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Safer Vehicles for People and the Planet: Letter to the Editor

Description: Letter to the Editors from Leonard Evans, Bloomfield Hills, MI: Single-vehicle crashes, which account for half of occupant fatalities, are not mentioned in 'Safer Vehicles for People and the Planet', by Thomas P. Wenzel and Marc Ross (March-April). Simple physics shows that in such crashes risk declines as vehicle mass increases. The authors write 'driving imported luxury cars carries extremely low risk, for reasons that are not obvious'. The reasons are obvious--the cars are purchased by low-r… more
Date: May 1, 2008
Creator: Wenzel, Thomas P; Wenzel, Thomas P & Ross, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

A statistical mechanics model for free-for-all airplane passenger boarding

Description: I discuss a model for free-for-all passenger boarding which is employed by some discount air carriers. The model is based on the principles of statistical mechanics where each seat in the aircraft has an associated energy which reflects the preferences of travelers. As each passenger enters the airplane they select their seats using Boltzmann statistics, proceed to that location, load their luggage, sit down, and the partition function seen by remaining passengers is modified to reflect this fa… more
Date: August 1, 2008
Creator: Steffen, Jason H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Measured Air Distribution Effectiveness for Residential Mechanical Ventilation Systems

Description: The purpose of ventilation is dilute or remove indoor contaminants that an occupant is exposed to. In a multi-zone environment such as a house, there will be different dilution rates and different source strengths in every zone. Most US homes have central HVAC systems, which tend to mix the air thus the indoor conditions between zones. Different types of ventilation systems will provide different amounts of exposure depending on the effectiveness of their air distribution systems and the locati… more
Date: May 1, 2008
Creator: Sherman, Max; Sherman, Max H. & Walker, Iain S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Infiltration in ASHRAE's Residential Ventilation Standards

Description: The purpose of ventilation is to dilute or remove indoor contaminants that an occupant could be exposed to. It can be provided by mechanical or natural means. ASHRAE Standards including standards 62, 119, and 136 have all considered the contribution of infiltration in various ways, using methods and data from 20 years ago. The vast majority of homes in the United States and indeed the world are ventilated through natural means such as infiltration caused by air leakage. Newer homes in the weste… more
Date: October 1, 2008
Creator: Sherman, Max
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Air Distribution Effectiveness for Different MechanicalVentilation Systems

Description: The purpose of ventilation is to dilute indoor contaminants that an occupant is exposed to. In a multi-zone environment such as a house, there will be different dilution rates and different source strengths in every zone. Most US homes have central HVAC systems, which tend to mix conditions between zones. Different types of ventilation systems will provide different amounts of dilution depending on the effectiveness of their air distribution systems and the location of sources and occupants. Th… more
Date: August 1, 2007
Creator: Sherman, Max H. & Walker, Iain S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Optimal boarding method for airline passengers

Description: Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo optimization algorithm and a computer simulation, I find the passenger ordering which minimizes the time required to board the passengers onto an airplane. The model that I employ assumes that the time that a passenger requires to load his or her luggage is the dominant contribution to the time needed to completely fill the aircraft. The optimal boarding strategy may reduce the time required to board and airplane by over a factor of four and possibly more depend… more
Date: February 1, 2008
Creator: Steffen, Jason H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

IEC International Standards Under Development For Radiation-Generating Devices

Description: The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading and oldest global organization with over 100 years history of developing and publishing international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies, including radiation detection instrumentation. Subcommittee 45B 'Radiation Protection Instrumentation' of the IEC has recently started the development of two standards on radiation-generating devices. IEC 62463 'Radiation protection instrumentation--X-ray Systems… more
Date: December 6, 2007
Creator: Voytchev, M; Radev, R; Chiaro, P; Thomson, I; Dray, C & Li, J
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Safer Vehicles for People and the Planet

Description: Motor vehicles contribute to climate change and petroleum dependence. Improving their fuel economy by making them lighter need not compromise safety. The cars and trucks plying America's roads and highways generate roughly 20 percent of the nation's total emissions of carbon dioxide, a pollutant that is, of course, of increasing concern because of its influence on climate. Motor vehicles also account for most of our country's dependence on imported petroleum, the price of which has recently sky… more
Date: March 1, 2008
Creator: Wenzel, Thomas P; Wenzel, Thomas P & Ross, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Effectiveness of Urban Shelter-in-Place. III: Commercial Districts

