Education

Research Description

Dr. Grieshop's research focuses on interactions between energy use and the environment and more specifically on improving our technical understanding of the emission and atmospheric transformations of air pollutants. This work aims to inform effective policies to improve air quality and mitigate climate impacts in both developed and developing countries. Current research includes a collaborative project to quantify the emission, indoor concentration, and health and climate impacts of a cookstove replacement program in rural India and a project to characterize the atmospheric aging of emissions from these household energy systems. Other work has focused on air quality in near-road environments and on characterizing the volatility of organic particulate matter. His work integrates laboratory and field based experimentation with modeling and policy analysis efforts to address environmental problems.

Honors and Awards

• NSF CAREER, 2014

Publications

Customer complaint management and smart technology adoption by community water systems

DiCarlo, M., Berglund, E. Z., Kaza, N., Grieshop, A., Shealy, L., & Behr, A. (2023), UTILITIES POLICY, 80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2022.101465

Scaling up gas and electric cooking in low- and middle-income countries: climate threat or mitigation strategy with co-benefits?

Floess, E., Grieshop, A., Puzzolo, E., Pope, D., Leach, N., Smith, C. J., … Bailis, R. (2023), ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acb501

Assessing the Effects of Stove Use Patterns and Kitchen Chimneys on Indoor Air Quality during a Multiyear Cookstove Randomized Control Trial in Rural India

Islam, M. M., Wathore, R., Zerriffi, H., Marshall, J. D., Bailis, R., & Grieshop, A. P. (2022), ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 56(12), 8326–8337. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c07571

Climate & Health Implications of Adopting Modern Household Cooking Fuels on a Global Scale

Floess, E., Grieshop, A., Puzzolo, E., Pope, D., Leach, N., Smith, C. J., … Bailis, R. (2022, September 1). , . https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2011721/v1

Development of volatility distributions for organic matter in biomass burning emissions

Sinha, A., George, I., Holder, A., Preston, W., Hays, M., & Grieshop, A. P. (2022, October 7), ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES, Vol. 10. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EA00080F

Performance characterization of low-cost air quality sensors for off-grid deployment in rural Malawi

Bittner, A. S., Cross, E. S., Hagan, D. H., Malings, C., Lipsky, E., & Grieshop, A. P. (2022), ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES, 15(11), 3353–3376. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3353-2022

Quantifying brown carbon light absorption in real-world biofuel combustion emissions

Islam, M. M., Neyestani, S. E., Saleh, R., & Grieshop, A. P. (2022, March 10), AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 56. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2022.2051425

Scaling up Gas and Electric Cooking in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Climate Threat or Mitigation Strategy with co-Benefits?

Floess, E., Grieshop, A., Puzzolo, E., Pope, D., Leach, N., Smith, C. J., … Bailis, R. (2022, November 17). , https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2011721/v3

Scaling up Gas and Electric Cooking in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Climate Threat or Mitigation Strategy with co-Benefits?

Floess, E., Grieshop, A., Puzzolo, E., Pope, D., Leach, N., Smith, C. J., … Bailis, R. (2022, November 1). , https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2011721/v2

The effects of modified operation on emissions from a pellet-fed, forced-draft gasifier stove

Parsons, S., Tanner, K., Champion, W., & Grieshop, A. (2022), ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 70, 259–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2022.08.004

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Grants

Air and Water Quality Impacts of TiO2 Coated Asphalt

Town of Cary(2/01/22 - 12/31/24)

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Air and Water Quality Impacts of TiO2 Coated Asphalt

Sponsor: Town of Cary

Start Date: 2/01/22

End Date: 12/31/24

Abstract

The manufacturers of an asphalt rejuvenator product including titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles for use on road pavements claims the product decreases the net NOx released to the atmosphere from vehicle emissions through an on-road photocatalytic reaction and mitigates the urban heat island (UHI) effect by reflecting solar radiation. The Town of Cary is interested in the potential beneficial aspect of this treatment but would like to explore: (a) the effectiveness of the treatment in reducing NOx emissions,(b) the potential impacts the treatment may have on stormwater runoff from treated pavements, and (c) the potential impacts on ambient air temperature from treated pavements. To address these concerns, we will conduct field research over a year and a half to address the following research questions: 1) Does TiO2 coating of secondary asphalt roads impact near-road NOx concentrations and net emissions from vehicles? 2) Do reactions of NOx from emissions have an appreciable impact on runoff water quality? 3) How does treatment effectiveness vary with environmental conditions (e.g. solar radiation, temperature, humidity) and over time (with repeated measurements)? 4) How does the treatment influence near-road ambient air temperature?

