Daily Archives: November 24, 2019

Tips for Indoor Painting Projects in Occupied Buildings

The weather is cold out there. You have projects to do for your buildings, but they all must be indoors now. But that leads to problems. Say you have a major painting job in your building, but you are under pressure not to inconvenience staff or customers. The paint job must be completed in a way that is least disruptive to daily operations.

Minimizing disruptions, of course, is something that should be taken into account in all projects, as is the health and safety of occupants and workers. While one normally focuses on keeping aisles clear for occupants to safely move around, it is also important to be aware of maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ). Therefore, look for effective coatings that also contain low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They are not only better for IAQ for those potentially exposed, but give off less odors, reducing distractions.

IAQ issues are easier to address. A growing number of coating manufacturers make a line of paints with definitively lower emissions, and some directed to sensitive groups, such as children and the elderly. This is particularly helpful with projects in schools or healthcare facilities. Quick-drying coatings are advantageous. Odors are more subjective and is up to the individual. Emotions and other factors influence whether odors are detected and found to be annoying or distracting. As they say, “Somebody will always complain.” Odors top this list.

How to Start

Set a schedule so that painting is performed when there are the least users around and arrange ahead of time to stick to this schedule. For some facilities, it may or may not be a good idea to paint early in the morning when only a few people are around. It may be a good long-term strategy to paint late in the day and even let workers go home a little early. And paint into the evening. Perhaps there is a major meeting; that may be a good time to get in an hour or two of painting. Be sure to communicate times to affected staff, including which equipment or functions may not be available at what times to staff.

While Painting Goes On

Have sufficient fans present to blow the air, blowing away odors and VOCs and hastening the drying process. Be sure to rope off the areas that employees or customers should not trespass while painting goes on. One certainly does not want the enmity of somebody who accidentally gets in contact with wet paint.

Do the Job Right

One would like to minimize disturbances in the long-term. Therefore, use high-quality coatings that are durable and can withstand frequent cleaning and other conditions in the space (humidity, people effects, etc.). While this may cost more upfront, the building will save much in the long-term in reduced O&M efforts and costs and not having to paint the space again is some time.

CCES has the experts to help you plan all types of upgrades of equipment, between planning operations to procurement of equipment and commissioning that the installation is effective. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Energy Efficiency Programs Can Help Users’ Health

Many articles in this series show how building design can influence energy usage. Characteristics can be built in to save energy usage and cost, independent of behavior. These same energy efficiency strategies can also influence the health of those that spend time in the building, whether residents or workers who spend 40 hours per week there. A recent article from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy compiles recent evidence behind this conclusion. https://aceee.org/research-report/h1901

A poorly-sealed building envelope not only allows conditioned air, which required energy to be expended (electricity or fuel combustion), to leave, but also allows pests, moisture, and air pollution to enter interior spaces, raising the exposure of users to allergens, mold, and disease. Leaky windows and poor insulation can lead to drafts and extreme temperatures, triggering asthma attacks and leading to other respiratory illnesses. Inefficient appliances can affect air quality through incomplete combustion or improper venting. Together, these conditions contribute to increased rates of cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease, and stroke in the US, disproportionately affecting low-income people.

Energy efficiency programs can make homes healthier and save lives, while directly benefiting families financially. The problem is that energy efficiency upgrades require upfront costs to correct a condition or procure a new or better technology, upfront capital that poorer families (or companies) do not have.

The link between energy efficiency and public health is not recognized as energy efficiency programs have historically been implemented either by energy utility companies or government agencies focused on energy management; there has been no or little contribution from public health institutions. It is recommended that research be done to identify energy program elements that would also have the greatest impact on public health and data collection of collateral public health effects in buildings after undergoing energy upgrades. This bridging the gap may need the intervention of other government agencies, such as departments of health and housing. For example, elements of the national Affordable Care Act can use energy efficiency programs to help its goal of a healthier society (making fewer health insurance claims). If a given community is a focus of a weatherization or home energy efficiency program, data should be collected, not only concerning the amount of Btus of energy saved by the program, but also whether there has been a reduction in the number of emergency room visits for children experiencing asthma attacks, for example.

While the ACEEE study followed 23 potential frequently measured health indicators, most programs tracked 3 or fewer of them. Many of the energy programs did take steps to assess and communicate their health impacts, and, in some cases, bring in health care professionals to raise the effectiveness of the program. More needs to be done to show this cross-effectiveness of energy efficiency and health.

CCES has the experts to help you assess not only the cost savings of a potential energy efficiency program, but the potential health benefits, as well. We can help you design a program to measure and heighten beneficial health effects as your reduce energy usage, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.