Research at the Building Research Council

by James R. Anderson

Mold and Mildew Technical Assistance in Indian Country
Kate Brown, PI

The United States Congress has determined that providing affordable housing in a safe and healthy environment is essential. A special role that the federal government has in providing housing assistance on tribal reservations and trust lands is insuring that residents of Indian housing reside in safe, sanitary, and healthy housing units.

A number of reservations throughout the United States reported severe mold and moisture problems with their housing units. Some residents have had to be relocated from their housing units, some units have been demolished, and some units required extensive remediation and repairs to eradicate the mold and moisture conditions.

This project has addressed tribal concerns with mold through on-site assessments, technical assistances, and training sessions. This has allowed tribes the opportunity to develop local strategies to solve their mold and moisture problems. In addition, a Congressional Study researching the extent of mold problems in tribal housing was also completed under this contract.

Development of Systems-Based Publications on the Roles and Responsibilities of Homeownership and Home Maintenance for Native American Housing Entities

Kate Brown, PI

The purpose of this project is to develop and publish materials for educating Indian housing staff, their tenants and homeowners on their roles and responsibilities in home ownership and maintenance. The publications shall demonstrate the interrelationship of site location, building structure, occupant lifestyle, and housing management practices in determining how safe, comfortable, and functional the home environment is. The publication will emphasize that the house should be designed, built, and maintained to provide occupants with a safe, decent, and functional living environment. In the finished document, emphasis shall be placed on the relationship between the built environment and the occupant as very important in assessing and correcting unhealthy, unsafe conditions and maintaining the long-term viability of the housing stock.

Insulation Retrofits to Prevent Mold and Moisture at the Wall/Ceiling Juncture

Jeff Gordon, PI
William B. Rose

This project seeks to develop and test retrofit insulation approaches at the juncture of the wall and ceiling of exterior walls. Thermal bridging at this location commonly results in elevated moisture content of drywall and subsequent staining and even mold growth in extreme cases. The project is being performed in conjunction with the Turtle Mountain Housing Authority (TMHA) in Belcourt, North Dakota. 18 houses in the Shell Valley housing development, were the problem is commonly seen, have been treated with 3 different insulation techniques at the top plate of exterior walls:
1. Joist cavity cap with blown insulation
2. Top plate insulating “pillow”
3. Interior insulating crown molding
Data is being collected with thermographic infrared (IR) images (18 houses) and datalogged temperature measurements (3 houses). The goal of the project is to identify the most efficient and effective solution to a common moisture problem. The final report on this project was submitted to HUD in June.

Indian Housing Operating Cost Study

James R. Anderson, Co-PI
Kate Brown, Co-PI
Karen Winter-Nelson

Phase One of this research study concluded in July 2005 with the identification of categories of operating costs for the operation of Low Rent and Mutual Help units developed under provisions of the Housing Act of 1937, and the identification of factors that may affect them. This occurred after discussions at regional housing association meetings, visits to individual Tribes, and discussions with HUD staff. This phase also identified the sources of data on operating costs that are currently available from TDHEs, tribes, and other sources?

Phase Two of the study, began in the summer 2005, with a systematic collection of data on operating costs of Mutual Help, Turnkey III, and Low Rent units. A standardized form distributed to all tribes was felt to be too burdensome of a data collection strategy. Instead existing statements of operating expenses were requested. These were reviewed and put into a common format with common cost categories. Over 90 Tribes have provided some form of existing records of expenses. A secondary data set is being obtained from the USDA Section 515 records

The study was extended until January 13, 2007 to allow time for tribes to provide information and to expand the scope of the study. Additional emphasis was placed on finding information about energy costs and energy usage. Observation of dwellings will provide information on the possible ways to reduce energy use, and cost. The report final report will consider how the collected data might be used in a revised formula for calculating the cost of operating affordable housing programs in Indian country.

Training Services for Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program

Jeff Gordon, PI
Paul Francisco

The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) provides housing rehabilitation services focusing on energy improvements to low-income residents in the State of Illinois. The state program (until this year under the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and now transferred to Public Aid) works with local government and community action programs as well as trained contractors to provide assessment and weatherization services. Weatherization assessors are certified through a training process developed by the state program. Other training classes are provided for contractors and regional staff. The BRC provides curriculum development and delivers training classes in this program. Paul Francisco teaches a week-long Diagnostics course, focusing on blower door analysis. Jeff Gordon teaches a 2-day Health and Safety course, with one day being dedicated to lead-safe weatherization. Both courses are part of the certification curriculum. A one-day lead-safe weatherization class is held for contractors participating in the state weatherization program.

