This week’s episode features an interview with Corbett Lunsford on the HOMEChem experiments that were being conducted alongside the filming of a brand new, building science focused show called Home Diagnosis TV (be on the lookout for that). Of course, we're really excited about the potential of Indoor Air Quality education coming to the masses. It's the future fulcrum point of housing and health care. The HOMEChem experiment (House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry) took place in the month of June 2018, incorporating measurements from over 15 research groups from 9 universities to identify the most important aspects of the chemistry that controls the indoor environment. The HOMEChem field study is expected to kick-start and energize the Chemistry of Indoor Environments community of scientists, while also answering interesting preliminary science questions on the chemistry of indoor environments in a real-world experimental setting. This brings an excellent opportunity for outreach to the broader scientific community and other stakeholders, such as other funding agencies, the local and national media, and the public.

Corbett Lunsford wasn't always a building forensics expert- he used to play piano for ballerinas (among many other things). Since 2008, he has been educating and advocating for better performance testing in construction.

Among his goals are to package building performance so it can easily be understood and used by professionals and consumers alike, for better buildings worldwide. Corbett believes that homeowners are not just aiming for efficiency or sustainability, but that we really want what all homeowners aim for: living in a better home, and getting a better life.

Since 2009, Corbett has put on his Building Performance Workshop, and has hosted over 300 YouTube videos and 80 interviews for the Building Performance Podcast. He wrote the book Home Performance Diagnostics: the Guide to Advanced Testing, and developed the APT Reports software tool.

In 2016 he and his wife, Grace, built the world's highest performance tiny house on wheels, the #TinyLab, and toured the US before settling down in Atlanta, Georgia.

Of course, they’ve performed hundreds of comprehensive home performance tests and building investigations, keynoted for events including InfraMation, Habitat for Humanity Michigan, the Thermal Imaging Conference, the EPA, IR Info, etc, and presented courses in partnership with National Healthy Homes, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, the RESNET and Affordable Comfort (ACI) Conferences.

Home Diagnosis TV

We're excited to share and help promote a brand new show that will air on PBS in 2019 called Home Diagnosis TV. Our friend and colleague, Corbett Lunsford, and his wife Grace have been working tirelessly the last few years to make this project a reality and we are so proud of the result. You may have seen Corbett & Grace before on their Proof Is Possible U.S. tour. You'll be seeing a lot more from us about this show as it launches.

Here's the description from the Home Diagnosis TV website:

“Home Performance Experts Grace and Corbett Lunsford created this 6-episode 30-minute series coming to your television in 2019! Shot in cities across the U.S. as part of the Proof Is Possible Tour, the show follows Corbett and Grace as they solve mystery problems of all types in homes new and old. Presented by Georgia Public Broadcasting with post-production by ECG Productions.”

SixClasses.org

Many of the products we use every day contain chemicals of concern that may be harming our health. Many of these substances can be grouped into “Six Classes”, each containing similar chemicals. The Six Classes approach allows us to better understand these chemicals, their functions, where they are used, and how they can be avoided. It can prevent a cycle of “regrettable substitution,” whereby a phased out harmful chemical is replaced with a closely related chemical which may cause similar harm.

The Sloan Foundation

Founded in 1934 by industrialist Alfred P. Sloan Jr., the Foundation is a not-for-profit grantmaking institution that supports high quality, impartial scientific research; fosters a robust, diverse scientific workforce; strengthens public understanding and engagement with science; and promotes the health of the institutions of scientific endeavor.