Peer-reviewed publications

Note: Contact the corresponding author on any publications below for which you do not have access but wish to use for educational purposes.

2025

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Development and laboratory evaluation of a do-it-yourself (DIY) filtration solution for residential evaporative coolers to reduce indoor wildfire smoke exposure
Aditya Singh, Brent Stephens, Mohammad Heidarinejad, Brett Stinson, Elliott Gall, Jeff Wagner, Brett Singer, Shelly Miller, Nayamin Martinez, Ruben Rodriguez, Gina Solomon
Building and Environment, accepted December 2024
Accepted Manuscript | Accepted SI

Assessing the long-term energy performance of automated interior insulating window shades in a high-rise commercial building
Jongki Lee, Akram Syed Ali, Afshin Faramarzi, Urwa Irfan, Christopher Riley, Brent Stephens, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Applied Energy, 2025, 378(Part B):124797

Trends for the installation of heat pumps in the US residential buildings
Behzad Salimian Rizi, Jongki Lee, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2025, 73:104080

2024

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Portable air cleaners for patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disorders exposed to tobacco smoke at home?
Israel Rubinstein, Zane Elfessi, Insung Kang, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 2025, 24:240180

Forecasting operation of a chiller plant facility using data-driven models
Behzad Salimian Rizi, Afshin Faramarzi, Amanda Pertzborn, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
International Journal of Refrigeration, 167 (2024) 70–89.

Ten questions concerning building electrification
Tianyuan (Amy) Li, Matthew Shapiro, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2024, 261:111653

Design and demonstration of a prototype thermally active student desk in a modern landmark for personalized cooling retrofits
Lobna Mitkees, Saman Haratian, Saeed Farhoodi, Michelangelo Sabatino, Brent Stephens, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 2024, 30(4):302-326

2023

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Predicting uncertainty of a chiller plant power consumption using quantile random forest: A commercial building case study
Behzad Salimian Rizi, Gregory Pavlak, Vincent Cushing, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Energy, 2023, 15: 129112

Occupant thermal comfort and indoor environmental conditions in Mies van der Rohe’s S. R. Crown Hall
Lobna Mitkees, Mohammad Heidarinejad, Michelangelo Sabatino, and Brent Stephens
Building Research & Information, 2023, 52(3):249-272

Impacts of residential indoor air quality and environmental risk factors on adult asthma-related health outcomes in Chicago, IL
Insung Kang, Anna McCreery, Parham Azimi, Amanda Gramigna, Griselda Baca, Kari Abromitis, Mingyu Wang, Yicheng Zeng, Rachel Scheu, Tim Crowder, Anne Evens, and Brent Stephens
Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2023, 33

2022

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Binary equilibrium optimizer: Theory and application in building optimal control problems
Afshin Faramarzi, Seyedali Mirjalili, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Energy and Buildings, 2022, 277:112503

A semantic approach for building system operations: knowledge representation and reasoning
Parastoo Delgoshaei, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Mark Austin
Sustainability (Special Issue: Modeling Building Energy and Environmental Systems in the Built Environment), 2022, 14(10), 5810

Analysis of hydronic heating and cooling systems in commercial buildings using CBECS microdata
Behzad Salimian Rizi and Mohammad Heidarinejad
ASCE Journal of Architectural Engineering, 2022, 28:04022016

Experimental evaluations of the impact of an additive oxidizing electronic air cleaner on particles and gases
Yicheng Zeng, Aurélie Laguerre, Elliott Gall, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Pollutants (Special Issue: Pollutants in Indoor Air), 2022, 2(2):98-134

Evaluation of an in-duct bipolar ionization device on particulate matter and gas-phase constituents in a large test chamber
Yicheng Zeng, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2022, 213:108858

2021

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Indoor air quality impacts of residential mechanical ventilation system retrofits in existing homes in Chicago, IL
Insung Kang, Anna McCreery, Parham Azimi, Amanda Gramigna, Griselda Baca, Kari Abromitis, Mingyu Wang, Yicheng Zeng, Rachel Scheu, Tim Crowder, Anne Evens, and Brent Stephens
Science of the Total Environment, 2021, 804:150129
PDF | SI

Integrating personal air sensor and GPS to determine microenvironment-specific exposures to volatile organic compounds
Michael Breen, Vlad Isakov, Steven Prince, Kennedy McGuinness, Peter Egeghy, Brent Stephens, Saravanan Arunachalam, Dan Stout, Richard Walker, Lillian Alston, Andrew Rooney, Kyla Taylor, and Timothy Buckley
Sensors, 2021, 21(16), 5659
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Development and evaluation of an automatic steam radiator control system for retrofitting legacy heating systems in existing buildings
Akram Ali, Chris Riley, Erica Acton, Amjad Ali, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Energy and Buildings, 2021, 251:111344
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Influence of environmental conditions on the dithiothreitol (DTT)-based oxidative potential of size-resolved indoor particulate matter of ambient origin
Yicheng Zeng, Haoran Yu, Haoran Zhao, Brent Stephens, and Vishal Verma
Atmospheric Environment, 2021, 255:118429
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Evaluating a commercially available in-duct bipolar ionization device for pollutant removal and potential byproduct formation
Yicheng Zeng, Prashik Manwatkar, Aurélie Laguerre, Marina Beke, Insung Kang, Akram S.Ali, Delphine K. Farmer, Elliott T. Gall, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2021, 195:107750
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Predicting U.S. residential building energy use and indoor pollutant exposures in the mid-21st century
Torkan Fazli and Brent Stephens
Environmental Science and Technology, 2021, 55(5):3219–3228
PDF | SI

Optimal control of switchable ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) cushions for building facades
Afshin Faramarzi, Brent Stephens, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Solar Energy, 2021, 218:180-194
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Mechanistic transmission modeling of COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship demonstrates the importance of aerosol transmission
Parham Azimi, Zahra Keshavarz, Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent, Brent Stephens, and Joseph G. Allen
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021, 118(8):e2015482118
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2020

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Adequate indoor air quality in nursing homes: an unmet medical need
Manasa Reddy, Mohammad Heidarinejad, Brent Stephens, Israel Rubinstein
Science of The Total Environment, 2020, 765:144273 (short communication)
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Predicting intraurban PM2.5 concentrations using enhanced machine learning approaches and incorporating human activity patterns
Mehdi Ashayeri, Narjes Abbasabadi, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Environmental Research, 2021, 196:110423
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Chemical composition of material extractives influences microbial growth and dynamics on wetted wood materials
Dan Zhao, Dan Raba, Cesar Cardona, Neil Gottel, Valerie Winton, Paul Martin Thomas, Scott T. Kelley, Jack A. Gilbert, and Brent Stephens
Scientific Reports, 2020, 10:14500
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Quantitative profiling of built environment bacterial and fungal communities reveals dynamic material dependent growth patterns and microbial interactions
Ying Xu, Ruby Tandon, Chrislyn Ancheta, Pablo Arroyo, Jack A. Gilbert, Brent Stephens, and Scott T. Kelley
Indoor Air, 2021, 31(1):188-205
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Assessing ventilation control strategies in underground parking garages
Afshin Faramarzi, Jongki Lee, Brent Stephens, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Building Simulation, 2020
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2019

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Equilibrium optimizer: A novel optimization algorithm
Afshin Faramarzi, Mohammad Heidarinejad, Brent Stephens, and Seyedali Mirjalili
Knowledge-Based Systems, 2020, 191:105190
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Elemental: An open-source wireless hardware and software platform for building energy and indoor environmental monitoring and control
Akram Syed Ali, Christopher Coté, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Brent Stephens
Sensors, 2019, 19(18):4017
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Microbial exchange via fomites and implications for human health
Brent Stephens, Parham Azimi, Megan Thoemmes, Mohammad Heidarinejad, Joseph Allen, and Jack Gilbert
Current Pollution Reports, 2019, 5:198-213
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The effect of balcony thermal breaks on building thermal and energy performance: field experiments and energy simulations in Chicago, IL
Irina Susorova, Brent Stephens, and Benjamin Skelton
Buildings, 2019, 9(9):190
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Air quality and acid deposition impacts of local emissions and transboundary air pollution in Japan and South Korea
Steve Hung Lam Yim, Yefu Gu, Matthew Shapiro, and Brent Stephens
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2019, 13309-13323
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Measuring the penetration factor for ambient nitrogen oxides through the building envelope
Haoran Zhao, Elliott Gall, and Brent Stephens
Environmental Science and Technology, 2019, 53(16):9695-9704
PDF | SI

An integrated data-driven framework for urban energy use modeling (UEUM)
Narjes Abbasabadi, Rahman Azari, Mehdi Ashayeri, Brent Stephens, and Mohammad Heidarinejad
Applied Energy, 2019, 243:113550
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Fine and ultrafine particle removal efficiency of new residential HVAC filters
Torkan Fazli, Yicheng Zeng, and Brent Stephens
Indoor Air, 2019, 29(4):656-669
PDF | SI

