Am I eligible for the study?

You are eligible to participate in the study if you meet these four criteria:

• Use natural gas for heating, cooking, hot water or clothes drying.

OR

• Use only electricity in your home, with no combustion fuels such as gas, propane or oil as back-up heat. It is fine to have a wood-burning fireplace or wood-burning stove in the home.

AND

• Are at least 18 years old

• Live in Massachusetts

• Have a signed waiver from both the owner and the renter of the residence allowing us to visit the property

How can I participate?

 It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

1. Complete the 5 minute participant questionnaire;

2. Have the occupant and owner (in the case of the owner-occupied home, only the owner) of the property sign the waiver; and 

3. Schedule a free 30-minute visit to your home for a measurement of methane and carbon dioxide concentrations.

We encourage you to participate now because we anticipate that spots will go fast.

When will the study occur?

This initial study will run from March 1 - June 30, 2024.

What can I expect when someone comes to my home to do an air quality test?

Ambient methane levels (CH4) are measured in parts per billion, and carbon dioxide levels (CO2) are measured in parts per million (ppm), utilizing a Cavity Ringdown Spectrometer (CRDS) Picarro Scouter high precision G4301 CH4/ CO2/ H2O analyzer (the analyzer).

The analyzer, which looks like a backpack, has a small wand at the end. The wand takes the air sample, which is run through the analyzer to determine the concentration of methane in the air. The concentrations are displayed in real time on a tablet. 

The concentrations of methane are recorded for later analysis. The entire process takes about 15-30 minutes. In the very rare event where methane levels are found that pose a danger to the household, you will be encouraged to call the gas company. 

This air quality test is used to better understand the health and climate impacts of methane in the home and is not an evaluation of gas pipe and appliance safety.

More about us.

This study is being conducted by Gas Safety, Inc in collaboration with Dr. Nathan Phillips, and with funding from ZeroCarbonMA. GSI is a small independent company that tests for methane levels indoors and outside. The owner of the company, Bob Ackley, has co-authored several peer-reviewed papers on natural gas leaks, including Home is Where the Pipeline Ends.

Why are ZeroCarbonMA and Gas Safety, Inc. (GSI) and curious about methane concentrations in the home? 

A recent Harvard study suggests that methane is leaking inside buildings at rates much higher than previously understood. Another study found that natural gas is leaking from gas stoves even when they are off. Experience indicates that most homes served by natural gas have slightly elevated levels of methane that often go undetected by occupants, but which may indicate small methane leaks that can make gas bills more expensive, and which can also be bad for health because natural gas contains carcinogens.