Recorded presentation

Doug Brugge, PhD, MS¹, Bindu Panikkar², John Snell³, Steve Melly, MA⁴, and Beatriz Vinas⁴. (1) Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111, (617) 636-0326, dbrugge@aol.com, (2) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, 200 College Ave., Anderson Hall, Medford, MA 02155, (3) Peregrine Energy Group, 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114, (4) Environment, Harvard University School of Public Health, Landmark Center; PO Box 15677, 401 Park Drive, 4th Floor, West, Boston, MA 02215

Public housing developments in Boston, MA and throughout the Northeastern US, are frequently found to overheat apartments during the winter, resulting in energy waste and discomfort to occupants. Housing authorities have begun to enter into energy savings contracts that pay for renovation of old heating systems by reducing excess heating. As part of the Healthy Public Housing Initiative, we conducted 5 related, but distinct studies of heating systems in two housing developments. One had been upgraded through an energy contract, the other had not. 1) Observational study of the system that was not upgraded fully explains the maintenance and engineering problems with an old steam heating system. 2) Surveys conducted before and after replacement of an old steam heating system with a new hot water system are suggestive, but inconclusive about possible health benefits. 3) Comparison of the old and replaced systems in two seperate developments showed better environmental conditions with the new system, but few health benefits. 4) Analysis of work orders over the course of the heating system replacement shows a reduction in some types of environmental complaints. 5) Assessment of water and gas usage by building after the new heating system was installed is in progress and suggests these measures are poor indicators of apartment level problems.

Learning Objectives:

• To recognize that there is energy overconsuption and waste in many public housing developments.
• To be able to describe how energy inefficiency might be related to poor indoor environment.
• To be able to discuss the data from this particular study and assess the evidence for and against an association of health benefits with energy savings.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Housing

Related Web page: www.hsph.harvard.edu/hphi/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation