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

Pigg, Scott; Cautley, Dan; Francisco, Paul W.; Hawkins, Beth; Brennan, Terry

doi:10.2172/1223066

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The ORNL IAQ study is the most extensive study of the impacts of weatherization on indoor air quality of low-income homes ever conducted. The retrospective evaluation report (Pigg et al 2014) presented results in a number of areas, including radon. The purpose of this report is to enrich discussions about the radon component of the ORNL IAQ study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data from the ORNL IAQ Study indicate that, on average, weatherization showed a small, statistically significant increase in radon levels in homes (Pigg et al 2014).…”

Section: The Ornl Indoor Air Quality Studymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Homes were monitored for carbon monoxide, radon, formaldehyde, temperature and humidity pre-and post-weatherization. A complete description of the study and results can be found in Pigg et al (2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ORNL Indoor Air Quality Study: Re-cap, Context, and Assessment on Radon

Tonn

Rose

Ternes

2015

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As part of the retrospective evaluation of the U.S. Department of Energy's low-income Weatherization Assistance Program that was led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), an assessment of the impacts of weatherization on indoor air quality (IAQ) was conducted. This assessment included nearly 500 treatment and control homes across the country. Homes were monitored for carbon monoxide, radon, formaldehyde, temperature and humidity pre-and post-weatherization. This report focuses on the topic of radon and addresses issues not thoroughly discussed in the original IAQ report. The size, scope and rigor of the radon component of the IAQ study are compared to previous studies that assessed the impacts of weatherization on indoor radon levels. It is found that the ORNL study is by far the most extensive study conducted to date, though the ORNL results are consistent with the findings of the other studies. However, the study does have limitations related to its reliance on short-term measurements of radon and inability to attribute changes in radon levels in homes post-weatherization to specific weatherization measures individually or in combination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data from the ORNL IAQ Study indicate that, on average, weatherization showed a small, statistically significant increase in radon levels in homes (Pigg et al 2014).…”

Section: The Ornl Indoor Air Quality Studymentioning

confidence: 97%

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The ORNL Indoor Air Quality Study: Re-cap, Context, and Assessment on Radon

Tonn

Rose

Ternes

2015

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“…Weatherization homes ( n = 9) were sampled before the retrofit, as well as after the retrofit, with at least 3-months between retrofit completion and sampling. In a previous study, 3 weeks has been shown to be an appropriate time to allow for the home environment to stabilize after a retrofit (33). Here, we extended the waiting period to 3 months to ensure complete stabilization.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The short-term effect of residential home energy retrofits on indoor air quality and microbial exposure: a case-control study

Nguyen

Holmes

Angenent

2020

Preprint

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25 Weatherization of residential homes is a popular retrofit procedure to improve the energy 26 efficiency of older homes by reducing building leakage. It is a vital tool in the fight against 27 climate change. Several studies have evaluated the effect of weatherization on indoor pollutants 28 such as formaldehyde and radon, but few studies have evaluated the effect of weatherization on 29 indoor particulates and microbial exposure. In this study, we compared the effect of change in 30 building leakage on indoor pollutants and bacterial communities in weatherized compared to 31 non-weatherized single-family residential homes in New York State. Nine weatherized and 32 eleven non-weatherized single-family homes in Tompkins County, New York were sampled 33 twice: before and after the weatherization procedures for case homes, and at least 3 months apart 34 for control homes that were not weatherized. We found a significant increase in both indoor-35 outdoor temperature ratio and living-area-and basement-radon levels of weatherized homes 36 compared to control homes. The indoor-outdoor relative humidity ratio significantly decreased in 37 weatherized compared to control homes. The indoor microbiome also became less similar to the 38 outdoor community after weatherization. Compared to the changes in ventilation rate, 39 temperature, relative humidity, and occupancy, the change in season was a more predictive 40 measure of indoor bacterial concentration. Ventilation rate reduction from weatherization 41 procedures led to an increase in indoor radon levels, as well as a warmer and less humid indoor 42 environment. However, it did not affect indoor particulate mass concentration or indoor airborne 43 bacteria load, and did only marginally affect the microbiome composition of residential homes.44 Finally, we found that changes in airborne bacterial load are more sensitive to shifts in season, 45 whereas radon levels are more sensitive to ventilation rate.3 47 Introduction 48 Today, twenty-two percent of the total U.S. energy consumption is used in residential buildings, 49 mainly to heat and cool homes (1). Since the energy crisis of the 1970s, national policy 50 discussions have been focused on energy efficiency and energy conservation (2). This led to the 51 establishment of building energy codes such as the 1975 ASHRAE Energy Code and the Energy 52 Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) (3). Included in the EPCA was the creation of the 53 Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) by the Department of Energy (4). Weatherization is 54 the practice of protecting a building from environmental fluctuations to reduce energy 55 consumption in the building. WAP provides financial assistance to low-income households in 56 single-family dwellings to weatherize their home through a combination of procedures including 57 insulation and fixture repairs (4, 5). Besides improving the household energy efficiency, 58 weatherization also provides an additional cost-saving incentive in regards to heating expenses 59 and improved thermal comfort...

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“…Several additional reports will be issued as part of the national evaluation that address: indoor air quality in weatherized homes; energy savings and non-energy benefits attributable to weatherization activities; a process evaluation report; a series of case studies for WAP agencies; a program characterization and eligible population report; and an occupant/client satisfaction report. See http://weatherization.ornl.gov 2 SeePigg et al 2014. …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

National Weatherization Assistance Program Evaluation: Assessment of Refrigerator Energy Use

Tonn

Goeltz

2015

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

Cited by 11 publications

References 13 publications

The ORNL Indoor Air Quality Study: Re-cap, Context, and Assessment on Radon

The ORNL Indoor Air Quality Study: Re-cap, Context, and Assessment on Radon

The short-term effect of residential home energy retrofits on indoor air quality and microbial exposure: a case-control study

National Weatherization Assistance Program Evaluation: Assessment of Refrigerator Energy Use

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