Mar 2: Last day to sign up for ROCIS 6th Cohort

Those who have attended any of the recent Sustainability Salon​s may have noticed a variety of electronic monitors here and there about the place.  I've been participating in an air quality study called ROCIS (Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces).
A new group will soon begin monitoring their homes, an opportunity to learn a great deal about indoor air quality and how to improve it white contributing to a growing knowledge base about sources and possible interventions. 
Linda Wigington, the head of the program, sent this invitation around, and encouraged me to help spread the word: 

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We are in the process of confirming participants for the 6th cohort of the ROCIS Low-Cost Monitoring Project (LCMP) which will run from March 3 to March 30, 2016.  We have room for a few more folks – It would be great if you could participate.

We launched the ROCIS Low Cost Monitoring Project (LCMP) in October 2015 with funding from The Heinz Endowments. The purpose of this project is to explore and clarify the value and applications for low cost monitoring devices to address indoor air quality.

Monitoring kits are loaned for a 3–week period. The kit includes nine devices to measure particles, CO (carbon monoxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide), radon, temperature, and humidity.

The LCMP objectives are to

                1) Understand how to use monitors to empower occupants
                2) Collect baseline data to better understand outdoor pollutant impacts on indoor air quality
                3) Explore the impact of behavioral and technical interventions

We are targeting motivated, knowledgeable occupants, many of whom have been involved with the ROCIS initiative activities as energy, sustainability, health, or housing professionals. Please note: This is not a light-weight investment of time. Please review the participant expectations that are listed at the bottom of this email.

Please reply by noon on Wednesday, March 2, to confirm your interest and availability.

Participation in the kick-off meeting Thursday, March 3, 6-8 PM at Conservation Consultants (CCI) on Pittsburgh’s South Side is a requirement. The other requirements include having a protected place with power to place two monitors outdoors (on a porch, under a deck, or in an out building), and meeting the expectations below. Being away during part of the monitoring period is not a problem, as it is valuable for us to capture data from unoccupied homes as well as active ones.

Let me know if you have the interest and availability to join us. If you have a schedule conflict or if we are oversubscribed for this round, we can put you on the waiting list for a following cohort. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Linda

Linda Wigington
Project Lead │Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces (ROCIS)
Linda M. Wigington & Associates │ Thousand Home Challenge
724-852-3085 (office), 724-986-0793  (mobile)


Participant Expectations: ROCIS Round 6 Low Cost Monitoring Project

Prior to Kick-off Meeting
1) Complete ROCIS House Characterization Survey
2) Join the Home Energy Pros, Low Cost Residential Monitoring (2-step process)

Orientation
3) Participate in the Round 6 Kick-off meeting, 6 - 8 PM, Thursday, March 3 and pick up your kit
4) Place and plug in monitors by Saturday, March 5
- Two to be plugged in in a protected location outdoors
5) Verify Speck uploading/Dylos downloading, by Sunday, March 6

Ongoing (From March 5 to March 29, 2016)
6) Regularly check on each monitor (Daily, 10-15 minutes)
            - Week 1: Check all readings twice a day, 5 out of 7 days
- Weeks 2 & 3: Check monitors a minimum of once a day
7) Keep a Diary/Log of activity in your home (Daily, 10-15 minutes)
8) Collect data and upload to ROCIS (Weekly, 30-40 minutes)
- Download Dylos data (easiest if you have access to a Windows-based computer; software
  is not as Mac compatible, we have a work-around if you have no access to a PC)
            - Send weekly log, diary, observations, and manually collected readings of radon, CO, and CO2.
9) Participate in the evening check-in meeting  (6 - 8 PM Wednesday, March 9, 2016)  Can do via conference call
10) Participate in online discussions (several times/week, 15-60 minutes)
             -Home Energy Pros, Low Cost Monitoring Group (closed group)
11) Continue to monitor and experiment! (Week 2 & 3)
-Change behavior or equipment operation to explore  the impact. Examples include increasing runtime of air handler or portable air cleaner, cooking on back burners & covering pans

Close  (March 30, 2016)
12) Return equipment & attend Wrap-Up meeting  (6 - 8 PM Wednesday, March. 30, 2016 at CCI)
13) OPTIONAL – Analyze & share your air quality data and experience during the March 30 meeting
14) Complete close-out survey


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