Investigating Indoor Pollutant Concentrations in Residences with Un-vented Gas Fireplaces

Jeffery Gordon
Paul Francisco
William B. Rose

In September of 2004, BRC was awarded a 3-year contract by U.S. HUD to study the pollutant concentrations that result from the use of un-vented gas heating appliances. This study is one of the Healthy Homes Technical Studies, and will focus primarily on un-vented gas fireplaces. The project includes a variety of components, including mathematical modeling; lab testing of new and used units; in-home testing of units in 30 homes; and surveys regarding the use of these appliances on both a local and a national level. At this point, the mathematical models have been developed for both the continuous use and the cycling cases of appliance operation. The continuous operation model is implemented in a computer software program; the cycling model will be shortly. In addition, a draft survey instrument has been developed. The construction of a suitable facility for lab

White roofs in clear-sky regions

William B. Rose, PI

Clear night skies have an effective low temperature. Nighttime radiant cooling leads to chilling of surfaces exposed to the night sky. We expect for daytime temperatures to more than make up for these nighttime losses. But with energy-efficient construction, including R-38 insulation beneath the roof and very white coatings above, the sheathing may remain colder than the outdoor air temperature all day long during the winter. These chilled conditions can, and do, lead to moisture problems.

With funding from Tucson Electric Power, roof assemblies have been monitored for two winters, and the data are being analyzed. The cooling effects are so strong that during clear weather the nighttime relative humidity remains around 100% in both vented and nonvented assemblies. The roof cavity vapor pressures are far in excess of both the indoor and outdoor vapor pressures because of cumulative moisture effects.

Recommendations are being developed. These recommendations illustrate that there are durability limits to energy conservation measures such as thermal insulation and white roofs. In addition to recommendations for use of foam in roof assemblies (the high-cost solution) other recommendations include reducing the amount of thermal insulation in the roof and using a roof color that is more absorbent of solar radiation.

Field Evaluation of an Updated Delta-Q Test

Paul W. Francisco, PI

Duct leakage to and from outside is known to be a major source of wasted energy in residential homes that have ducts in attics, crawl spaces, and garages. However, obtaining field estimates of leakage, to determine the need for repair, is difficult. This project, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Development, evaluates a new technique for estimating duct leakage under actual field conditions. Fifteen homes have been tested, and analysis on these homes and others tested by regional weatherization crews is ongoing. The results will be recommendations on whether or not the test is suitably accurate for use by weatherization agencies and other interested parties, such as HERS raters, utilities, etc. The project ends July 31, 2006.

Smart Energy Design Assistance Center

Donald Fournier, PI

The Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) is designed to encourage building owners, designers, and users to incorporate renewable energy systems and energy conservation practices. SEDAC accomplishes this by providing information and design assistance in the practices and implementation of components of energy conserving design, specification, construction, and education. SEDAC also provides support for the Illinois Energy Code, assist with the financial strategies needed for project implementation, and provides assistance for more broadly defined sustainable design initiatives.

Some of the SEDAC ideas and operational concepts were tested as part of the Small Business $mart Energy Program. This program is part of the State’s Opportunity Returns initiative directed by the Illinois Department of Community and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The program is designed to provide assistance to businesses that will identify opportunities to save energy and money, reducing overhead and operational costs. It also supports resource efficiencies in building design, materials selection and construction practices as they relate to energy.
This program is administered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the Department of Architecture’s Building Research Council (BRC) in partnership with the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC). The program is based in part, on a Pilot program conducted in 2004. The goals for the program are to perform outreach to develop a client base, conduct education initiatives to increase capability within the state, and to provide direct assistance to businesses. Assistance to businesses is in four levels: initial consultations, energy audits, in-depth energy analyses, and follow-up support.

In the past year, the Project Team has completed more than 133 face-to-face meetings and more than 437 teleconferences. The team has also built 22 alliances in an effort to further promote the program. More than 536 businesses were receiving or had received Level 1 assistance.

Furthermore, 110 participants were receiving or had received Level 2 assistance, 66 small businesses were receiving or had received Level 3 assistance, and 52 are currently receiving or have received Level 4 assistance.

Curriculum and course offerings were developed and offered. Online training course were also developed. On-line courses planned are progressing well and development continues for the online daylighting, sustainable design, energy basics, energy modeling, and basic lighting courses.
The SEDAC Information Center has begun establishing itself in the state as a source for information on sustainable building methods and for information on the program itself. The team developed a web-site, established an 800 number, and produces a monthly newsletter.

Strategic Sustainability Assessment

Donald Fournier, PI

The Strategic Sustainability Assessment (SSA) is a long-range strategy for identifying key issues and trends that may impact sustainability of the military mission. It ties into Army Environmental Strategy to Secure the Future, Sustain the Mission, and Meet the Challenges. (Guiding principles: Builds on work of others, Regional, multi-service, cross-federal, partners).

The SSA uses a suite of existing tools and methodologies to evaluate key aspects of sustainability. These tools are being combined and used to conduct an analysis of an entire region. Based on the region, future scenarios are being developed and analyzed to provide a study that will include maps and analyses of potential outcomes thirty years into the future.

The Fall Line Ecoregion of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina was selected for the prototype SSA evaluation. This consists of 8,036 square miles, parts of 80 counties, federal lands, and four major military installations. Many studies have already been conducted in this area, providing some data to draw from.

Scenarios considered for this study include continued regional population growth and it accompanying develop and land-use change, plus-up of troops due to Army transformation (+10,000 at Fort Benning), construction of the Fall Line Highway, an increase in energy prices, and changing rainfall patterns due to global climate change. Impacts being evaluated include water quality, air quality, and habitat fragmentation, and their effects on the military mission. Projections 30 years into the future estimate impacts from the status quo conditions, a land use preservation scenario, and various population growth estimates.

World Energy Trends and Their Implication for US Army Installations

Donald Fournier, PI

The primary issues affecting energy options are those of availability, affordability, sustainability, and security. Since energy resources are unevenly distributed around the world, and the impacts of energy consumption have global reach in both environmental and political terms, any meaningful review of energy-related issues must take a global perspective. This research initiative is to synopsize world and national energy issues (including energy source options, resource stocks, and future prognosis) in the context of how Army installations need to respond to changing trends. The resulting report presents implications of actions that may be taken in response to the national and world energy situation, to help the Army to make informed choices on energy utilization that will contribute to sustaining the Army’s mission.

Characterizing Land Use Trends around Military Ranges and Installations

Donald Fournier, PI

A key concern for the Department of Defense (DOD) is the impacts of urban encroachment on military installations and ranges. This information may inform the plan to ensure the DOD’s ability to sustain, change, or expand mission activities at these sites. Optimal use of ranges in the face of changing missions, closures, and realignments requires an understanding of each range’s capabilities. Regional competition for land, transportation, energy, water, and other resources may put a range’s ability to be used for essential activities at risk. This research adapted the Sustainable Installations Regional Resource Assessment (SIRRA) methodology to provide a scientific, quantifiable, reliable, and data-sourced system of determining vulnerability to a set of sustainability issues based on data from the surrounding regions. This methodology can be used to identify range installations most vulnerable to encroachment issues identified by the DOD Senior Readiness Oversight Committee (SROC). The region surrounding each range installation is rated based on individual indicators organized by sustainability issue areas. This allows a review of issues areas to help identify those ranges that would benefit from further study, intervention, and planning.

A Comparison of Regional Vulnerability Factors for Department of Defense (DOD) Installations

Donald Fournier, PI

A key concern for Department of Defense (DOD) installations is their ability to sustain, and sometimes change or expand, their mission activities. Optimal use of installations in the face of changing missions, closures, and realignments requires an understanding of each installation’s capabilities. Regional competition for land, transportation, energy, water, and other resources may put an installation’s ability to perform essential activities at risk. This research adapted the Sustainable Installation Regional Resource Assessment (SIRRA) methodology to consider primary military mission as a weighting factor in determining vulnerability to a set of sustainability issues, and to identify the most vulnerable installations within each DOD service, and to determine those installations that would benefit from further study and intervention.

Watershed Application of the Sustainable Installations Regional Resource Assessment Tool

Donald Fournier, PI

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognizes the need for a system-wide approach to ecosystem management in its efforts to provide environmental sustainability in the stewardship of the Nation’s water resources. As the Corps’ increases activities in sustainable watersheds and water resources management they will require the expanded use of new and existing tools. The System-Wide Water Resources Program (SWWRP) is designed to build and deliver these tools for effective system-wide applications. One major product of this program will be a Web-based decision support framework that will allow access to information, databases, numerical models, index models, habitat models, and socio-economic models. Characterization of the Nation’s watersheds using an existing approach that has been applied to military installations will leverage existing research for a new application. This work characterizes the nation’s watersheds using a sub-set of indicators from Sustainable Installations Regional Resource Assessment (SIRRA) and develops a methodology to identify watersheds with potential sustainment problems. It also ranks the watersheds by their relative vulnerability to such problems.

Continuing Education

During the past year the School has used the resources of the University’s Office of Continuing Education as the means to offer face-to-face and online courses. The exception has been review on General Structures and Lateral Forces (GSLF) offered to individuals preparing for the Architectural Registration Examination. The GSLF course has been offered in many locations, including Anchorage, Alaska. This course has been taught by Marc Mitalski.