Project
2.4 - Envelope and IAQ Interactions
Objective
- To evaluate energy efficiency
measures that can be implemented in housing for low-income households without
exceeding indoor air quality (IAQ) standards.
- Measure carbon dioxide
(CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in test homes that have whole
house fans, evaporative coolers, ducts within conditioned space and an attic
hot water pre-heater. Compare these measurements to those from control houses.
Prior Research
- Carbon dioxide concentrations
can be used for understanding indoor air quality and ventilation. Energy Systems
Laboratory (ESL) in Texas has been continuously monitoring indoor environmental
conditions in a HfH house in Bryan, Texas for 18 months. Preliminary results
indicate that although comfort conditions are being maintained, CO2 levels
are routinely exceeding 1,000 ppm (parts per million by volume). Thus, there
is a need to balance energy efficiency against indoor air quality impacts.
- The American Society
of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends
a ventilation rate of 0.35 air changes per hour (ACH) for new homes, and some
new homes are built to even tighter specifications. Others suggest that particular
care should be given in such homes to prevent the build-up of indoor air pollutants
to high levels.
Task List
- Literature Review
- Evaluate Strategies
to Reduce IAQ Impacts
- Prepare Monitoring Plan
- Apply IAQ Strategies
to Nine Homes
- Monitor IAQ
- Analyze Data
Projected Outcomes
- Measure impacts various
methods of envelope construction or system control have on indoor air quality
as measured by the concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and
(in some cases) mold. IAQ measurements will quantify the improvements other
elements that increased ventilation rates have on indoor air quality. Ventilation
rates needed to maintain adequate CO2 levels and still be energy efficient
may suggest the use of ventilation heat recovery. Yet the current technology
is too costly for low-income homes.
- Technical goal is to
achieve energy savings of 70 kWh per house per year.
Please visit the Project
News and Public Documents page to view
updates for this task, and current research activities.
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