Dave Bohac is the Director of Indoor Air Quality. He has directed a variety of applied research and program development projects. He has more than twenty years’ experience in energy efficiency and indoor air quality with an emphasis on advanced diagnostics and monitoring methods. He is currently directing research to develop and verify large building air leakage investigation protocols and energy savings calculation methods. He is leading CEE’s effort on the ASHRAE funded research project, “Measuring Air-Tightness of Mid- and High-Rise Non-Residential Buildings”. He is also participating in CEE’s lab and field tests of dual integrated appliances for single family residences and completion of a field research project to measure energy savings and performance of residential tankless water heaters. Dave is the technical advisor to CEE’s Community Energy Services program. His previous energy related research includes zone pressure diagnostic protocols for weatherization, energy penalty and interior moisture effects of radon mitigation systems, installed performance of gas engine driven heat pumps, ice arena energy improvements, commercial water heater integral flue damper savings, commercial boiler off-cycle loss/seasonal efficiency, and commercial building lighting code compliance.
Dave’s indoor air quality (IAQ) research has included a comprehensive assessment of the health risks associated with secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in Minnesota bars and restaurants, measured SHS exposure at outdoor patios, and methods to reduce SHS migration in multifamily buildings. He is assisting with field measurements of SHS constituents in a sample of 100 apartments. He has also conducted a research project for the National Institute of Standards and Technology focused on strategies to reduce the transfer of airborne infectious diseases in hospitals. Dave was the manager of CEE’s Indoor Air Quality group for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Residential Sound Insulation Program that conducted IAQ tests and remediation on over 7,500 single family houses and hundreds of multifamily units. Test results were analyzed to produce a report on combustion safety, house air leakage, and ventilation trends in Program houses. He has also overseen the development and implementation of IAQ policies and procedures for eight other sound insulation programs located across the United States.
Dave holds an MSE from Princeton University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. He previously worked as a research assistant at the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies at Princeton University. He has worked at CEE since 1988.
Dave grew up in the Chicago area and is still a huge Bears fan - providing some balance to the purple and green jerseys worn around the office in the fall. During graduate school he and his wife Nancy rode a tandem bike 4,500 miles from Princeton to Davis, CA. During their week long stay in Minneapolis they decided it would be a great place to raise a family. In his free time he plays rec soccer, referees youth and high school soccer and is on the board of the Tonka United Soccer Association.
Certifications
Registered Professional Engineer
Completed Level I and Level II Thermal/Infrared Thermography courses that conform to the guidelines of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. Passed the general, buildings specific, and practical examinations.
Memberships
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ)