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Venting for health: indoor air quality improvements from upgraded ventilation systems in multifamily high-rise housing

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Abstract

The impact of sealing ventilation shafts, installing self-balancing dampers and larger capacity exhaust fans on indoor air quality has not yet been thoroughly investigated. We examined IAQ outcomes in two groups of high-rise multifamily public housing. Both study and control group dwellings received ventilation shaft cleaning. The study group also received higher horsepower rooftop fans and ventilation shaft sealing to prevent leakage, and self-balancing dampers. We conducted interviews with residents 1 year before ventilation work and again 1 year after ventilation work completion (n = 96 households; 45 in the study group and 51 in the control group) that asked about housing conditions. In some dwellings, we also tested airflow and indoor air quality, including volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide (CO2), and formaldehyde. Ventilation improved in the study group and decreased in the control group. Across both groups, dwellings had statistically significant decreases in musty odors and presence of cockroaches. The study group’s ventilation upgrades increased airflow inside those dwellings, and the airflow in study group bathrooms was significantly better than that of control group bathrooms. These increased ventilation rates were associated with statistically significant improvements in relative humidity, CO2, and formaldehyde in the study group. Enhanced ventilation should be implemented in multifamily housing to improve indoor air quality.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the residents who participated in this study, the New York City Housing Authority, J. Kofi Berko, Judith Akoto, Green City Force, and staff at Steven Winter Associates). The authors are responsible for the interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Government or the New York City Housing Authority.

Funding

This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, Grant # MDHHU002-11.

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Correspondence to Jonathan Wilson.

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This study was approved by an Institutional Review Board.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest for this study.

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Wilson, J., Dixon, S.L., Zuluaga, M. et al. Venting for health: indoor air quality improvements from upgraded ventilation systems in multifamily high-rise housing. Energy Efficiency 13, 1727–1735 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-020-09902-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-020-09902-3

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