Primary emissions, ozone reactivity, and byproduct emissions from building insulation materials
Kyle Chin, Aurelie Laguerre, Pradeep Ramasubramanian, David Pleshakov, Brent Stephens, and Elliott Gall
Environmental Science: Process & Impacts, 2019, 21:1255-1267
PDF | SI

Microbial and metabolic succession on common building materials under high humidity conditions
Simon Lax, Cesar Cardona, Dan Zhao, Valerie Winton, Gabriel Goodney, Peng Gao, Neil Gottel, Erica Hartmann, Chris Henry, Paul Thomas, Scott Kelley, Brent Stephens, and Jack Gilbert
Nature Communications, 2019, 10:1767
PDF | SI

2018

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A framework for estimating the US mortality burden of fine particulate matter exposure attributable to indoor and outdoor microenvironments
Parham Azimi and Brent Stephens
Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2018, 30:271-284
PDF | SI

Microbiology of the built environment
Jack Gilbert and Brent Stephens
Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2018, 16:661–670
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Environmental sources of bacteria differentially influence host-associated microbial dynamics
Cesar Cardona, Simon Lax, Peter Larsen, Brent Stephens, Jarrad Hampton-Marcell, Christian Edwardson, Chris Henry, Bill Van Bonn, Jack Gilbert
mSystems, 2018, doi:10.1128/mSystems.00052-18
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Pilot study of the vertical variations in outdoor pollutant concentrations and environmental conditions along the height of a tall building
Parham Azimi, Haoran Zhao, Torkan Fazli, Dan Zhao, Afshin Faramarzi, Luke Leung, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2018, 138:124-134
PDF | SI

Development of a nationally representative set of combined building energy and indoor air quality models for U.S. residences
Torkan Fazli and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2018, 136:198-212
PDF | SI

Evaluating the sensitivity of the mass-based particle removal calculations for HVAC filters in ISO 16890 to assumptions for aerosol distributions
Brent Stephens
Atmosphere, 2018, 9(3):85
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2017

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Life satisfaction of downtown high-rise vs. suburban low-rise living: A Chicago case study
Peng Du, Antony Wood, Nicole Ditchman, and Brent Stephens
Sustainability, 2017, 9(6):1052
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Mobile monitoring of personal NOx exposures during scripted daily activities in Chicago, IL
Jiayao Xu, Han Jiang, Haoran Zhao, and Brent Stephens
Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 2017, 17(8):1999-2009
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Bacterial colonization and succession in a newly opened hospital
Simon Lax, Naseer Sangwan, Daniel Smith, Peter Larsen, Kim M. Handley, Miles Richardson, Kristina Guyton, Monika Krezalek, Benjamin D. Shogan, Jennifer Defazio, Irma Flemming, Baddr Shakhsheer, Stephen Weber, Emily Landon, Sylvia Garcia-Houchins, Jeffrey Siegel, John Alverdy, Rob Knight, Brent Stephens, and Jack A. Gilbert
Science Translational Medicine, 2017, 9(391):eaah6500
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Quantifying the size-resolved dynamics of indoor bioaerosol transport and control
Stephanie Kunkel, Parham Azimi, Haoran Zhao, Benjamin Stark, and Brent Stephens
Indoor Air, 2017, 27(5):977-987
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Updated generalized natural gas reciprocating engine part-load performance curves for cogeneration applications
Tommy Zakrzewski and Brent Stephens
Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 2017, 23(7):1151-1158
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Predicting concentrations of ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds resulting from desktop 3D printer operation in a small office environment and the impact of potential control strategies
Parham Azimi, Torkan Fazli, and Brent Stephens
Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2017, 21(S1):S107-S119
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Using portable particle sizing instrumentation to rapidly measure the penetration of fine and ultrafine particles in unoccupied residences
Haoran Zhao and Brent Stephens
Indoor Air, 2017, 27(1):218-229
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2016

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Ten questions concerning the microbiomes of buildings
Rachel Adams, Seema Bhangar, Karen Dannemiller, Jonathan Eisen, Noah Fierer, Jack A. Gilbert, Jessica Green, Linsey C. Marr, Shelly Miller, Jeffrey Siegel, Brent Stephens, Michael S. Waring, Kyle Bibby
Building and Environment, 2016, 109:224-234
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What have we learned about the microbiomes of indoor environments?
Brent Stephens
mSystems, 2016, 1(4):e00083-16
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Empirical operational energy analysis of downtown high-rise vs. suburban low-rise lifestyles: a Chicago case study
Peng Du, Antony Wood, and Brent Stephens
Energies, 2016 9(6):445
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Open Source Building Science Sensors (OSBSS): A low-cost Arduino-based platform for long-term indoor environmental data collection
Akram Syed Ali, Zachary Zanzinger, Deion DeBose, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2016, 100:115-126
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Modeling the impact of residential HVAC filtration on indoor particles of outdoor origin (RP-1691)
Parham Azimi, Dan Zhao, and Brent Stephens
Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 2016, 22(4):431-462
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Emissions of ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds from commercially available desktop 3D printers with multiple filaments
Parham Azimi, Dan Zhao, Claire Pouzet, Neil Crain, and Brent Stephens
Environmental Science and Technology, 2016, 50:1260-1268
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2015

