ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 50
BUILDING SCIENCES
COLUMN
Joseph W. Lstiburek
Pests Can Really Bug You
Consider These
Five Integrated Pest
Management Strategies
BY JOSEPH W. LSTIBUREK, PH.D., P.ENG., FELLOW ASHRAE
Pests include insects or animals that have a harmful effect on humans, food or living
conditions such as termites, ants, cockroaches, mice, rats and dust mites. (We are not
going to address telemarketers or lawyers.) To help with the insects and animals, I'll
discuss five integrated pest management strategies.
A bit of background first: water, food, dust and clutter
provide the conditions for these pests to inhabit buildings. Pests inside homes can lead to allergic reactions,
and they often lead to the use of pesticides not good for
people to breathe or eat. They can damage or destroy
building materials. Water and food are an invitation for
pests. Designing homes to be dry and keeping them dry
and clean controls pests. Disconnecting buildings from
the surrounding soil and ground controls pests.
Infestations of dust mites, cockroaches, mice and rats
can all cause allergic reactions. Even after pests are gone,
their skin, hair and feces can remain and cause allergies.
Pest-resistant homes reduce exposure to allergens and
asthma triggers released by pests and can reduce the
amount of pesticide used when they are necessary. And
now for the five strategies.
Keep Pests Out of Homes
Pests tend to love water. Control surface water-slope
the ground away from building perimeters (Figure 1).
50
ASHRAE JOURNAL
ashrae.org
M AY 2021
Direct rainwater from gutters and downspouts away
from buildings (Figure 2).
Keep bushes and trees at least 3 ft (0.9 m) from homes.
Bushes and trees near a home provide food, a living
place and sheltered passage for pests such as rats, mice,
birds, cockroaches and ants. For similar reasons, trash
FIGURE 1 Control Surface Water. Slope the ground away from building
perimeters.
Site Grading Slopes Ground
Away from Building Over
Entire Perimeter
Joseph W. Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng., is a principal of Building Science Corporation in
Westford, Mass. Visit www.buildingscience.com.
http://www.buildingscience.com
http://www.ashrae.org
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - May 2021
Contents
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - Intro
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 3
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 4
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 6
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 8
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 10
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 12
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 14
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 20
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 22
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 26
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 30
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 34
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 36
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 39
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 40
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 41
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 42
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 43
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 44
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 45
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 46
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 47
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 48
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 49
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 50
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 51
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 52
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 53
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 54
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 55
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 56
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 57
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 58
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 59
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 60
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 61
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 62
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 63
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 64
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 65
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 66
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 67
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - 72
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal - May 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_MCDEBX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WNYSQY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XATVOD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FJSHSS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CCBZDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XDEFVG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2023november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VHGNBL
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WPKBNJ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_UUVCDE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTGDEW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LKRFXS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AZSOFG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ERCDBH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QWDFRV
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JHGVDF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPUYHG
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SREIBM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LRTGLK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OKRFGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2022november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TZSERA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_LVRUIX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RPTVYZ
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/mini_pub_catalog
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XIYTGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RFGDOB
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PABXNU
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_REMKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PICVBT
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_AOYTVW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JQOPLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IOYTBC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SGAJJF
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_IGHYER
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_PDRKLS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2021november_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_XCODFR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QSLFGO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ILKVNM
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OPDJKD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_VJKSRY
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDHUTC
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JPPKRR
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SDLTTH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_CKLLES
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_SLDOX
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_HJETUK
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_OLUHGE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2020october_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ZERDGH
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_QVMNEO
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_RTPOKE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_BBATRE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_STUBMW
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TPEMPE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_JNMKDS
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_FBTTPA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_WQMMNE
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_TVBRYN
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_KTUZMA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_ABEDGD
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019septmeber_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2019september
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019april
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2019march
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_showguide2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018december
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018november
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_2018october
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraemexico_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraeinsights_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashrae_meetinginsert_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acrexindia
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_amca_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/amca/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acma_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_acmasupp_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/achr_expo_mexico2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201208_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201111_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/ashraejournal_201109_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/pubcatalog_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ashrae/meetingplanner_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com