Ellen Tohn, Tohn Environmental Strategies

1. Health Benefits of Energy
Improvements
Ellen Tohn
Tohn Environmental Strategies

2. Health Benefits of Energy
“Touches”
Young children receiving
fuel assistance are healthier
than their peers who do not
get fuel assistance
 Healthier babies - 20%
less likely to be
underweight for age or
length
 Reduced hospital stays in
colder months - 30% less
likely to require admission
after visiting emergency
room.
Source: Frank et al, Heat or Eat, Pediatrics, 2006

3. Current Asthma Rates
20 million
adults
4 million kids

4. Slide Title
• Improved asthma outcomes if weatherization
added to community health worker visits
(Bryesse, 2013)
• Weatherization yielded fewer sinus infections,
reduced asthma medication use (Wilson, 2013)
Health Benefits of Energy
“Touches”

5. New Energy Efficient & Ventilated
Homes
Symptom EE Homes Control Homes P-value
Runny Nose -28% -16% 0.010
Sneezing -28% -16% 0.020
Throat irritation -31% -17% 0.004
Cough -36% -20% 0.002
Fatigue -37% -23% 0.009
Irritability -39% -22% 0.002
Significant health improvements in new homes when
compared to control homes, many of which had HRVs
(62%)
Leech et al. Indoor Air 2004

6. Slide TitleCaution: Radon Can Increase
63%
21%
2%
14%
Pre & Post <4 Pre<4 and Post >4 Pre >4 to Post <4 Pre & Post >4
Source: Tohn, MIAQC 2012
56 homes
1.6 (pCi/L)
increase

7. Ventilation Matters

8. Slide Title
• Reducing fuel use & providing a warmer home
improves health – asthma, allergies, general
health
• Be sure to take precautions – radon &
ventilation
• Opportunities to add repairs & property
management to enhance health benefits
– IPM: Boston documents 50% reduction in asthma
rates
– Smoke Free Housing: Reduces owner costs &
asthma risks
– Green Cleaning: Reduces costs & worker
Take Aways