Description: In the event of a toxic chemical release to the atmosphere, shelter-in-place (SIP) is an emergency response option available to protect public health. This paper is the last in a three-part series that examines the effectiveness of SIP at reducing adverse health effects in communities. We model a hypothetical chemical release in an urban area, and consider SIP effectiveness in protecting occupants of commercial buildings. Building air infiltration rates are predicted from empirical data using a… more
Date: December 28, 2007
Creator: Chan, Wanyu R.; Chan, Wanyu R.; Nazaroff, William W.; Price, Phillip N. & Gadgil, Ashok J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Advanced Interactive Facades - Critical Elements for Future GreenBuildings?

Description: Building designers and owners have always been fascinated with the extensive use of glass in building envelopes. Today the highly glazed facade has almost become an iconic element for a 'green building' that provides daylighting and a visual connection with the natural environment. Even before the current interest in green buildings there was no shortage of highly glazed building designs. But many of these buildings either rejected sunlight, and some associated daylight and view with highly ref… more
Date: November 1, 2003
Creator: Selkowitz, Stephen; Aschehoug, Oyvind & Lee, Eleanor S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Rapid Data Assimilation in the Indoor Environment: Theory and Examples from Real-Time Interpretation of Indoor Plumes of Airborne Chemical

Description: Releases of acutely toxic airborne contaminants in or near a building can lead to significant human exposures unless prompt response measures are identified and implemented. Possible responses include conflicting options, such as shutting the ventilation system off versus running it in a purge (100 percent outside air) mode, or having occupants evacuate versus sheltering in place. The right choice depends in part on quickly identifying the source location, the amount released, and the likely fu… more
Date: August 1, 2007
Creator: Gadgil, Ashok; Gadgil, Ashok; Sohn, Michael & Sreedharan, Priya
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Trends in transportation energy use, 1970--1988: An international perspective

Description: Personal mobility and timely movement of goods have become increasingly important around the world, and energy use for transportation has grown rapidly as a consequence. Energy is used in transportation for two rather different activities: moving people, which we refer to as passenger travel, and moving freight. While freight transport is closely connected to economic activity, much of travel is conducted for personal reasons. In the OECD countries, travel accounts for around 70% of total trans… more
Date: May 1, 1992
Creator: Schipper, L.; Steiner, R. & Meyers, S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Technologies for Fissile Material Detection and Prevention of Fissile Material Introduction into International Shipping

Description: Prevention of the introduction of fissile materials into international shipping, and hence into a given country, is a complex problem. Some pieces of the solution to the puzzle are conceptually well defined, but lack definition of a technical pathway and/or operational implementation. Other elements are a little more fuzzy, and some elements are probably undefined at this point in time. This paper reviews the status of the more well-defined elements, and suggests needed additional measures to e… more
Date: July 1, 2003
Creator: Richardson, J
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Using EnergyPlus to Perform Dehumidification Analysis on Building America Homes: Preprint

Description: A parametric study was conducted using EnergyPlus version 6.0 to investigate humidity issues on a typical mid-1990s reference home, a 2006 International Energy Conservation Code home, and a high-performance home in a hot-humid climate. The impacts of various dehumidification equipment and controls are analyzed on the high performance home. The study examined the combined effects of infiltration and mechanical ventilation with balanced and unbalanced mechanical ventilation systems. Indoor relati… more
Date: March 1, 2011
Creator: Fang, X.; Winkler, J. & Christensen, D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Indoor Chemistry: Materials, Ventilation Systems, and Occupant Activities

Description: Chemical processes taking place in indoor environments can significantly alter the nature and concentrations of pollutants. Exposure to secondary contaminants generated in these reactions needs to be evaluated in association with many aspects of buildings to minimize their impact on occupant health and well-being. Focusing on indoor ozone chemistry, we describe alternatives for improving indoor air quality by controlling chemical changes related to building materials, ventilation systems, and o… more
Date: May 1, 2006
Creator: Morrison, G. C.; Corsi, R. L.; Destaillats, H.; Nazaroff, W. W. & Wells, J. R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Effects on Occupants of Enhanced Particle Filtration in a non-problem office environment: A Double-Blind Crossover Intervention Study

Description: Workers in indoor environments often complain of symptoms, such as eye and nose irritation, headache, and fatigue, which improve away from work. Exposures causing such complaints, sometimes referred to as sick building syndrome, generally have not been identified. Evidence suggests these worker symptoms are related to chemical, microbiological, physical, and psychosocial exposures not well characterized by current methods. Most research in this area has involved cross-sectional studies, which a… more
Date: June 15, 1998
Creator: Mendell, M. J.; Fisk, W. J.; Petersen, M.; Hines, C. J.; Faulkner, D.; Deddens, J. A. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Does Mixing Make Residential Ventilation More Effective?

Description: Ventilation dilutes or removes indoor contaminants to reduce occupant exposure. In a multi-zone environment such as a house, there will be different dilution rates and different source strengths in every zone. The total ventilation rate is the most important factor in determining the exposure of occupants to given sources, but the zone- specific distribution of exhaust and supply air, and the mixing of ventilation air can have significant roles. Different types of ventilation systems will provi… more
Date: August 16, 2010
Creator: Sherman, Max & Walker, Iain
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Thermal Impact of Fasteners in High-Performance Wood-Framed Walls: Preprint

Description: Buildings are heavy consumers of energy, and residential building design is rapidly addressing topics to maximize energy conservation en route to net-zero energy consumption. Annual energy analysis of a building informs the choice among disparate energy measures, for cost, durability, occupant comfort, and whole-house energy use. Physics-based and empirical models of elements of a building are used in such analyses. High-performance wood-framed walls enable builders to construct homes that use … more
Date: January 1, 2011
Creator: Christensen, D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Facilitating Energy Savings through Enhanced Usability of Thermostats

Description: Residential thermostats play a key role in controlling heating and cooling systems. Occupants often find the controls of programmable thermostats confusing, sometimes leading to higher heating consumption than when the buildings are controlled manually. A high degree of usability is vital to a programmable thermostat's effectiveness because, unlike a more efficient heating system, occupants must engage in specific actions after installation to obtain energy savings. We developed a procedure for… more
Date: May 23, 2011
Creator: Meier, Alan; Aragon, Cecilia; Peffer, Therese; Perry, Daniel & Pritoni, Marco
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Characterizing Indoor Airflow and Pollutant Transport using Simulation Modeling for Prototypical Buildings. I. Office Buildings

Description: This paper describes the first efforts at developing a set of prototypical buildings defined to capture the key features affecting airflow and pollutant transport in buildings. These buildings will be used to model airflow and pollutant transport for emergency response scenarios when limited site-specific information is available and immediate decisions must be made, and to better understand key features of buildings controlling occupant exposures to indoor pollutant sources. This paper present… more
Date: June 1, 1999
Creator: Sohn, M. D.; Daisey, J. M. & Feustel, H. E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Optimization of Occupancy Based Demand Controlled Ventilation in Residences

Description: Although it has been used for many years in commercial buildings, the application of demand controlled ventilation in residences is limited. In this study we used occupant exposure to pollutants integrated over time (referred to as 'dose') as the metric to evaluate the effectiveness and air quality implications of demand controlled ventilation in residences. We looked at air quality for two situations. The first is that typically used in ventilation standards: the exposure over a long term. The… more
Date: May 1, 2011
Creator: Mortensen, Dorthe K.; Walker, Iain S. & Sherman, Max H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

LIGHTING CONTROLS: SURVEY OF MARKET POTENTIAL

Description: This study describes the impact of lighting management systems that dynamically control lights in accordance with the needs of occupants. Various control strategies are described: scheduling, tuning, lumen depreciation, and daylighting. From initial experimental results, the energy savings provided by each of the above strategies are estimated to be 26, 12, 14, and 15%, respectively. Based upon a cost of $0.05-0.10 per kWh for electric energy and a 2-, 3-, or 4-yr payback, target costs for a si… more
Date: September 1, 1982
Creator: Verderber, R.R. & Rubinstein, F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Simulation to assess the efficacy of US airport entry scrreening of passengers for pandemic influenza

Description: We present our methodology and stochastic discrete-event simulation developed to model the screening of passengers for pandemic influenza at the US port-of-entry airports. Our model uniquely combines epidemiology modelling, evolving infected states and conditions of passengers over time, and operational considerations of screening in a single simulation. The simulation begins with international aircraft arrivals to the US. Passengers are then randomly assigned to one of three states -- not infe… more
Date: January 1, 2009
Creator: Mcmahon, Benjamin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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