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Understanding the Climate and Environmental Impacts of Transitioning to LPG

Clean Cooking Alliance(6/01/21 - 12/31/22)

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Understanding the Climate and Environmental Impacts of Transitioning to LPG

Sponsor: Clean Cooking Alliance

Start Date: 6/01/21

End Date: 12/31/22

Abstract

For this project, we will assess the climate and environmental benefits and tradeoffs of large-scale transitions from the current “baseline” household fuels to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). To do this, we will look at the impacts arising from current residential stove and fuel choices, extend these out to the future in a “business-as-usual” scenario, and compare that to scenarios in which we will conduct the following assessments. Global - this will provide a rough sketch of impacts resulting from transitions to LPG in all countries where polluting fuels are currently used (based on recent estimates). Two paths will be explored: Full transitions - an unrealistic scenario that provides an upper bound of possible impacts. Partial transitions - more realistic, but still ambitious scenarios in which countries are differentiated based on current levels of access to LPG and other development indicators. The exact specifications of these scenarios will be decided in the early stage of the project. Four “priority” countries - this will provide more detailed analyses of impacts resulting from transitions to LPG in Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Haiti. These assessments will mirror the global assessment by exploring both full and partial transition pathways. Transitions will be examined over a timeframe to be determined in consultation with the Alliance. We recommend that we follow examples set by similar analyses such as the IEA’s World Energy Outlook, which explores scenarios out to 2040. Examples of potential pathways include scenarios developed for the 2018 World Energy Outlook which include a business-as-usual pathway following stated policies and Sustainable Development Scenarios, which meet SDG7.

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Training for Innovation in Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure (TISSI)

VentureWell (formerly know as National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance)(6/30/20 - 8/31/22)

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Training for Innovation in Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure (TISSI)

Sponsor: VentureWell (formerly know as National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance)

Start Date: 6/30/20

End Date: 8/31/22

Abstract

The goal of this program is to create a new design elective, 'Innovation in Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure' that will be incorporated in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering curriculum. The course will be facilitated by PI Grieshop and Co-PI Berglund, who will lead teams of students in course projects. Course projects will be developed in cooperation with faculty who will provide guidance throughout the semester in technical content and design. We will develop course projects around new technologies in water quality sensors, pavement materials, and water treatment that have clear market pathways. We will work with the Entrepreneurial Program at NC State to develop the technologies and connections that are needed to bring new inventions to the market. We plan to offer Innovation in Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure as an elective special topics course, with a long-term goal to develop this into a senior design course. The Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Program recently adopted a new sophomore-level course, Introduction to Sustainable Infrastructure, that is designed to introduce students to principles in problem solving, environmental sustainability, and engineering economics, along with social sustainability. The proposed course will build on principles that are developed at the sophomore level and will provide new training opportunities in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and state-of-the-art smart technologies. We expect that this will add a new dimension to our degrees to attract strong, passionate, and creative students to NC State. We hope to enable a new passion for innovation, smart technologies, and sustainable solutions in the up-coming generation of civil and environmental engineers.

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Scholarship to Support Maksim Islam Research: Exploring Two Aspects of Cookstove Emissions - Brown Carbon Absorption and the Link Between Emission and Indoor Air Quality

Jacobs (4/01/20 - 12/31/20)

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Scholarship to Support Maksim Islam Research: Exploring Two Aspects of Cookstove Emissions - Brown Carbon Absorption and the Link Between Emission and Indoor Air Quality

Sponsor: Jacobs

Start Date: 4/01/20

End Date: 12/31/20

Abstract

Globally over 3 billion people use solid fuel cookstoves as their main source of household energy (World Health Organization 2018). Emissions from these stoves contribute to household air pollution (HAP) causing negative health impacts to those exposed. According to World Health Organization (WHO), two to four million premature deaths each year are attributed to HAP exposure (World Health Organization 2018). Combustion of solid fuel emits black carbon (BC) that is thought to have the 2nd largest global warming impact after CO2 (Bond et al. 2013). Recent studies suggest that biomass burning also emits light absorbing organic carbon (commonly known as Brown Carbon, BrC), which is still poorly understood (Saleh et al. 2014; Xie et al. 2018).

