January Lunch Meeting - Ventilation Research. Is More Air Better for Us?

TOPIC: Ventilation Research. Is More Air Better for Us?

    By Distinguished Lecturer:

 Henry Slack 

Learning Objectives:  

Recent research by leading indoor air scientists clearly suggests health benefits may not level off until outside air delivery approaches 50 CFM/person.  While less outside air cuts energy bills, research suggests that additional outside air may pay for itself, from a reduction in symptoms and greater productivity.   Studies in schools have found statistically significant correlations between test scores and quantity of ventilation air.  A small study found CO2 levels of 1,000 and 2,500 ppm caused losses in the ability to make decisions.  The speaker will review all the recent ventilation research on all sides of the issue.

Speaker Bio:     

From 1991 to April 2018, Henry Slack managed the Indoor Air Program for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, which covers eight southeastern states. In this position, he offered expertise concerning indoor air to citizens or public agencies with questions on topics as diverse as mold, odors, ozone, carbon monoxide, air cleaners, ventilation systems, and secondhand tobacco smoke. The EPA program is non-regulatory.  

Mr. Slack earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1974 from Southwestern at Memphis (now called Rhodes College) in Memphis, Tennessee, and a Master of Science in 1980 from Georgia Institute of Technology. He joined ASHRAE in 1988.

Although he retired from EPA, he has been happy to continue as a Distinguished Lecturer for ASHRAE.  He also volunteers with the Citizens' Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.