Health in occupants of energy efficient new homes

Leech, Judith A.; Raizenne, Mark; Gusdorf, John

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2004.00212.x

Cited by 45 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Although two earlier studies demonstrated significant respiratory health improvements in new green construction, 13,14 this is the first study to investigate whether renovating low-income housing using green principles improves resident health.…”

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confidence: 99%

Health Outcomes and Green Renovation of Affordable Housing

et al. 2011

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Objective. This study sought to determine whether renovating low-income housing using "green" and healthy principles improved resident health and building performance.Methods. We investigated resident health and building performance outcomes at baseline and one year after the rehabilitation of low-income housing using Enterprise Green Communities green specifications, which improve ventilation; reduce moisture, mold, pests, and radon; and use sustainable building products and other healthy housing features. We assessed participant health via questionnaire, provided Healthy Homes training to all participants, and measured ventilation, carbon dioxide, and radon.Results. Adults reported statistically significant improvements in overall health, asthma, and non-asthma respiratory problems. Adults also reported that their children's overall health improved, with significant improvements in non-asthma respiratory problems. Post-renovation building performance testing indicated that the building envelope was tightened and local exhaust fans performed well. New mechanical ventilation was installed (compared with no ventilation previously), with fresh air being supplied at 70% of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers standard. Radon was ,2 picocuries per liter of air following mitigation, and the annual average indoor carbon dioxide level was 982 parts per million. Energy use was reduced by 45% over the one-year post-renovation period.Conclusions. We found significant health improvements following low-income housing renovation that complied with green standards. All green building standards should include health requirements. Collaboration of housing, public health, and environmental health professionals through integrated design holds promise for improved health, quality of life, building operation, and energy conservation.

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confidence: 99%

Health Outcomes and Green Renovation of Affordable Housing

et al. 2011

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“…The homes selected for the controlled study were built in the same year, had a similar price range and were located in the same area. The study found that occupants of R-2000 homes with heat recovery ventilators showed greater improvements in symptoms of throat irritation, cough, fatigue and irritability than the control group (Leech et al 2004). The implication is that housing construction, including the installation of adequate ventilation, does have an impact on respiratory health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Recent studies have examined the role of the built environment on human health including the building structure, heating systems, construction practices and the indoor air health of occupants of energy efficient homes (Leech et al 2004;Howden-Chapman et al 2005). The type, age and condition of dwellings may indicate the quality of indoor environment in which children live.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory illness in Saskatoon infants: The impact of housing and neighbourhood characteristics

Wright

Muhajarine

2007

Soc Indic Res

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“…Several environmental health studies on energy efficient retrofits have focused on measures of health [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] or housing conditions other than indoor air quality [20,23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority report energy efficient homes are associated with health benefits [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], although Sharpe and colleagues report higher physician-diagnosed adult asthma cases among those living in energy efficient dwellings [25]. A recent meta-analysis by Maidment and colleagues found a small, but statistically significant improvement in health associated with energy efficient housing, but also acknowledge the need for additional research in this area [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Indoor air quality and occupant comfort in homes with deep versus conventional energy efficiency renovations

Wells

Berges

Metcalf

et al. 2015

Building and Environment

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Deep energy retrofits (DER) for residential housing have been proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; these result in ~50% additional energy efficiency compared to standard renovations, energy star (ES) renovations. However, the impact of increased energy efficiency on indoor air quality (IAQ) is poorly understood. We conducted a longitudinal study to compare IAQ and occupant comfort in 12 low income single-family homes renovated to a DER or ES standard. Quarterly visits were conducted for a median of 18 months post-renovation; IAQ was assessed in 4 rooms per visit for a total of 237 measurements. Multivariable regression models accounted for repeated measurements and controlled for house-and family-related covariates. In fully adjusted models, average difference (95% confidence interval) in IAQ parameters in DER homes versus ES homes were: temperature: -0.3 C (-1.2, 0.6); relative humidity: 0.4 % (-1.1, 1.8); carbon dioxide: 43.7 ppm (-18.8, 106.2); and total volatile organic compounds: 198 ppb (-224, 620). Residents in DER homes were significantly less likely to report their homes were comfortable, most likely due to initial difficulties with new heating system technology. We found no differences in IAQ between DER and ES homes; however, education is strongly recommended when incorporating new technology into residences.

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Health in occupants of energy efficient new homes

Cited by 45 publications

References 9 publications

Health Outcomes and Green Renovation of Affordable Housing

Health Outcomes and Green Renovation of Affordable Housing

Respiratory illness in Saskatoon infants: The impact of housing and neighbourhood characteristics

Indoor air quality and occupant comfort in homes with deep versus conventional energy efficiency renovations

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