1. Energy Efficient Homes and Indoor Air Quality
Maria Sanchez, Dayana Ivanova, Alec Foust, Lucas Theirl

2. Background
1970s: global energy crisis creates demand for energy efficiency
More energy efficiency has led to less air exchange from inside the home and outside, and vice versa
Materials like paint, carpeting, and even the home’s structure can contribute to indoor pollution
Heaters and air conditioners amplify the problems of indoor air quality

3. Practice #1 - Spray (Polyurethane) Foam
It fills tiny cracks and fissures in walls and roofs to form an air seal, but that doesn’t allow the room to breathe which increases humidity and the chance for mold.
“The high R-values of closed-cell foam pack a lot of punch in a small space, and closed-cell versions can block the movement of moisture into wall and roof cavities.”
Told to public it does not off-gas, but people say they have experienced neurological symptoms and strong odors have persisted after foam was sprayed.
Made with diisocyanates which is leading cause for asthma at the workplace
Recommended for people not to be inside when foam sprayed and not return until home is ventilated
Needs proper application otherwise heats up and bad odor is left
Cellulose?

4. Practices #2/#3 - Asbestos, Lead, PCBs Disturbance
Asbestos - Upgrade projects can disturb asbestos already present in previous insulation, coatings, flooring, roofing and other building components.
Lead - During renovations, lead-based paint can be disturbed and released into the air as “lead dust.”
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) - Persistent, bioaccumulative toxins linked to reproductive and neurological problems and likely a human carcinogen.
Banned in 1979 in the US, buildings constructed before might still contain PCB - Fluorescent light Ballasts and Caulk
Caulking material was used around windows, door frames, stairways, building joints, and other masonry building materials in buildings constructed from the 1950s to the 1970s
PCBs released in the air from caulk material can be reabsorbed by other building materials to create secondary sources that can re-emit PCBs into the air
Common additive to sealants bc of their water and chemical resistance, durability, and elasticity.

6. Practice #3 - Source Control
Some practices of improved air quality in homes include;
Source Control
Air conditioning units or heating unit does not necessarily mean fresh air is coming into the homes
People need to increase the amount of outdoor air coming into their homes by opening windows or doors with screens to help increase the airflow- also later mentioned in ventilation
Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions. In many cases, source control is also a more cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because increasing ventilation can increase energy costs.
Ventilation Improvements
Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house
Advanced designs of new homes are starting to feature mechanical systems that bring outdoor air into the home. Some of these designs include energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators
It is particularly important to make as many steps as possible while you are involved in short-term activities that can generate high levels of pollutants too
Including painting, cooking, sanding, renovation work, etc
Use of air cleaners
Many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems
very efficient collector with a low air-circulation rate will not be effective, nor will a cleaner with a high air-circulation rate but a less efficient collector.
But air cleaners are not effective at reducing Radon levels or their decay process

7. Practice #4 - Waste-based/Recycled Materials
Usage of recycled building materials is often encouraged in the construction of “green buildings” to receive the highest certification level possible
Fly ash - A fine byproduct of burning pulverized coal in electric power generating plants; substitute for cement and additive to building materials
Exposes residents to a suite of heavy metals with toxic properties
Speculation about relationship to radon levels
Various recycled building materials can re-emit pollutants that were absorbed on their surfaces, used during the recycling process, or that accumulated from previous applications
Toxic materials can be reused and reapplied in buildings
Waste-create bricks - Usage of industrial or agricultural solid waste to create green building materials
Brownfields with abandoned buildings - materials can be recovered and reused, sold through local markets, or recycled offsite
One pound of ash fly reduces 1 pound of CO2 emissions - one of the main reasons people use fly ash bricks

9. Solutions: Weatherization Assistance Program
Program by the Department of Energy to help low-income families make their homes more energy efficient
Homeowners in the program are educated about various hazards, like carbon monoxide, mold, and indoor pollution
Human health is a big priority in the program
Proper ventilation to guarantee “adequate indoor air quality”
Installation of smoke and carbon monoxide monitors “when needed”
Evaluation of “mold/moisture risk”

10. Works Cited http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1044