New Methods of Energy Efficient Radon Mitigation

Fisk, William J.; Prill, R.J.; Wooley, J.; Bonnefous, Y.C.; Gadgil, A.J.; Riley, William J.

doi:10.1097/00004032-199505000-00009

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Saum (1991) and Fisk et al (1995) have reported satisfactory performance with a 10 W system fan for. some new houses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…He reports annual fan energy costs of $35 and $63 for the 50 and 90 W fan, respectively, and corresponding incremental conditioning costs of $39 and $79. Fisk et al (1995) estimate that the annual increase in energy expense resulting from SSD system use in a Chicago climate is $42 for homes with gas heat, and $165 for electric resistance heat. , using a numerical model to estimate the increase in house ventilation from an SSD system with two fans, predict an annual incremental heating expense of $345 for a Chicago climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wind-induced contaminant transport in near-surface soils with application to radon entry into buildings

Riley

1996

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Indoor air exposures to gaseous contaminants originating in soil can cause large human health risks. To predict and control these exposures, the mechanisms that affect vapor transport in near-surface soils need to be understood. In particular, radon exposure is a concern since average indoor radon concentrations lead to much higher risks than are generally accepted for exposure to other environmental contaminants. This dissertation examines an important component of the indoor radon problem: the impacts of wind on soil-gas and radon transport and entry into buildings. The research includes experimental and modeling studies of wind's interactions with a building's superstructure and the resulting soil-gas and radon flows 1 in the surrounding soil. In addition to exploring the effects of steady winds, we develop a novel modeling technique to examine the impacts of fluctuating winds on soil-gas and radon transport.The original impetus for this investigation arose from the design and development of a passive radon mitigation system at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. That effort was initiated in response to the relatively high costs of subslab depressurization (SSD), a common active mitigation system. Chapter 2 quantifies the regional and national energy requirements, operating expenses, and C02 emissions associated with SSD system use. We estimate that operating SSD systems in U.S. houses where it is both appropriate and possible (about 2.6 million houses) would annually consume 1 .7x104 TJ of end-use energy, cost $230 million (at current energy prices), and generate 2 . 0~1 0~ kg of C02. These figures are central estimates;Chapter 2 presents the associated uncertainties.The relatively high costs of SSD system operation prompted our research group to install and monitor a full-scale passive radon mitigation system in a house in Spokane, Washington. This study revealed that wind could strongly affect the mitigation system's performance. We therefore began to systematically investigate the impacts of wind on soil-gas radon transport and entry into buildings. Chapter 3 describes the results of a wind-tunnel experiment designed to measure the groundsurface pressure field established around a house in the presence of wind. We report wind-induced ground-surface pressure fields for several wind-incidence angles, two 2 atmospheric boundary layer structures, and two house geometries. Relatively small changes in the ground-surface pressure field resulted from perturbations in the atmospheric boundary layer structure (i .e., the surface roughness and displacement height) and the house geometry. The experimental results were compared to numerical predictions using a k-E turbulence model. In most cases, this turbulence model is inappropriate for geometries with separated flow, as in the case of air flow over a building. However, we found the numerical model predictions of the groundsurface pressure field sufficiently accurate to predict wind-induced soil-gas contaminant transport.The wind-induced ground-surface pressu...

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“…Saum (1991) and Fisk et al (1995) have reported satisfactory performance with a 10 W system fan for. some new houses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind-induced contaminant transport in near-surface soils with application to radon entry into buildings

Riley

1996

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“…With ASD, soil gas is exhausted to the outside through pipes running through the slab floor with the use of electric fans. Laying gravel under the slab floor increases ASD efficacy (Fisk 1994). Numerous studies have shown that ASD is very successful.…”

Section: Radon Remediationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weatherization and Indoor Air Quality: Measured Impacts in Single Family Homes Under the Weatherization Assistance Program

Pigg

Cautley

Francisco

et al. 2014

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This study could only be completed with the cooperation and contributions of the 88 local weatherization agencies whichin the midst of meeting ambitious production goalsprovided us with data, assisted in recruiting households, accompanied study technicians, and arranged for our technicians to borrow equipment when needed. We appreciate the additional burden that our requests place on agency staff and are grateful for all of the assistance that they provided.The study would not have been possible without the cooperation of the more than 500 households who allowed us to work in their home and helped us by making sure that our metering equipment remained in place and undisturbed.We received valuable feedback from the following panel of experts who reviewed a preliminary draft of this report:

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“…Field tests have demonstrated that these new control technologies use approximately 30Y0 of the energy of conventional radon mitigation technologies. (Fisk, et al, 1995).…”

Section: Radon Entry Into Buildingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Environment Program - 1996 Annual Report

Program¹

1996

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New Methods of Energy Efficient Radon Mitigation

Cited by 10 publications

References 6 publications

Wind-induced contaminant transport in near-surface soils with application to radon entry into buildings

Wind-induced contaminant transport in near-surface soils with application to radon entry into buildings

Weatherization and Indoor Air Quality: Measured Impacts in Single Family Homes Under the Weatherization Assistance Program

Indoor Environment Program - 1996 Annual Report

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