- Author
-
Clark, R. E.
- Title
- Effects of Home Weatherization on Occupant Comfort: First Report of a Field Study.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Community Services Administration, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 81-2335
September 1981
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
residential buildings; weatherproofing; environmental engineering; temperature measurement; thermal insulation; comfort; surveys; questionnaires
|
occupants
- Identifiers
- retrofitting
- Abstract
- This study reports preliminary examination of data testing the hypothesis that, when existing residences are treated with weatherization retrofitting measures intended primarily to save fuel, house occupants are likely to report improvement in wintertime comfort. Data were obtained through questionnaire-guided interviews with individuals in 108 experimental houses and 37 control houses. These houses, at nine sites representing a range of U.S. climates, were part of a three-year National Weatherization Demonstration, sponsored by the Community Services Administration and planned and managed by researchers at the Center for Building Technology of the National Bureau of Standards. The experimental houses had been weatherized to determine how much their fuel usage could be reduced by cost-effective retrofitting. The control houses had not been weatherized in the demonstration. Interview topics included: thermostat setting patterns, impressions of comparative comfort, amounts of clothing worn, and specific comfort and temperature ratings for the house as a whole and for individual rooms in the house. Preliminary examination of the data has focussed on: (1) a composite 'comfort change' index, comprised of indicators derived from thermostat setting practices in unusually cold weather, impressions of change in comfort-related attributes of the indoor environment, amounts of clothing worn in winter, and comfort ratings, (2) the specific comfort ratings, and (3) the temperature ratings. The results presented offer strong indications of support for the hypothesis.