Assesses the impact of energy conservation retrofits on the indoor air quality of residential buildings, through a field monitoring project in which air leakage, air exchange rates and indoor air pollutants are measured before and after retrofit. Uses a mobile laboratory to make detailed on-site measurements of air exchange rates and concentrations of pollutants in 2 houses, and measures effective leakage area in 7 other houses. Impact on indoor air quality of the energy conserving retrofits seem to be minimal.

Gives a method of calculating the rate at which air enters a building, and how long it takes to reach a steady state, given the area of the door, the volume of the building and the air change rate caused by infiltration when the door is shut. Resulting heat losses are unacceptably high, but not as high as claimed by manufacturers of door closing devices.

Describes experiments carried out in 4 low energy electrically heated houses incorporating extra thermal insulation and heat recovery mechanical ventilation systems. Airtightness was made an objective so that the ventilation system would provide as much of the required fresh air as possible. Instrumentation was installed during construction to monitor the performance of the houses, with the cooperation of eventual purchasers. The houses were leak tested and sealed where necessary.

Studies formaldehyde and other aldehydes as a function of building air exchange rates in public buildings and energy efficient research houses. Uses sequential gas bubbling systems in conjunction with a pneumatic flow control system for field sampling. Finds that concentrations of formaldehyde and aldehydes in public buildings are about the same in indoor and outdoor air because of the high ventilation rates in these buildings. However, indoor air in general has higher formaldehyde and total aliphatic aldehyde levels than outdoor air.

Describes a study of indoor air quality in 12 retrofitted houses of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Midway Substation Residential Community, undertaken by LBL and BPA. Measures effective leakage areas and average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and radon before and after retrofit. Finds average reduction in leakage area of 32%. None of the pollutants measured before or after retrofit reached levels exceeding existing guidelines.

Gives results from fiel trials of the performance of various mechanical ventilation systems. Carries out measurements in buildings built during the seventies, using the tracer gas decay technique with N2O. Tests 3 cases:< 1. Air supplied only through register above door< 2. Air supplied both through register and the slot under the door< 3. Air supplied only through slot under the door.

Uses the SEGAS "Autovent" constant concentration apparatus to measure the fresh air entering and the local ventilation rate in each cell of amulti-celled dwelling with both natural and mechanical extract ventilation. Measures fresh air entry into each cell using tracer gas constant concentration and decay techniques. Conducts decay tests without artificial mixing, and interprets them by computing the area under the decay curve to obtain local ventilation rates. Compares the 2 measurements, giving the ventilation efficiency of each cell and an idea of air quality in each room of the house.

States that any residential energy-conserving retrofit program should should include an indoor air quality audit. Proposes a basic audit strategy that would minimize the number of actual on-site pollutant measurements. The first step involves compiling an inventory of indoor pollutants (through an owner questionnaire or visual audit) and assessing the amount of pollutant injected into the home from known sources with a narrow emission rate (eg. gas stoves). The second step is to measure the pollutant source strengths of unknown sources, with emission rates that vary widely (eg. radon).

Assesses the indoor air quality at Oakland Gardens Elementary School in New York City under 3 different ventilation rates. Uses a mobile laboratory to monitor air quality in 2 classrooms, a hallway and outdoors. Parameters measured include air exchange rates, particulates, odour perception, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, radon, formaldehyde and total aldehydes. When the ventilation rate is reduced, carbon dioxide concentrations increase significantly, but do not exceed current occupational standards.

Presents the results of air leakage measurments in 18 single-family detached houses at the Midway substation, Hanford, Washington, performed as part of the Bonneville Power Administration Energy Conservation Study. Compares the change in energy consumption following various retrofit strategies. Measures air leakage in each house with the fan pressurization technique, before and after retrofits are installed.