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With funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a partnership of not-for-profits and universities is studying the health benefits of weatherization.
We are looking for participants in these metro areas: Detroit, Milwaukee, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. If you live in one of these areas, are 40 years or older, have a drafty home, or are planning to receive certain home upgrades, you might be eligible to participate and receive $280, a sleep quality report, and an indoor temperature report.
Purpose of the Study: In the U.S., many residents are spending more than 10% of their income on utilities such as natural gas and electricity. Unfortunately, this spending may not help some families stay comfortable in their homes. Energy efficiency programs and weatherization programs have helped people make better use of their energy. This study’s goals are to: 1) better understand the health benefits of energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades in homes, 2) compare the effects of different upgrades in different climates, and 3) understand how temperature affects short-term changes in thinking and memory (cognition) and sleep quality.
Benefits of the Study: The study will help us understand how decreasing unhelpful energy spending and utility costs in homes might decrease the risk of temperature-related health effects. We also expect to have a better understanding of cognitive and sleep health effects of extreme temperatures. This research can support future policy changes and will be shared with community members, state and local government, and policy-makers.
What Do Study Participants Need to Do?
At the start of the study, complete a 30-minute survey with questions about your home, health, and finances.
Share your utility bills from the past year.
Keep a temperature and humidity monitor in your bedroom for one year.
Wear a sleep-and-activity monitor for two one-week periods.
Take a 10-minute survey once a month and a 30-minute survey at the end of the study.
To Sign Up to Participate or Learn More:
Click on your metro area for contact information.
Detroit, MI (Friends of Parkside)
Chattanooga, TN
Principal Investigator: Carina Gronlund, PhD, MPH (University of Michigan)
Program Partners: University of Michigan; Emory University; UT CARE; Detroit, MI: EcoWorks; Friends of Parkside; Michigan Climate and Health Adaptation Program; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency; Michigan Climate and Health Adaptation Program; Milwaukee, WI: Slipstream, La Casa de Esperanza, Partners for Community Development, Inc.; Wisconsin Department of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources; Social Development Commission; Memphis, TN: Three3; Tennessee Valley Authority; Memphis & Shelby County Division of Planning & Development.
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