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Prevalence, use, and effectiveness of range-exhaust fans

Journal Article · · Environment International; (USA)
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. GEOMET Technologies, Inc., Germantown, MD (USA)
  2. Gas Research Institute, Chicago, IL (USA)
Use of range-exhaust fans during cooking can be important in improving indoor air quality, provided that the fans are vented to the outside of residences. Little is known about the actual prevalence of kitchen fans in the United States or about fan usage patterns in residences. To fill this information gap, a survey using 3,000 households drawn from a nationwide consumer mail panel was conducted. Complementary research performed in an unoccupied research house provided information about the effects of a vented hood fan on combustion emission products associated with gas range operation. Based on 2,323 households (77%) who responded to the survey, it was found that one-third of the households have no range-exhaust fans and half have fans that are vented. Fewer than half of the households with fans use them regularly and even fewer turn them on when cooling begins. Experiments at the research house indicated that a vented hood fan could reduce peak concentrations of combustion products by about 50%, provided that it was turned on at the beginning of cooking episodes. However, only a small fraction of the surveyed households (about 12%) benefits by having vented fans, using them regularly, and turning them on as soon as cooking begins.
OSTI ID:
6711286
Journal Information:
Environment International; (USA), Journal Name: Environment International; (USA) Vol. 15:1-6; ISSN 0160-4120; ISSN ENVID
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English