Description:

Join Illinois Green Alliance for The Breathe Easy Study: Health and Energy Impacts of Ventilation Improvements. The interconnections between health, housing, and energy consumption are increasingly apparent. Energy efficiency has a well-documented positive impact on household health including decreases in asthma and cardiovascular disease and improvements in indoor air quality (IAQ), comfort, and well-being. In particular, mechanical ventilation systems can enhance healthy homes and improve indoor air quality, especially when combined with energy efficiency measures. 

This panel will consist of the following:

(1) sharing insights from literature on energy efficiency and its ability to address health impacts and energy insecurity; 

(2) discussing the Breathe Easy study in Chicago-area homes that has tested approaches to improving IAQ and reducing asthma symptoms with ventilation; 

(3) sharing results of the health, energy, and IAQ outcomes from installing mechanical ventilation systems in existing homes; and 

(4) presenting some of the first available data on the relative benefits and trade-offs for three common approaches to mechanical ventilation systems. 

Integrating health improvements such as ventilation into energy efficiency programs will improve service for vulnerable populations. Building and health experts should explore opportunities to increase their impacts through innovative programs that reflect the established connections between energy, IAQ, and health.

SPEAKERS:

Brent Stephens, Illinois Institute of Technology 
Insung Kang, Illinois Institute of Technology 
Amanda Gramigna, Elevate
Anna McCreery, Elevate
Thank you to our event sponsor!