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Life-cycle energy implications of downtown high-rise vs. suburban low-rise living: an overview and quantitative case study for Chicago
Peng Du, Antony Wood, Brent Stephens, and Xiaoyu Song
Buildings, 2015, 5:1003-1024
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Modeling the energy and cost impacts of excess static pressure in central forced-air heating and air-conditioning systems in single-family residences in the U.S.
Torkan Fazli, Rou Yi Yeap, and Brent Stephens
Energy and Buildings, 2015, 107:243–253
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Evaluating the long-term health and economic impacts of central residential air filtration for reducing premature mortality associated with indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of outdoor origin
Dan Zhao, Parham Azimi, and Brent Stephens
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2015, 12:8448-8479
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A method to measure the ozone penetration factor in residences under infiltration conditions: Application in a multi-family apartment unit
Haoran Zhao and Brent Stephens
Indoor Air, 2016, 26(4):571-581
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Optimizing whole house deep energy retrofit packages: A case study of existing Chicago-area homes
Honnie Aguilar Leinartas and Brent Stephens
Buildings, 2015, 5:323-353
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Methods to assess human occupancy and occupant activity in hospital patient rooms
Sandra Dedesko, Brent Stephens, Jack A. Gilbert, and Jeffrey A. Siegel
Building and Environment, 2015, 90:136-145
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Spatial and temporal variations in indoor environmental conditions, human occupancy, and operational characteristics in a new hospital building
Tiffanie Ramos, Sandra Dedesko, Jeffrey A. Siegel, Jack A. Gilbert, and Brent Stephens
PLOS ONE, 2015, 10(3):e0118207
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2014

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Estimates of HVAC filtration efficiency for fine and ultrafine particles of outdoor origin
Parham Azimi, Dan Zhao, and Brent Stephens
Atmospheric Environment, 2014, 98:337-346
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Building design and operational choices that impact indoor exposures to outdoor particulate matter inside residences
Brent Stephens
Science and Technology for the Built Environment (formerly HVAC&R Research), 2014, 21:3-13
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The impacts of duct design on life cycle costs of central residential heating and air-conditioning systems
Brent Stephens
Energy and Buildings, 2014, 82:563-579
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Tools to improve built environment data collection for indoor microbial ecology investigations
Tiffanie Ramos and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2014, 81:243-257
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The effects of climbing vegetation on the local microclimate, thermal performance, and air infiltration of four building facade orientations
Irina Susorova, Parham Azimi, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2014, 76:113–124
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Predictions and determinants of size-resolved particle infiltration factors in single-family homes in the U.S.
Zeineb El Orch, Brent Stephens, and Michael S. Waring
Building and Environment, 2014, 74:106–118
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2013

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HVAC filtration for controlling infectious airborne disease transmission in indoor environments: Predicting risk reductions and operational costs
Parham Azimi and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2013, 70:150-160
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Ultrafine particle emissions from desktop 3D printers
Brent Stephens, Parham Azimi, Zeineb El Orch, and Tiffanie Ramos
Atmospheric Environment, 2013, 79:334-339
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A model of vegetated exterior facades for evaluation of wall thermal performance
Irina Susorova, Melissa Angulo, Payam Bahrami, and Brent Stephens
Building and Environment, 2013, 67:1-13
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Ultrafine particle removal by residential HVAC filters
Brent Stephens and Jeffrey A. Siegel
Indoor Air, 2013, 23:488–497
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2012

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Penetration of ambient submicron particles into single-family residences and associations with building characteristics
Brent Stephens and Jeffrey A. Siegel
Indoor Air, 2012, 22(6):501-512
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Measuring the penetration of ambient ozone into residential buildings
Brent Stephens, Elliott T. Gall, and Jeffrey A. Siegel
Environmental Science and Technology, 2012, 46(2):929-936
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Comparison of test methods for determining the particle removal efficiency of filters in residential and light-commercial central HVAC systems
Brent Stephens and Jeffrey A. Siegel
Aerosol Science and Technology, 2012, 46(5):504-513
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2011

