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We demonstrate a method to measure the absorption spectra of gas and aerosol species across the visible and near-IR (500 to 840 nm) using a photoacoustic (PA) spectrometer and a pulsed supercontinuum laser source. Measurements of gas phase absorption
A key challenge in assessing the risks of low level contaminations following biological threat agent releases, and subsequent decontamination, is developing an understanding of and addressing the potential for airborne resuspension of agents that have
Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings are designed to provide thermally comfortable conditions and to maintain acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ). At the same time, the operating costs of HVAC systems are often a large
As building envelope performance and HVAC equipment efficiencies are increasingly improved to reduce building energy use, a greater percentage of the total energy loss of a building can occur through envelope leakage. Although the energy impacts of
Kevin Y. Teichman, Andrew K. Persily, Steven J. Emmerich
In this paper, we review how indoor air quality (IAQ) has been addressed in case studies of high-performing buildings (HPBs), specifically the case studies described in ASHRAEs High Performing Buildings magazine. We find that nearly all of the reported
Brian J. Polidoro, Lisa C. Ng, William S. Dols, Steven J. Emmerich, Andrew K. Persily
As building envelope performance and HVAC equipment efficiencies continue to be improved to reduce building energy use, a greater percentage of the total energy loss of a building can occur through envelope leakage. Although the energy impacts of
Betsy Pettit, Cathy Gates, Arthur H. Fanney, William M. Healy
Homeowners and builders have increasingly strived to build low energy use and environmentally friendly homes. As materials and equipment have improved, energy reduction as a goal has increasingly been replaced with the goal of net-zero energy use. But the
Ventilation rates have significant impacts on building energy use and indoor contaminant concentrations, making them key parameters in evaluating building performance. Ventilation rates have been measured in buildings for many decades and there are mature
The papers in this issue were selected from presentations made at the ASHRAE IAQ 2013: Environmental Health in Low Energy Buildings conference held in Vancouver Canada in October 2013. The conference was held specifically to review the state of knowledge
Mark W. Davis, William M. Healy, Matthew Boyd, Lisa Ng, William V. Payne, Harrison Skye, Tania Ullah
NIST has constructed a Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility that will be used as a testbed for investigating the measurement science related to systems, components, and operations that will lead to homes that generate as much energy over a course of a
Wang Liangzhu, Steven Emmerich, Andrew K. Persily, Cheng-Chun Lin
Gasoline-powered electric generators are widely used during power outages, for example during the U.S. hurricane season. Based on currently available data, about ninety-seven percent of generator-related carbon monoxide (CO) fatalities were associated with
Andrew Persily, Liang Chung J. Lo, Steven J. Nabinger, Dustin Poppendieck, Li Piin Sung
Polymer and other coatings are commonly used to protect, enhance, or decorate wood, plastic and metal products used in homes and other buildings. Nanoparticles (i.e., particles having at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm) are increasingly being added
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that up to half of non-fatal monoxide (CO) poisoning incidents during the hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005 involved generators operated outdoors but within seven feet of the home
Steven J. Emmerich, Andrew K. Persily, Liangzhu Wang
Serious concerns exist about the hazard of acute residential carbon monoxide (CO) exposures from portable gasoline-powered generators, which can result in death or serious adverse health effects. As of April 23, 2013 and as shown in Figure 1, the U.S
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is considering developing a performance standard to address the hazard of acute residential carbon monoxide (CO) exposures from portable gasoline engine-powered generators that result in death or
Andrew K. Persily, Steven J. Emmerich, Brian J. Polidoro
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and others are concerned about the hazard of acute residential carbon monoxide (CO) exposures from portable gasoline-powered generators, which can result in death or serious adverse health effects in
Chi Hoang, Tinh Nguyen, Deborah Jacobs, Andrew K. Persily, Richard Cosi
Wood is gaining increased interest as a renewable building material. However, color changes, chemical and microbiological degradation can occur when lignocellulosic materials are exposed to environmental stressors such as ozone and elevated humidity. In
As building envelope performance and HVAC equipment efficiencies continue to be improved to reduce building energy use, a greater percentage of the total energy loss of a building can occur through envelope leakage. Although the energy impacts of
In this paper, we consider how high performing, sustainable building programs and designs are currently addressing indoor air quality (IAQ) and how they might improve their treatment of IAQ. As part of this effort, we reviewed 100 case studies of high
Dustin G. Poppendieck, Lisa C. Ng, Matthew P. Schlegel, Andrew K. Persily, Alfred Hodgson
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) specification designed to minimize occupant exposures to indoor air pollutants in a net-zero energy research house meeting the ASHRAE Standard 62.2 ventilation requirements
Dustin G. Poppendieck, Steven J. Nabinger, Matthew P. Schlegel, Andrew K. Persily
The desire to build more energy efficient homes in the United States has lead to the expansion of the residential spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation industry. Annually, over 100,000 homes in the United States are constructed or retrofit using SPF
To better understand and to reduce the occurrence of carbon monoxide fatalities, this paper presents measured CO emission rates from both stock (i.e., without emission reduction technology) and reduced-emission prototype portable generators operating in an
Todays low energy and sustainable buildings often call for innovative designs involving strategies such as natural ventilation. However, natural ventilation airflows are often difficult to estimate, in large part due to the unsteadiness of the wind. This
Andrew K. Persily, Steven J. Emmerich, Yanling Wang, Brian J. Polidoro
A simulation study was conducted to evaluate indoor CO exposures as a function of portable generator location and CO emission rate in order to support the development of potential CO emission limits for generators. These simulations employed the multizone
While most discussions of high performance buildings (HPB) include site impacts, water use, energy, materials and indoor environmental quality, energy often receives more attention than these other attributes. Given that buildings exist primarily for the