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Scholarship to Support Research Understanding the Effects on Emissions of Modified Operation of Pellet Stoves

Jacobs (4/01/20 - 12/31/20)

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Scholarship to Support Research Understanding the Effects on Emissions of Modified Operation of Pellet Stoves

Sponsor: Jacobs

Start Date: 4/01/20

End Date: 12/31/20

Abstract

In 2017, 3.6 billion people were exposed to household air pollution from the use of solid fuels for cooking (Health Effects Institute, 2019). In a field study conducted in Rwanda, a former member of the Grieshop Atmosphere and Environment Lab (GAEL) measured emissions from a variety of biomass stoves, including pellet, wood, and charcoal. Biomass pellet stoves were found to have substantially lower emissions than other biomass stoves and in many cases were comparable to (liquefied petroleum gas) LPG stoves, which are considered the current “gold standard” in terms of reducing cookstove pollutant exposures. However, emission factors (EFs) of particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) during high emitting pellet tests overlap with low emitting wood and charcoal tests. These high emitting pellet tests emitted the most PM and black carbon (BC) at the beginning and end of testing (Champion & Grieshop, 2019). The manufacturer of the stove in this study (the Mimi Moto pellet stove) found similar results during their testing. The use of pellet embers from a previous cooking event to ignite the next cooking event was also associated with higher emissions.

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Personal and Population Air Pollution Exposure Assessment Simulation for the Personalised Real-Time Air Quality Informatics System for Exposure – Hong Kong (PRAISE-HK)

HSBC 150th Anniversary Charity Programme(1/01/20 - 10/31/23)

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Personal and Population Air Pollution Exposure Assessment Simulation for the Personalised Real-Time Air Quality Informatics System for Exposure – Hong Kong (PRAISE-HK)

Sponsor: HSBC 150th Anniversary Charity Programme

Start Date: 1/01/20

End Date: 10/31/23

Abstract

Under the direction of Dr. H. Christopher Frey, the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University will develop individual and population-based exposure models for human exposure to air pollution to support the Personalised Real-Time Air Quality Informatics System for Exposure – Hong Kong (PRAISE-HK) being developed at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

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Scholarship to Maksim Islam to Support Research Closing the ‘Field to Lab Gap’ in Cookstove Emissions Testing

Jacobs (7/01/19 - 8/31/20)

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Scholarship to Maksim Islam to Support Research Closing the ‘Field to Lab Gap’ in Cookstove Emissions Testing

Sponsor: Jacobs

Start Date: 7/01/19

End Date: 8/31/20

Abstract

Globally over 3 billion people use solid fuel cookstoves as a source of their household energy causing household air pollution (HAP) and myriad climate impacts. Considering these harmful impacts, a wide range of improved/alternative cookstove models have been introduced and evaluated in laboratory studies, where many show promising performance. However, this promise has frequently not been met during in-home field measurements. Therefore, there is a need to better understand the factors influencing field performance so that standardized tests can better represent real-world conditions. With funding from this scholarship program, Mohammad Maksimul (Maksim) Islam, a 3rd year PhD student in the Grieshop Atmosphere and Environment Lab will explore this topic with a view to identify factors driving lab/field emission variability. This work will be in consultation with researchers at in the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) at the US EPA labs in Research Triangle Park. In this work, Maksim will apply methods that he and previous students developed to quantify the variation in cooking activity during real-world use. In this activity, he will extend this analysis to more recent field emission measurements conducted in Rwanda and India on a variety of cookstove models (e.g. Mimi-moto, improved and traditional chimney stoves and some rocket and gasifier models). Other activities may be analysis of low performing field tests of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) stoves in an EPA-funded study and characterization of the light absorbing carbon from existing particulate matter samples. Major objectives of the work include explaining lab/field variability in emissions, and support the ISO protocol being evaluated in the EPA lab. It will also give insights into the factors contributing to the high emission of modern fuel (LPG) stoves and help understand the spectral dependence of optical properties (black carbon/brown carbon) in cookstove emissions.

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Efficacy and Durability of Advanced Retrofitted Emissions Controls for Passenger Service Diesel Locomotives

NC Department of Transportation(8/01/19 - 12/31/22)

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Efficacy and Durability of Advanced Retrofitted Emissions Controls for Passenger Service Diesel Locomotives

Sponsor: NC Department of Transportation

Start Date: 8/01/19

End Date: 12/31/22

Abstract

In the next several years, the NCDOT Rail Division will add locomotives to the fleet it provides for the Amtrak-operated Piedmont passenger rail service between Raleigh and Charlotte. NCDOT is taking a leadership role in demonstrating new retrofit Blended After-Treatment System (BATS) emission controls for both existing and newly added locomotives. These emission controls are based on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for control of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and diesel particle filters for control of particulate matter emissions. NOx and PM are harmful to public health and are regulated with respect to emissions and air quality. The effectiveness of these controls will depend on actual passenger rail service for actual duty cycles on the Piedmont route. Furthermore, SCR effectiveness may depend on exhaust temperature, which varies depending on engine load, and the durability of both SCR and DPF under retrofit conditions for a diesel locomotive has not been quantified.

