C.L.I. Group, LLC is working to develop new techniques for the accurate measurement of performance of Northeast, Ohio buildings and homes. Current research includes developing ways to measure duct performance in a time and cost effective manner for purposes of retrofitting buildings and homes that have severe duct leakage problems. Duct leakage is one of the largest contributors to wasted energy in many buildings. However, current measures for testing and evaluating the ducts are time consuming and costly. The system which we have under development could change all of that, allowing our technicians to give building owners accurate decision making information in a cost effective manner. The research currently under way not only allows for informed decision making, it also allows our technicians to measure the successfulness of retrofitting. 

Insulation Retrofitting:

Previous studies have shown that the effectiveness of adding insulation to a building or home is largely dependent on the installation. One problem today that faces building or homeowners when insulating their building is measured performance. In the majority of cases, the successfulness of an insulating job is guesswork at best. For example, you pay $5,000 to have insulation blown into the walls of your home which was built in the 1940's. After the installation, your monthly heating bill is reduced by 10%. A Successful Job, Right? Well, maybe, maybe not. What if your savings could have been 20 or 30% with little or no additional cost. Without measuring performance before and after, you'll never know. We are developing Northeast, Ohio specific protocols for measuring performance and comparing results.

Another example. Your insulation contractor blows loose fill fiberglass insulation into your attic. He gives you all of the required information about R value, number of bags installed, etc. The problem is, he provides no performance measurements. The R30 that was installed may only be performing at a fraction of that R-value due to air leakage in the building envelope which is allowing for heat loss and wind washing of the insulation. The measured thickness of the insulation may have little to do with R-value if the insulation has been fluffed and the pressure boundary or air barrier is not functioning properly. We are working on ways to allow for cost effective measurement of performance to determine if the full value of a retrofitting project is being achieved. 

Low Cost Remedial Measures for Soil Gas

We are currently working on protocols for builders to reduce low level radon from entering homes due to pressure differentials. In many real estate transactions, builders must face additional costs for SSD (sub-slab de-pressurization) systems to be installed when short term radon measurements are over the 4pCi/L threshold. In many cases the levels are only slightly over the threshold. We are working to develop some simple proactive protocols which can reduce this from occurring. The driving force for radon and other soil gas entrance into buildings is pressure differentials. In many cases, the pressures can be adjusted to prevent this from occurring. However, over pressurizing can create new problems. For the homeowner, when SSD systems are installed there is a potential for more de-pressurization in the combustion air zone which should be carefully monitored. De-pressurizing the CAZ can result in dangerous backdrafting or spillage of combustion gases into the building. When a system is being, or has been installed, homeowners should request verification that a worst case de-pressurization test has been performed by a qualified contractor.

Zonolite (Vermiculite) Attic Insulation, Duct Leakage & Asbestos Exposure (Are They Related?)

Prior to its close in 1990, much of the world’s supply of vermiculite came from a mine near Libby, Montana. This mine had a natural deposit of asbestos which resulted in the vermiculite being contaminated with asbestos. Attic insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from the Libby mine, may contain asbestos fibers. Today, vermiculite is mined at three U.S. facilities and in other countries which have low levels of contamination in the finished
material.

EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend that homeowners make every effort not to disturb vermiculite insulation in their attics. If you occasionally have to go into your attic, current best practices state you should:

1. Make every effort to stay on the floored part of your attic and to not disturb the insulation.
2. If you must perform activities that may disturb the attic insulation such as moving boxes (or other materials), do so as gently as possible to minimize the disturbance.
3. Leave the attic immediately after the disturbance.
4. If you need work done in your attic such as the installation of cable or utility lines, hire trained and certified professionals who can safely do the work.
5. It is possible that vermiculite attic insulation can sift through cracks in the ceiling, around light fixtures, or around ceiling fans. You can prevent this by sealing the cracks and holes that insulation could pass through.
6. Common dust masks are not effective against asbestos fibers. For information on the requirements for wearing a respirator mask, visit the following OSHA website: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html

Source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/insulation.html#Is

C.L.I. Group, LLC is currently performing research on the subject of asbestos containing attic insulation and duct leakage. As a licensed Asbestos Hazard Evaluation and a RESNET Certified Energy Rater we have witnessed cases where large return air duct leaks were discovered in attics containing asbestos containing insulations. This insulation may not only disturb the asbestos containing material, but may actually suck the insulation into the air stream through duct leaks and distribute the airborne asbestos particles through the home. This could create a potentially serious hazard to the occupants of the building and should be evaluated by a qualified professional immediately.

If you have this type of insulation, you may contact C.L.I. Group, LLC. We are currently offering free inspections and air testing on a limited number of homes containing this type of insulation for our current research.

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