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Using energy audits to investigate the impacts of common air-conditioning design and installation issues on peak power demand and energy consumption in Austin, Texas
Joshua D. Rhodes, Brent Stephens, and Michael E. Webber
Energy and Buildings, 2011, 43(11):3271-3278
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Operational characteristics of residential and light-commercial air-conditioning systems in a hot and humid climate zone
Brent Stephens, Jeffrey A. Siegel, and Atila Novoselac
Building and Environment, 2011, 46(10):1972-1983
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2010

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The effects of filtration on pressure drop and energy consumption in residential HVAC systems
Brent Stephens, Atila Novoselac, and Jeffrey A. Siegel
HVAC&R Research, 2010, 16(3):273-294
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Energy implications of filtration in residential and light-commercial buildings (RP-1299)
Brent Stephens, Jeffrey A. Siegel, and Atila Novoselac
ASHRAE Transactions, 2010, 116(1):346-357
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Other publications (editorials, reviews, commentaries, and other articles)

2022
Filtration and Air Cleaning
Brent Stephens, Andrew Maynard, Philip Hopke
In Handbook of Indoor Air Quality. Edited by Prof. Yinping Zhang, Prof. Philip K. Hopke, and Dr. Corinne Mandin (Springer)

Interpreting air cleaner performance data
Brent Stephens, Elliott Gall, Mohammad Heidarinejad, and Delphine K. Farmer
ASHRAE Journal, 2022, 64 (3 – April):20-30

2018
Cutting EPA indoor air pollution research will cost money and lives
Brent Stephens and Rich Corsi
Op-Ed: The Hill, February 2018
PDF

2016
Selecting ventilation air filters to reduce PM2.5 of outdoor origin
Brent Stephens, Terry Brennan, and Lew Harriman
ASHRAE Journal, September 2016
PDF

2016
In-situ residential HVAC filtration efficiency for fine and ultrafine particles
Torkan Fazli and Brent Stephens
NAFA Air Media, Fall 2016
PDF

2015
Infiltration of outdoor pollutants
Brent Stephens
Home Energy Magazine, May/June 2015
PDF

2014
From commensalism to mutualism: Integrating the microbial ecology, building science, and indoor air communities to advance research on the indoor microbiome
Brent Stephens, Rachel I. Adams, Seema Bhangar, Kyle Bibby, and Michael S. Waring
Editorial: Indoor Air, 2015, 25:1-3
PDF

2013

The Hospital Microbiome Project: Meeting Report for the 1st Hospital Microbiome Project, Chicago, USA, January 15th, 2013
Benjamin D. Shogan, Daniel P. Smith, Aaron I. Packman, Scott T. Kelley, Emily M Landon, Seema Bhangar, Gary J. Vora, Rachael M. Jones, Kevin Keegan, Brent Stephens, Tiffanie Ramos, Benjamin C. Kirkup, Jr., Hal Levin, Mariana Rosenthal, Betsy Foxman, Eugene B. Chang, Jeffrey Siegel, Sarah Cobey, Gary An, John C. Alverdy, Paula J. Olsiewski, Mark O. Martin, Rachel Marrs, Mark Hernandez, Scott Christley, Michael Morowitz, Stephen Weber, Jack Gilbert
Standards in Genomic Sciences, 2013, 8:3

Indoor air pollution in developing countries: Research and implementation needs for improvements in global public health
Elliott T. Gall, Ellison M. Carter, C. Matt Earnest, and Brent Stephens
Framing Health Matters: The American Journal of Public Health, 2013, 103(4):e67-72
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2012

Progress and priorities in reducing indoor air pollution in developing countries
Ellison M. Carter, C. Matt Earnest, Elliott T. Gall, and Brent Stephens
Editorial: Indoor Air, 2012, 22:1-2
PDF

2011

Home energy-efficiency retrofits
Brent Stephens, Ellison M. Carter, Elliott T. Gall, C. Matt Earnest, Diana E. Hun, Mark C. Jackson, and Elizabeth A. Walsh
Correspondence: Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011, 119(7):A283
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2009

Priorities in indoor environmental science and health, as students see them
Ellison M. Carter, C. Matt Earnest, Elliott T. Gall, Priscilla A. Guerrero, Diana E. Hun, Mark C. Jackson, James Lo, Brent Stephens, and Elizabeth A. Walsh
Editorial: Indoor Air, 2009, 19(6):444-445
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