Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces
News & Events
August 2018
How ROCIS is Working to Improve IAQ
Published in Green HVACR magazine
Running an efficient fan motor continuously with a good furnace filter is a very good way to keep particles low in houses. The article, by Linda Wigington and Rhett Major, describes how this was accomplished in several ROCIS houses, and includes some detail on the work involved and the cost.

H igh minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filters installed in air handlers with sufficient run-time can provide significant filtration benefits, removing fine particles from indoor air. However, this level of filtration may come with significant costs, both in fan and building energy costs and HVAC system performance.

To date, more than 40 systems have been tested through the ROCIS Air Handler Inquiry. The vast majority of the systems had existing problems, such as ... Continue reading here.
Many Thanks & Good Luck to Kacy McGill
Kacy McGill has served as coordinator for the ROCIS Low Cost Monitoring Project (LCMP) since December of 2016. She has brought competence, creativity, and commitment to this position, and has led recent efforts to increase our impact in low-income communities.  Kacy has worked to increase the visibility of ROCIS and the LCMP through social media. 

Life after ROCIS -- In her new position Kacy is excited to mobilize folks to get involved in local politics as the Field Director for State Senator candidate Lindsey Williams.   

She will continue with ROCIS in a much more limited capacity working on special projects. 
On the Monitoring Front
Cohort 32 Off to a Good Start

On August 16th we launched the 32nd cohort of the ROCIS Low Cost Monitoring Project. Ten folks began monitoring; three of these were veterans returning for a 2nd time to monitor in a new location. In this cohort, four participants are testing the air quality in their work places and six are monitoring in homes. 
Monitoring Continues at Intervention Sites

In addition, we have 15 intervention sites with ongoing monitoring. Interventions include portable air cleaners, central air filtration, and radon mitigation.

In an effort to clarify the costs and benefits of filtration using a home's air handler, we are examining varied air handler runtimes, face velocities, and airflows. ROCIS has deployed PurpleAir monitors  to examine to impact of filtration in reducing particles of more different sizes of fine particles.
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank Takes the Lead
Cohort to Be Hosted in September

In September ROCIS will partner with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank who will host an entire cohort consisting of their staff and volunteers. Through the LCMP they monitored their workplace in May 2018. This increased staff awareness and interest in air quality, making it possible to recruit a dozen folks to conduct monitoring in their homes. The collaboration has a triple benefit for ROCIS, the food bank, and their staff.
The Sustainable Pittsburgh Challenge continues to be an excellent partner in helping to generate participation in the ROCIS Low Cost Monitoring Project and monitoring air quality.
Coming Regional & National Events
Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) Webinar 
PA Residential Energy Code Update
August 28, 2018 / 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT

Center for Energy Speaker Series with Aurora Sharrard
Swanson School of Engineering
September 10 / Noon - 1:00 PM
Pittsburgh, PA

Living Products Expo
International Living Future Institute
September 11-13, 2018
Pittsburgh, PA

Air Sensors International Conference
September 12-14, 2018
Oakland, CA; Sponsors: UC Davis, CARB, & U.S. EPA

Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) 2018 North American Passive House Conference
September 19-23, 2018
Boston, MA

PEPH (Partnerships for Environmental Public Health) Webinar
Air Sensor Stories
September 24, 2018 / Noon - 1:00 PM EDT

Behavior, Energy Efficiency & Climate Change Conference
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
October 7-10, 2018
Washington, DC

2018 Southern Regional Healthy Housing Conference
October 9-11, 2018
New Orleans, LA

Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) High Performance Home Summit 2018
October 16-18, 2018 (Early-bird pricing through August 31, 2018)
San Diego, CA & Online

North American Passive House Network (NAPHN) 2018 International Conference
October 17-21, 2018
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA
(ROCIS presentations)

IAQ Training Institute, LLC Healthy Buildings Summit (HBS) 2018
October 25-27, 2018
Seven Springs, PA
(ROCIS presentation)

2018 Midwest Regional Healthy Housing Conference
November 13-14, 2018
Indianapolis, IN

2018 Shale & Public Health Conference
November 14, 2018 / 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
The University Club at the University of Pittsburgh

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 2018 Conference on Health, Environment and Energy
December 3-5, 2018
New Orleans, LA
(ROCIS presentation)

Citizen Science Association CitSci 2019
Individual presentations (talks & posters) due September 15
March 13-17, 2019
Raleigh, NC

Home Performance Coalition (HPC) 2019 National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show
April 1-4, 2019
Chicago, IL
Check Out Recent ROCIS Presentations
Thanks to The Heinz Endowments for support of the ROCIS initiative. 
(Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces)