Home Tightening, Insulation and Ventilation, 2011

The average Iowa family spends more than half of its annual household energy bill on heating and cooling. That’s a significant number, but you can dramatically reduce these costs—up to 20 percent, according to ENERGY STAR®—by making some simple energy-saving weatherization and insulation improvements to your home. In addition—with a little attention to proper ventilation—you can protect your home from moisture damage year-round, reduce problems caused by ice dams on the roof during the winter and significantly cut summer cooling costs. As a bonus, these projects can extend the life of your home and may increase the resale value of your property. If you like to fix things around the house, you can handle many of the projects suggested in this book and make the most of your energy-improvement budget. However, don’t hesitate to call a professional for help if you’d rather not do the work yourself; the dollars gained through energy savings in upcoming years will be worth the expense.

Subgrade Insulation to Prevent Soil Freezing, HR-87, 1965

The basic purpose of this study was to determine if an expanded polystyrene insulating board could prevent subgrade freezing and thereby reduce frost heave. The insulating board was placed between a nine inch P. C. concrete slab and a frost-susceptible subgrade. In one section at the test site, selected backfill material was placed under the pavement. The P. C. pavement was later covered by asphalt surfacing. Thermocouples were installed for obtaining temperature recordings at various locations in the surfacing, concrete slab, subgrade and shoulders. This report contains graphs and illustrations showing temperature distributions for two years, as well as profile elevations and the results of moisture tests.

Leading Double Lives: The History of the Double House in Des Moines, 2005

How people choose to live depends on a variety of social and economic circumstances. Single family dwellings, extended family compounds, and communal apartment blocks are all forms of residential architecture that have ancient roots and occur in every culture. Each form both reflects and affects the living styles of the people who reside there. The double house, which shelters two families in units separated by a wall or floor, balances the convenience of an apartment with the psychological comforts of a home. During the mid to late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the United States, the double house was hugely popular in some cities, such as Minneapolis and Milwaukee, but only a minimal presence in Des Moines

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2004

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2004. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2004 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2005

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2005. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2005 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2006

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2006. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2006 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2007

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2007. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2007 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Report on Impacts and Costs of the Iowa Low-Income Weatherization Program, 2008

This report summarizes state and utility low-income weatherization program activity for dwellings weatherized to completion during calendar year 2008. The report includes state, utility, and agency summaries of calendar year 2008 spending and impacts by measure, end-use, and fuel. The base data consisted of statewide program tracking databases of spending and measure installations maintained by the Iowa Department of Community Action Agencies.

Home Heating and Cooling, 2011

Every year, a typical family in the United States spends around half of its home energy budget on heating and cooling. In Iowa, that percentage can be higher, due to temperature extremes reached during the winter and summer months. Unfortunately, many of those dollars often are wasted, because conditioned air escapes through leaky ceilings, walls and foundations—or flows through inadequately insulated attics, exterior walls and basements. In addition, many heating systems and air conditioners aren’t properly maintained or are more than 10 years old and very inefficient, compared to models being sold today. As a result, it makes sense to analyze your home as a collection of systems that must work together in order to achieve peak energy savings. For example, you won’t get anywhere near the savings you’re expecting from a new furnace if your airhandling ducts are uninsulated and leak at every joint. The most energy-efficient central air-conditioning setup won’t perform to your expectations if your attic insulation is inadequate and can’t reduce solar heat gain to help keep your home cool. And planting the wrong types of trees or shrubs close to your home adversely can affect potential energy savings all year long.

Water Heating, 2011

Although there are many ways to cut you water heating bills, the all fall into two broad categories: reducing the amount of hot water you use and making your water heating system more efficient. Fortunately, there are several strategies that can help you consume less energy and save money - and still meet you hot water needs without sacrificing comfort or practicality. The booklet was designed to answer common questions about hot water systems and to provide you with the information necessary to make informed decision about a wide variety of topics, ranging from repairing hot water faucet leaks an insulation water supply pipes to installing low-flow shower heads and tuning you your existing water heather. You'll also find details on what to consider when it's time to go comparison shopping for a new water heater-including an evaluation of the alternatives to the common gas or electric storage tank unit that's found in the majority of homes in Iowa and across the country.