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CNHL:Energy Transitions and Environmental Change in East and Southern Africa’s Coupled Human, Terrestrial and Atmospheric Systems

National Science Foundation (NSF)(10/01/18 - 3/31/23)

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CNHL:Energy Transitions and Environmental Change in East and Southern Africa’s Coupled Human, Terrestrial and Atmospheric Systems

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Start Date: 10/01/18

End Date: 3/31/23

Abstract

The proposed study is a four-year project to conduct research on the impacts on land use, air quality and regional climate change of biofuel use in Southern and East regions of Africa. Data collection will occur in southern Malawi, centered on several communities participating in a Structured Conditional Transfer program for household cookstove replacements being initiated by a non-governmental organization. Data collected will include those on land use/land cover change, air pollutant emissions, ambient air pollution concentrations, fuel demand and household behavior and decisions. Dr. Pamela Jagger from UNC-CH is the Principal Investigator of the study. Dr. Grieshop will serve as co-PI on the project and will lead the air pollutant emission and air quality measurement components of the study. Air pollutant measurements will include focused emission measurements on indoor air pollution sources (e.g. cookstoves) and other small biofuel-based sources (e.g. brick and charcoal kilns). A network of small, low-cost air quality monitors will be deployed to examine community and regional air quality and also to examine emission sources (e.g. agricultural burning) via near-field concentration measurements.

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PIRE: Confronting Energy Poverty: Building an Interdisciplinary Evidence Base, Network, and Capacity for Transformative Change

National Science Foundation (NSF)(1/01/18 - 9/30/23)

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PIRE: Confronting Energy Poverty: Building an Interdisciplinary Evidence Base, Network, and Capacity for Transformative Change

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Start Date: 1/01/18

End Date: 9/30/23

Abstract

Overview Sub-Saharan Africa is the epicenter of the global challenge of energy poverty, with the absolute number of energy poor projected to increase through 2030. Energy poverty has implications for climate, environmental sustainability, human health, and well-being, with negative impacts realized at individual and collective-scales, and in local, regional, and global contexts. The complex socio-environmental challenge of energy poverty requires contributions from the basic, applied, and social sciences, and integration of evidence and learning using robust interdisciplinary frameworks. We will partner with and facilitate the networking of academic, practitioner, and policy communities in the US and Southern Africa to fill critical gaps in the theoretical and empirical evidence base regarding mitigating energy poverty. International partnership is critical to the identification of important and representative energy poverty innovations to study, to creating a network of institutions using common frameworks, research design, and empirical strategies, and to cultivating long-term interdisciplinary energy poverty research capacity in the Southern Africa region. Intellectual Merit Our aim is to build an interdisciplinary evidence base and network focused on energy poverty in Southern Africa, building capacity for transformative change. We center our research and capacity building around three themes: technology and incentives; space and place; and population and environment dynamics. We will measure the air quality, land use, and human welfare impacts of a representative set of technology and behavioral interventions designed to mitigate energy poverty. Based upon knowledge generated, we test new approaches for using and integrating appropriate technology and incentives to address energy poverty. In the second theme, we will investigate the spatial dimension of energy poverty by analyzing neighborhood effects as determinants of energy poverty, and consider the question of optimal scale of implementation of energy poverty interventions for maximizing environmental benefits and social welfare outcomes. Finally, we will investigate sustainable wood energy systems as a potential strategy for coping with the challenge of population and environment dynamics in the region, and analyze the associated environmental and economic synergies and trade-offs. This PIRE is innovative for several reasons. First, we use rigorous quantitative interdisciplinary impact evaluation as the anchor for our research and training program. We seek to study what works, why it works, and over what spatial and temporal scale. Second, the study of energy poverty is highly fragmented across a large number of disciplines with very little cross-fertilization or engagement with interdisciplinary frameworks including complex socio-ecological systems and population and environment dynamics. We use these important theoretical lenses to shed new light on this highly intractable problem, and to guide a coherent body of empirical research. Third, despite facing a looming crisis, energy poverty in Southern Africa is dramatically understudied. Broader Impacts Research findings from this study will provide new theoretical and empirical knowledge on energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa to academics, practitioners, and policy makers. We will build new networks and promote collaborative research and exchange among over 50 scientists, graduate, and undergraduate students across the US and Southern Africa, with the aim of creating a robust interdisciplinary network of scholars. To facilitate this, we will coordinate a series of regional training workshops focused on interdisciplinary energy poverty research. A central component of the PIRE is continuous engagement with policy makers and practitioners. We will organize a series of regional policy workshops that will take place at regular intervals during the life of the Energy Poverty PIRE. We propose several innovations in teaching and scholarship that will benefit the academic community including: development of a

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