麻豆影院

Wildfires are becoming increasingly common in Colorado, due in part to climate change. So CU 麻豆影院 scientists are using a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study their effects on indoor air quality, looking specifically at low-income Denver area neighborhoods.

Led by Shelly Miller, a professor in CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 environmental engineering program, a team of faculty and students are evaluating the effects of weatherization鈥攎aking homes more energy efficient鈥攐n indoor air quality. They鈥檙e measuring levels of pollutants like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter, which can pose a threat to human health.

Weatherized or 鈥渢ight鈥� homes improve energy efficiency and may keep out pollutants, but they need adequate ventilation systems to prevent these pollutants from accumulating indoors. 鈥淥ne of our goals is to determine the best way to tighten homes to save energy,鈥� says Miller. 鈥淏ut it needs to be done in a way that keeps the indoor air environment healthy.鈥