1. Graduate Engineering Annual Research & Recruitment Symposium (GEARRS) 2016
Prateek Shrestha
PhD Student (Advisor: Prof. Shelly Miller)
Indoor Air Quality Research Group
March 3rd, 2016

2. A huge portion of global energy consumption occurs in the U. S
A huge portion of global energy consumption occurs in the U.S. Within the U.S., about a third of the entire energy consumption occurs in buildings. If we can make buildings more energy efficient, we not only reduce load on natural resources, but also reduce emissions.
Source:

3. Home Weatherization Sources:

4. Energy Vs Health Tighter buildings-> Poor ventilation
Introduction of new materials -> higher emission rates of compounds like formaldehyde
So…weatherization = more good or harm?

5. Measurement parameters
In 125 weatherized and 125 non weatherized homes, we measure:
Respiratory health of occupants (spirometry tests)
Air exchange rates
(blower door tests)
Survey tools
(Source: ndd Medical-EasyOne™ Plus website)
The top four indoor air pollutants that have the highest chronic adverse health impact are particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), secondhand smoke, radon (smokers), and formaldehyde (Logue et al. 2012)

6. Building Air Exchange Rate Measurement
Blower door test / Fan Pressurization Test
(Source:

7. Automated multi point depressurization blower door testing
ACH50

8. Preliminary Results Weatherized Homes Non-Weatherized (Control) Homes
Sample size (n) 27 16
Avg. ACH50
12.93
15.64
Median ACH50
11.43
15.86 SD
5.91
6.33
An independent-sample t-test was used to check the statistical difference in data sets of weatherized and control homes, but no significant difference was observed (p=0.17)

9. ACH Annual Weatherized ACH Winter Weatherized ACH Summer Weatherized
Preliminary Results
ACH Annual Weatherized
ACH Annual Control
ACH Winter Weatherized
ACH Winter Control
ACH Summer Weatherized
ACH Summer Control
P = 0.11
P = 0.13
P = 0.12
Mean
0.66
0.83
1.03
1.27
0.74
0.92 SD
0.28
0.35
0.44
0.52
0.32
0.39
Median
0.55
0.77
1.17
0.61
0.86
Max
1.40
1.69
2.14
2.55
1.57
1.87
Min
0.23
0.43
0.36
0.62
0.26
0.46

10. Qualitative Observations
Weatherization is not necessarily done properly
Mechanical ventilation installations are extremely rare
Attic insulation and door weather stripping are most common
Activities
Number of homes
Door weather-stripping
Window weather stripping
Caulking around door/window frames
Furnace ductwork sealing
Crack sealing with foam 16 12 13 7 1

11. Future: Fire Study 30 homes (15 Weatherized Vs 15 Non weatherized)
Gaseous and particulate concentration logging
(CO, CO2, HCHO, PM2.5, O3, Temp., RH%)
Inside Vs Outside
During fire and post-fire survey tools
Sources:
Pod Manual

12. For more information please visit our website: www. colorado
For more information please visit our website:

13. Acknowledgements
Prof. Shelly Miller (CU Boulder, Mechanical Engineering), PI
Prof. John Adgate (CU Denver, Colorado School of Public Health), Co-PI
Prof. Elizabeth Carlton (CU Denver, Colorado School of Public Health), Co-PI
Prof. Elisabeth Root (Ohio State University, Geography Department), Co-PI
Dr. Jamie Humphrey (CU Boulder, Mechanical Engineering) , PostDoc and Research Coordinator
Mohamed Eltarkawe (PhD Student, CU Boulder)
Jonathan Kohlenberg (Research Assistant, CU Boulder)
Alex Mass (PhD Student, CU Boulder)
Alisen Bol (Research Assistant, CU Boulder)
Adam Pittman (Research Assistant, CU Denver)
Kelsey Barton (Research Assistant, CU Denver)
Ethan Zerpablanco (Research Assistant, CU Boulder)
Sam Rock (Research Assistant, CU Boulder)
Adam Hahn (Research Assistant, CU Denver)
Stefano Brunelli (Former visiting scholar, CU Boulder)

14. References http://buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/ChapterIntro1.aspx

15. Thank You! Questions?