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Introduction Healthy and Sustainable Homes Assessment

Introduction Healthy and Sustainable Homes Assessment . Session 1. A New Approach. Assumes that you have a good understanding of IAQ basics Sources Health Effects Actions to Improve IAQ Focuses on taking the next step, solution oriented Looking at overall health of the home

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Introduction Healthy and Sustainable Homes Assessment

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  1. IntroductionHealthy and Sustainable Homes Assessment Session 1

  2. A New Approach • Assumes that you have a good understanding of IAQ basics • Sources • Health Effects • Actions to Improve IAQ • Focuses on taking the next step, solution oriented • Looking at overall health of the home • Providing tools • Developing “hands on” diagnostic skills • Recommends Holistic approach to Connect with • Expertise • Resources We Need Your Feedback; Lots of Information, What do you need more of / less off?

  3. The Home Ecosystem • We know that IAQ is one dimension of a complex, interdependent, home environment • As we assess IAQ From a holistic perspective, we consider the entire “home ecosystem” • To be successful improving the IAQ, Health and Sustainability of the home, will often require combining expertise and resources from different tribal programs, as well as committed and educated home occupants.

  4. What is Holistic? Viewing the house is a living, breathing, system that reacts dynamically to occupant behaviors and the environment. To identify root causes of problems, and to identify sustainable solutions, Home Assessments should adopt a Holistic Perspective Viewing the House, Occupants and Environment not as separate factors and components, but as Comprehensive & Interrelated • Structure • Environment • Occupants

  5. What is Healthy? Principles of Healthy Homes: • Dry • Clean • Well Ventilated • Pest-Free • Safe • Comfortable • Free of Toxics & Combustion Products • Maintained

  6. Looking beyond Healthy;Seeking Home Wellness Homes as an important contributor to Resident wellness and Quality of Life • Healthy • Safe • Comfortable • Affordable • Durable • Sustainable

  7. Diagnostics with Assessment Tools • The course is designed to enhance and develop your detective and diagnostic skills using a, comprehensive set of Assessment Tools • Eyes, Ears, Nose • Forms & Software tools • Measurement Tools & Instruments • The Assessment is intended to: • “Diagnose” Problems (current and potential) , • Identify Causes • Identify potential Solutions and Improvements

  8. Diagnosing a Home - What is an Assessment: • Collecting information, making a record • Observations (Qualitative) • Homeowner input insights, needs • Measurements • Photographs • Interpretation • Following Good Health & Safety Practices • DemonstratingCourtesy, Respect, Cleanliness, • Correcting Immediate threats • Sharing Initial observations & Recommendations (Exit Interview)

  9. Diagnosing a Home – What does the Assessment Consider? • The Assessment examines 3 factors that determine a home’s “Healthy and Sustainable” status: • Building/Structural, • Environmental, and • Occupant related

  10. Building/Structural, (Session 2) • How the house operates as a system • Envelope/Shell • Insulation • Heating/Cooling / Mechanical • Water / Sewer • Base Loads • Safety Features • General Condition

  11. Environmental(Session 2) How the house interacts with the environment: Temperature Wind Precipitation Ambient Air Quality Soil Moisture Soil Gas Solar Gain

  12. Occupant Related(Session 3) The largely “Behavioral “ side: How the house is Operated Indoor activities Furnishings Special Needs of residents Pets Housekeeping & Maintenance

  13. Diagnosing / Improving an IAQ Problem The Four Ps • People • Pollutant • Pathway • Pressure • Identifying Root Cause of problem; • “Leverage” for improving or eliminating problem and exposure

  14. IAQ Refresher Severity of problem dependent upon: • Strength of source(s) • Dilution • Removal (Filtration, absorption, deposition) • Duration Prioritization of Solutions? • Control sources • Ventilation • Air cleaning

  15. Source ControlMoisture Control • Eliminate / reduce indoor sources • Substitute for cleaner/healthier alternatives • Eliminate pathways • Reduce driving forces for transport • Prevent condensation • Isolate sources separate from living area Awareness & Education

  16. Quantity of Moisture From Household Activities Natural Resources Canada http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-home-improvement/choosing/insulation-sealing/air-leakage/khi-moisture.cfm?attr=4

  17. Indoor Humidity

  18. Occupant Perception of IAQ and Risk • We can observe. • We can increase awareness and educate. • We can make recommendations. And . . . • In some cases unique needs of occupants (e.g. asthmatics), require more emphasis on certain concerns we identify. but . . . . Each family will make their own decisions and take actions based upon their comfort level, perceptions, economics, abilities, and culture.

  19. What is Sustainable?(Session 4) “Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The Three Pillars of Sustainability

  20. What is Sustainable? A holistic and sustainable assessment will try to identify opportunities to : • Minimize the environmental footprint of the home • Make the home more affordable and simpler to operate and maintain • Help ensure that the home will meet the needs of the residents for the future

  21. Building an Assessment Team • The reality is that most tribes have limited expertise and funding to address healthy homes as we’d all like to. • Building a team does several things: • Can raise the visibility and priority of healthy housing as a tribal focus • Brings together expertise from many relevant disciplines • May bring resources from other departments or programs • Creates shared ownership; increasing commitment and quality of likely actions

  22. The Assessment Team –Assembling the team to perform the assessment • Environmental - • Housing - • Health • Energy, Water, • Cultural • Other? Not a part of the team, but a critical part of the Assessment and ultimate mitigation approach: • The Occupants

  23. The Assessment Form/Software • Guides the Assessment process • Creates a record of the assessment observations, measurements, photos and initial recommendations • May perform calculations and quality checks Difficult to find “One Perfect” Tool. Course uses “hard copy forms to guide the process and eliminate learning a specific software

  24. TAMS Assessment Forms: Based upon several sources: NEAT Audit Software (DOE) Home IAQ Checklist (OSU Extension) Energy Star EPA Retrofit Protocols BPI NCHH LBL

  25. Focus is on Diagnostic Skills and Tools • We wont get to answer all the questions during our house visits – but you have a comprehensive list • As a team, you’ll work together to perform the assessment and interpret your observations and measurements • In practice session and home visits, try to spend some time with all aspects of the assessment and using all of the tools.

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