The Gas Safety Trust (GST) has awarded a grant to the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) to investigate the effects improved energy efficiency measures have on levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the home.
Energy efficiency schemes such as the Green Deal and the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) may affect ventilation levels in the home, which could lead to higher CO levels.
The nine-month research project will be carried out to determine the levels of CO that occur in rooms where ventilation is reduced as a result of improved insulation and/or improved draught proofing.
It is intended that a range of appliances will be tested (including gas cookers, flue-less gas heaters and LPG portable heaters) against differing levels of insulation, so that any build up of CO can be determined.
It is known that long exposure to low levels of CO can have a detrimental effect on people’s health and it is thought it may cause a range of illnesses including headaches and depression. However, no research has yet been carried out to determine the levels that occur as a result of the use of appliances in an environment with improved insulation. This piece of work is intended to fill that gap in understanding.
Chris Bielby, GST chairman, said:
“I am delighted that the Gas Safety Trust is funding this important project which will help us understand how we can better record incidence of CO poisoning in the home, especially those at lower levels.
“Thanks to the actions of the gas industry, who have been proactive in their response to CO prevention, fatalities in the UK have significantly declined over the last 40 years.
“While we cannot be complacent about this, we should be pleased that this is the case and it is right that we look at CO from all sources but especially poisoning that occurs at lower levels and over a sustained period of time.”
Keith Needham, IGEM technical services manager, said:
“We know that acute CO exposure can have serious and life-threatening effects. However, to date there has been little research into long-term, low-level exposure. This piece of research will look in particular at properties that have had improvements to the insulation value and the impact these may have.”