Fast Track Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, HR-538, 1997

In 1987, 1.5 km (0.935 mi.) of Spruce Hill Drive in Bettendorf, Iowa was reconstructed. It is an arteriel street with commercial usage on both termini with single family residential dwellings along most of the project. A portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement design was selected, but a 14 day curing period would have been an undue hardship on the residents and commercial businesses. An Iowa DOT Class F fast track concrete was used so the roadway could be used in 7 to 10 days. The Class F concrete with fly ash was relatively sticky and exhibited early stiffening problems and substantial difficulty in obtaining the target entrained air content of 6.5%. These problems were never completely resolved on the project. Annual visual field reviews were conducted through 1996. In November 1991, severe premature distress was identified on the westbound two lanes of the full width replacement. The most deteriorated section in a sag vertical, 152 m (500 ft.) of the westbound roadway, was replaced in 1996. Premature distress has been identified on a dozen other conventional PCC Iowa pavements constructed between 1983 and 1989, so the deterioration may not be related to the fact that it was fast track pavement.

Early Strengths of Class F, C, and B Portland Cement Concrete, MLR-87-07, 1987

Fast track concrete has proven to be successful in obtaining high early strengths. This benefit does not come without cost. Type III cement and insulation blankets to accelerate the cure add to its expense when compared to conventional paving. This research was intended to determine the increase in time required to obtain opening strength when a fast track mix utilized conventional Type I cement and also used a conventional cure. Standard concrete mixes also were tested to determine the acceleration of strength gain when cured with insulation blankets. The goal was to determine mixes and procedures which would result in a range of opening times. This would allow the most economical design for a particular project and tailor it to that projects time restraint. Three mixes were tested: Class F, Class C, and Class B. Each mix was tested with one section being cured with insulation blankets and another section without. All used Type I cement. Iowa Department of Transportation specifications required 500 psi of flexural strength before a pavement can be opened to traffic. The Class F mix with Type I cement and using insulation blankets reached that strength in approximately 36 hours, the Class C mix using the blankets in approximately 48 hours, and the Class F mix without covers in about 60 hours. (Note: Class F concrete pavement is opened at 400 psi minimum and Class F bonded overlay pavement at 350 psi.) The results showed a significant improvement in early strength gain by the use of insulation blankets. The Type I cement could be used in mixes intended for early opening with sacrifices in time when compared to fast track but are still much sooner than conventional pavement. It appears a range of design alternatives is possible using Type I cement both with and without insulating blankets.

07031-011 Brushy Creek Watershed Final Report

Brushy Creek is a tributary of the Raccoon River, which is a regular source of drinking water for over 400,000 Iowans. Regular monitoring by Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) and Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) over the last eight years has shown the stream to be highly impaired for coliform bacteria and nitrate. Both Brushy Creek and the Raccoon River are on the 303(d) impaired waterbody list. A December 2005 fish kill in Brushy Creek resulted in administrative actions against seven livestock producers. Several open feed lots exist in the watershed. The community of Roselle (in the Brushy Creek watershed) has been identified by IDNR as unsewered, and many dwellings throughout the watershed discharge untreated human waste. No Watershed Improvement Association (WIA) exists in this sparsely-populated area. This outcome-based project will: • Enhance nutrient and manure management to reduce agricultural inputs to the stream. • Assess the amount of human waste reaching the stream from Roselle. • Engage and inform local residents so a WIA can be formed. • Monitor performance through a rigorous water and soil testing program. This project embraces a concept of participation from all levels of government, commodity organizations, and the private sector. The largest drinking water utility in the state will lead and administer this effort. The participating parties will work to establish a functioning WIA so that progress achieved through this project will be robust and long-lasting. The participants believe this will be the most effective approach to correct the situation, and will serve as a model for other problem watersheds throughout the state.

The Immense Journey: Loess Hills Cultural Resources Study, 2011

Known as one of North America’s natural treasures, the Loess Hills is also one of our country’s archaeological gems. This unique landscape harbors hundreds of well-preserved earth lodge dwellings and palisades villages built by ancestral Plains Indians. The descendants of these early Iowa farmers were first described in the journals and accounts of 18th- and 19th-century travelers and explorers. Celebrated artists, such as Karl Bodmer and George Catlin, forever fixed the vibrant life ways of these people in our mind’s eye. The historical legacy of the Loess Hills lies in a rich archaeological record.