00,000 homes by 2012.4 But the sudden influx of cash and the short period of time in which to spend it has spelled trouble for many state weatherization programs.
No health problems are reported to have resulted from ARRA-subsidized energy-efficiency retrofit activities. But inspections have uncovered several instances of hazardous conditions created or worsened by retrofits, which serve as reminders of the need for care to ensure that home renovations don’t cause more problems than they cure.
For example, in Cook County, Illinois, 12 of 15 homes audited by the DOE Inspector General after receiving retrofits were found to have substandard work, and 5 of 6 furnace tune-ups had not been correctly performed, allowing the heating systems to either improperly fire or exceed maximum allowable carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.5 CO is a colorless and odorless gas that, if drawn into the living space of a home, can sicken or kill the occupants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that non-fire-related CO poisoning results in an estimated 15,000 emergency room visits and 500 unintentional deaths in the United States per year.6
A similar review conducted in Nueces County, Texas, showed the community action agency performing weatherization under ARRA failed to install or document installation of CO detectors in 11 homes inspected, a requirement for any unit with a combustion appliance. The agency also failed to administer and/or document required CO testing of combustion appliances in each of 13 homes inspected. Appliances in 5 of these homes were later found to exceed CO emission allowances.7
In Alaska the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported mold cropping up in houses that had been recently weatherized, explaining, “Homes in cold climates are susceptible to mold because of the extreme temperature differential between inside and outside. Mold needs water to grow, and moisture develops in homes when water vapor inside hits cold surfaces such as windows and outdoor walls and condenses into liquid.”8 Evidence to date suggests mold spores in indoor air can cause asthma symptoms, respiratory infections, and upper respiratory problems among susceptible persons.9
Critics say problems of poor workmanship in state weatherization programs over the past year are often the result of the programs’ hiring of large numbers of new contractors, not all of whom are properly trained or supervised. In Illinois, for example, the weatherization agency’s pool of contractors grew from 18 to 60 companies to accommodate the increase in production resulting from the infusion of ARRA money.5 In a memorandum to the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE inspector general Gregory Friedman stated, “The weatherization contractor and local level inspection deficiencies, in our opinion, raise concerns regarding the adequacy of training and adherence to standards designed to ensure quality workmanship.”10
Problems with home energy retrofits are not limited to fly-by-night contractors. Even experienced contractors can be challenged when trying to deliver a product that is at once energy efficient and healthy. Houses are complex systems. The shell (walls, floors, ceiling), HVAC system, and ductwork all interact with each other—change one, and you may inadvertently affect another.
Tightening houses—that is, reducing the amount of outside air being pulled into the living space and heated or cooled air leaking out—is one of the principal goals of weatherization. However, it is important not to make a building too tight. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publishes a standard that lists recommended levels of fresh-air ventilation for different types of buildings or rooms within buildings, taking into account the size of the space, number of occupants, and use of the space.11 These levels reflect optimal energy usage, comfort, and health and should be followed by contractors anytime an extensive retrofit of a building is undertaken.
Tightening a building to the point where it a