AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Introduction of the Upstate New York Weatherization Project
DENINA HOSPODSKY, Largus Angenent, Cornell University
Abstract Number: 686 Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
Abstract In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy has instituted the weatherization assistance program (WAP). Up to 30 million U.S. households are eligible for such weatherization services nationwide. One of the main components of weatherization is to minimize leakage flow though the building and results in reduced levels of ventilation.
The goal of this study is to characterize the effects of ventilation reduction from home weatherization on airborne fungal and bacterial concentrations and on airborne radon, VOC, ozone, carbon dioxide, particle number, and particle mass concentrations. In addition, airborne-, surface-, and occupant- associated fungal and bacterial communities are characterized using next generation DNA sequencing technologies. This study examines ten homes (plus 5 control houses) before and after weatherization through a local WAP in Ithaca, NY.
We herein introduce and compare characteristics of the participating homes before weatherization including building types and material, air exchange rates (AER), flooring area, leakage flow from blower door tests, energy consumption, and numbers of occupants and pets. Results on airborne microbial concentrations, AER, radon, particle number, and particle mass concentrations from a corresponding pilot study in the same geographic area are further demonstrated here. This pilot study examines seasonal effects on abovementioned airborne biological and chemical species in one case and one control home once per season while alterations for energy efficiency purposes take place in the case home. Seasonal effects on AER, radon and carbon dioxide were observed, but PM10 and biological aerosol levels were consistent at averaged 15 micrograms per cubic meter (standard deviation: 6) in the control home and 39 microgram per cubic meter (standard deviation: 14) in the case home. Microbial concentrations were 950 and 380 (for bacteria) as well as 350 and 120 (for fungi) genome copies per cubic meter, respectively, in the case and control home.