to the importance of properly installing ductwork, for it is clearly easier to prevent leaks during construction than in later retrofit procedures. The Cranbury, NJ, house had received extensive and careful retrofit work, and the costeffectiveness of a house doctor or super-retrofit afterwards is questionable. In addition, the house was not monitored under conditions of full daily occupancy. Nevertheless, the study was a useful demonstration that a conventional, older home can be successfully tightened by careful weatherization and renovation. In this case, the work was accomplished without adverse effects on the air quality indoors.
- Research Organization:
- Building Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Program, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 6284794
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-820112-
- Journal Information:
- ASHRAE Trans.; (United States), Vol. 88; Conference: Semi-annual meeting of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Houston, TX, USA, 24 Jan 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HOUSES
WEATHERIZATION
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
LEAKS
PIPES
POLLUTANTS
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
RETROFITTING
BUILDINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
MANAGEMENT
POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
320101* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Residential Buildings- (-1987)