Bio Page

Joseph Laquatra

Professor
3M11 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall
DEA
 
Phone: (607) 255-2145
Fax: (607) 255-0305
Email: jl27@cornell.edu
View Cornell Contact Info
Biographical Statement:
Joseph Laquatra, Ph.D., Professor, focuses his teaching and research efforts on sustainable aspects of housing with emphases on residential energy efficiency, indoor air quality, construction site waste management, and residential sprawl. As an Extension Housing Specialist, Joe develops and implements educational programs on these and other topics through the statewide network of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE). One of these, the Consumer Education Program for Residential Energy Efficiency, currently engages 32 Local Associations of CCE. He has conducted educational programs for home builders in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He has also taught builders, engineers, architects, and government officials in Poland, Russia, and Japan. Joe is a past President of the Housing Education and Research Association and a past chair of the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers.  He is listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers and Educators (11th edition, 2006-07), Who's Who in America (2008 and 2009), and Who's Who in the World (2009).

Current Professional Activities:
  • Secretary, National Consortium of Housing Research Centers
  • Outreach Team Leader, New York State Center for Indoor Environmental Quality
  • Member, New York State Toxic Mold Task Force
  • Advisory Board Member, Redefining Progress  
  • Member, Editorial Review Board, Housing and Society
  • Delegate, Extension Disaster Education Network

 

 

Related Websites:
http://www.human.cornell.edu/che/communications/multimedia.cfm
http://housing.cce.cornell.edu/f-sht-pdf%20libraries/Waste%20management/waste%20management.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/21/science/21qna.html?pagewanted=print
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/publications/upload/11-2007-RNYM.pdf
http://www.healthyhomeplans.com/articles/information15.php
http://emergencypreparedness.cce.cornell.edu/images/UserFiles/MoldFactSheet07_final.pdf
http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2007/2007-11-27_toxic_mold_task_force.htm
http://www.menshealth.co.uk/Health/Is-your-house-killing-you%5E/v3
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec07/Laquatra.mold.sl.html
http://minimodern.blogspot.com/2008/01/passive-solar-contemporary-dollhouse-by.html
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov08/leadXmasLights.sl.html
http://www.extension.org/pages/'Tis_the_Season_to_Beware_of_Lead_in_Christmas_Lights
http://www.housingresearch.net/membersnewyork.html

Current Research Activities:
Research focus is on housing sustainability, with particular emphasis on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, affordability, and residential sprawl.

Ongoing projects:

Principal Investigator, Sprawl and Residential Preferences: Investigating and Building Educational Strategies on New Understandings of Land Use. Funding source: Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Principal Investigator, Residential Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality.
Principal Investigator, Lead in Christmas Lights.

Education:
  • Ph.D. 1984 - Cornell University
    Consumer Economics and Housing
  • M.S. 1981 - Cornell University
    Consumer Economics and Housing
  • B.S. 1974 - Cornell University
    Hotel Administration

    • Selected Publications:
    Laquatra, J.; Coyne, L.; Pierce, M. (2008). Lead in Christmas lights. Journal of Environmental Health, 71 (5): 8-11.

    Laquatra, J.; Pillai, G.; Singh, A.; Syal, M. (2008). Green and healthy housing. Journal of Architectural Engineering, 14 (4): 94-97.

    Administrative Responsibilities:
    Department Extension Leader, DEA
    Member, University Committee on Academic Freedom and Professional Status of the Faculty (term completed June 2008)
    Participant, Cornell Alumni Federation Speaker Series Program
    Faculty Representative, Human Ecology Alumni Association
    Lead Co-Chair, Healthy Living and Learning Environments Program Work Team
    Lead Co-Chair, Family Economic Resource Management Program Work Team

    Current Extension Activities:

    Extension/Outreach focus is on practical applications of research focus.

    Ongoing projects:

    • Principal Investigator, Consumer Education Program for Residential Energy Efficiency. Funding source: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
    • Principal Investigator, Healthy Homes. Funding source: Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  
    • Trainer, Reducing Asthma Triggers and Lead Poisoning Hazards in Homes.  Funding source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/American Small Business Alliance.
    • Principal Investigator, Sprawl and Residential Preferences: Investigating and Building Educational Strategies on New Understandings of Land Use. Funding source: Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
    • Principal Investigator, Improving Household and Community Financial Security Through CCE Money and Energy Management Education, Funding Source: Smith-Lever (competitive).
    • Principal Investigator, Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality, Funding Source: Smith-Lever (competitive).

    The information on this bio page is taken from the CHE Annual Report.