Assessing & Measuring the Relationship Between Weatherization, Thermal Comfort, & Asthma

In this session, we provide new insights on the relationships between home energy measures and respiratory health from three recent and ongoing studies that attempt to clarify this complex issue. Presenters will first share preliminary findings from approximately 20 in-depth interviews with household occupants about their asthma and both current and previous housing conditions, as well as results from environmental assessments of their homes. From a second separate study, we will also share insights from in-home monitoring of indoor environmental quality measures in homes both leading up to and in the weeks after weatherization, alongside survey responses from each of the households regarding their health and well-being. Lastly, we present the results of a study to monetize the respiratory health benefits of replacing gas stoves with efficient induction stoves, which can substantially reduce exposure to harmful indoor pollutants such as NO2. Studies were sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Program Administrators, respectively, and homes for the first two studies participated in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Home Uplift Program.