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Impact of Low-Income Home Energy-Efficiency Retrofits on Building Air Tightness and Healthy Home Indicators

Author

Listed:
  • Prateek M. Shrestha

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

  • Jamie L. Humphrey

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

  • Kelsey E. Barton

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Colorado, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Elizabeth J. Carlton

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Colorado, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • John L. Adgate

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Colorado, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Elisabeth D. Root

    (Department of Geography and Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Shelly L. Miller

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

Abstract

We studied 226 low-income households as a part of the Colorado Home Energy Efficiency and Respiratory Health (CHEER) study to investigate the relationship between energy-efficiency retrofits (EERs) specific to air sealing of residential building envelopes, annual average infiltration rates (AAIR), and qualitative indicators of “healthy” homes. Blower door tests quantified the leakage area in each home, which was used to estimate the AAIR. Walk-through inspections were used to record observations of air-sealing retrofits conducted as part of Colorado’s Weatherization Assistance Program and indirect indicators of poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the homes, such as visible mold or stains, visible dust on hard surfaces, vapor condensation on windows, dampness, and perceived air quality. Results showed that building characteristics like age and volume affected AAIR more significantly than air-sealing EERs. Among the air-sealing EERs, homes with the air-handler ductwork sealed and windows weather-stripped were found to have significantly lower AAIR compared to the homes without these features. Mold growth, wall stains, notably higher levels of dust, and unacceptable odor levels were more frequently reported in homes with higher AAIR, showing that leakier homes do not necessarily have better IEQ.

Suggested Citation

  • Prateek M. Shrestha & Jamie L. Humphrey & Kelsey E. Barton & Elizabeth J. Carlton & John L. Adgate & Elisabeth D. Root & Shelly L. Miller, 2019. "Impact of Low-Income Home Energy-Efficiency Retrofits on Building Air Tightness and Healthy Home Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2667-:d:229864
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Miriam Berretta & Joshua Furgeson & Collins Zamawe & Ian Hamilton & Yue Wu & Paul J. Ferraro & Neal Haddaway & John Eyers, 2021. "PROTOCOL: Residential energy efficiency interventions: An effectiveness systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    2. Jingwen Rui & Huibo Zhang & Chengnan Shi & Deng Pan & Ya Chen & Chunyu Du, 2019. "Survey on the Indoor Thermal Environment and Passive Design of Rural Residential Houses in the HSCW Zone of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Artur Miszczuk & Dariusz Heim, 2020. "Parametric Study of Air Infiltration in Residential Buildings—The Effect of Local Conditions on Energy Demand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Marcela Brauner & Nicola Naismith & Ali GhaffarianHoseini, 2021. "System Approach in Complex Integral Design Methodology and Its Application in New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, June.

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