The concentrations of contaminants in the supply air of mechanically ventilated buildings may be altered by pollutant emissions from and interactions with duct materials. We measured the emission rate of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aldehydes from materials typically found in ventilation ducts. The emission rate of VOCs per exposed surface area of materials was found to be low for some duct liners, but high for duct sealing caulk and a neoprene gasket. For a typical duct, the contribution to VOC concentrations is predicted to be only a few percent of common indoor levels. We exposed selected materials to ~100-ppb ozone and measured VOC emissions. Exposure to ozone increased the emission rates of aldehydes from a duct liner, duct sealing caulk, and neoprene gasket. The emission of aldehydes from these materials could increase indoor air concentrations by amounts that are as much as 20% of odor thresholds. We also measured the rate of ozone uptake on duct liners and galvanized sheet metal to predict how much ozone might be removed by a typical duct in ventilation IMPLICATIONSThe quality of air entering a building may be affected by pollutant emissions from ventilation system materials and by pollutant reaction on duct surfaces. This paper shows that primary emissions of VOCs from materials in ventilation systems should not significantly increase the total indoor concentration. However, ozone interactions with these materials can increase the emission rate of irritating compounds, resulting in concentrations that approach the odor threshold. Ozone is also removed at duct surfaces, which can potentially improve indoor air quality. However, ozone loss on duct surfaces probably does not greatly reduce indoor concentrations.systems. For exposure to a constant ozone mol fraction of 37 ppb, a lined duct would initially remove ~9% of the ozone, but over a period of 10 days the ozone removal efficiency would diminish to less than 4%. In an unlined duct, in which only galvanized sheet metal is exposed to the airstream, the removal efficiency would be much lower, 0.02%. Therefore, ducts in ventilation systems are unlikely to be a major sink for ozone.

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The article has not been subjected to CARB review and does not necessarily reflect their views. Additional funding from NIEHS Superfund Program under Grant 5 P42 ES04699-05 is gratefully acknowledged.Previous studies have reported a large and persistent discrepancy between field measurements and model predictions of pressure-driven entry of soil gas into housesthe phenomenon that causes high concentrations of radon indoors. The discrepancy is often attributed to poor understanding of inherently complex field sites. This paper compares measurements of soil-gas entry made at a fullscale test basement located in natural solid with predictions of a three-dimensional finite difference model. The results corroborate the earlier findings, with the model underpredicting the soil-gas entry rate by a factor of 7. The effect of seasonal changes in soil conditions on soil-gas entry is also examined. Despite large seasonal changes in near-surface soil moisture content and air permeability, there is no observable effect on soil-gas entry, apparently because critical soil conditions near the soil-gas entry location in the structure floor remain relatively constant.

HIGHLIGHTS  Lack of data on occupant comfort leads to energy waste in campus buildings  Our participatory thermal feedback system collected 10,000 comfort votes in a year  We used the comfort feedback to prioritize energy retrofits in buildings  We could address many emerging problems remotely, i.e., without physical inspection  A closed-loop controller automatically incorporated feedback into a control strategy

The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) infiltration model was developed in 1980; since that time many simultaneous measurements of infiltration and weather have been made, allowing comparison of predictions with measured infiltration. This report presents the LBL model as it currently exists and summarizes infiltration measurements and corresponding predictions. These measurements include both long-term and short-term data taken in houses with climates ranging from the mild San Francisco Bay area to the more extreme Midwest. These data also provide a data base for comparison with other infiltration models and provide a starting point for the determination of the accuracy and precision of air infiltration models.

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Previous research has shown that under-ventilation of classrooms is common and negatively impacts student health and learning. To advance understanding of contributing factors, this study visited 104 classrooms from 11 schools that had recently been retrofitted with new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) units. CO2 concentration, room and supply air temperature and relative humidity, and door opening were measured for four weeks in each classroom. Field inspections identified HVAC equipment, fan control, and/or filter maintenance problems in 51% of the studied classrooms. Across 94 classrooms with valid data, average CO2 concentrations measured during school hours had a mean of 895 ppm and a standard deviation (SD) of 263 ppm. Ventilation rates (VRs), estimated using the daily maximum 15-minute CO2 in each classroom, had a mean of 5.2 L/s-person and a SD of 2.0 L/s-person across 94 classrooms. Classrooms with economizers, with or without demand control ventilation (DCV), tended to have lower mean CO2. Improperly selected equipment, lack of commissioning, incorrect fan control settings and maintenance issues (heavily loaded filters) were all associated with underventilation in classrooms. Many classrooms in this sample were frequently too warm to support learning. There were 23 out of 103 classrooms that had indoor air temperature above 25.6 o C for more than 20% of the school hours. Better oversight on HVAC system installation and commissioning are needed to ensure adequate classroom ventilation. Periodic testing of ventilation systems and/or continuous real-time CO2 monitoring (either as stand-alone monitors or incorporated into thermostats) is recommended to detect and correct ventilation problems.

A wide variety of enclosed structures either require or cannot entirely prevent leakage from their interior space to the outside. Existing methods for measuring such leakage have important disadvantages. We have developed a device and technique that permits leakage areas to be measured from within or without the enclosure without causing unacceptable disturbance. The apparatus uses low-frequency (1 Hz) acoustic monopoles to generate an internal pressure signal which is then analyzed syncronously to provide a measurement of leakage area. We have successfully· applied this technique to measuring air tightness in residential houses, and believe it can be easily adapted for use in field, laboratory, or classroom applications. We are currently evaluating why the values we obtained were, on average, 14% lower than those obtained through conventional methods and we are investigating the apparent inability of the device, as presently designed, to measure large leaks.