Curtis Nordgaard

Background & Expertise

Curtis Nordgaard, PhD, is a pediatrician, researcher and assistant professor of pediatrics who studies the interactions between energy use and health. For example, while the health impacts of fossil fuels like coal are easy to recognize, how does burning other fossil fuels like natural gas impact our health? He is particularly interested in the indoor space, where themes of environmental justice, air quality, and the use of natural gas intersect. To help community members visualize the impact of cooking with natural gas, Nordgaard has collaborated with local community-based organizations to develop a real-time indoor air quality monitoring program. Unfortunately our use of fossil fuels has created an additional indoor air quality problem in Minnesota, along with many other states, due to the migration of wildfire smoke into our homes. Older homes are more likely to have drafty leaks that cause multiple problems for residents, including the infiltration of wildfire smoke into the home. By measuring the impact of sealing these leaks, we can better understand the air quality impacts of weatherization and air sealing while addressing both climate mitigation and climate adaptation.