So Honey goes into the bathroom today, only to find that Luke has taken the lid off of the tank of the toilet and is trying to see how the darn thing works. Cute, huh? Another time, earlier this summer, Luke was riding in one of those power wheels Jeeps and kept on running into a fence. While he was still seated behind the wheel, we lifted up the hood and unhooked the battery without Luke seeing what we had done. Luke realized that the Jeep wasn't working, so he got out and lifted up the hood. He looked around and intuitively knew that he had to plug the battery back in to get the Jeep to work. At the time I was amazed at how easily the solution came to him, but now I realize that he might just have "The Knack."
12/04/2008
11/25/2008
Radon Protection - Part 2
Below is the second or two articles I submitted to the Middle Tennessee chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. As a follow-up to last week's blog post, since our initial short-term radon test resulted in 4.6 pCi/L, we're going to retest with a long-term, 90-day test just to make sure. If the results still aren't good, we'll consider some sort of remediation. I hope you find this series of articles educational.
Last month’s article on radon focused on the health risks of radon exposure as well as how to test an existing home for excessive radon levels. The next step is to learn how to fix radon problems in existing homes and how to build a radon-resistant home from the ground up.
New Homes
A new house built with radon-resistant features is eligible for LEED for Homes credit IEQ 9, Radon Protection, but it should be seriously considered for any new house built in middle Tennessee. Refer to the EPA Map of Radon Zones in last month’s article. If you are planning on building a LEED-H house in Zone 1, using radon resistant construction techniques is a prerequisite. In other Zones, it is worth one credit.
What are Radon-resistant construction techniques?These techniques generally involve sealing the foundation and installing a pipe to run beneath the foundation, through the home, and vent out above the attic. This “passive” system allows rising radon gas to pass directly to the outside instead of accumulating in the house. An “active” system incorporates a fan installed on the pipe as it exits the attic to actively move the gas up through the pipe and out of the house. The techniques may vary for different foundations and site requirements, but the basic elements are:
A. Gas Permeable Layer
This layer is placed beneath the slab or flooring system to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house. In many cases, the material used is a 4-inch layer of clean gravel.
B. Plastic Sheeting
Plastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas permeable layer and under the slab to help prevent the soil gas from entering the home. In crawlspaces, sheeting approximately 6 mils thick is placed over the crawlspace floor.C. Sealing and Caulking
All openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home.D. Vent Pipe
A 3- or 4-inch gas-tight or PVC pipe (commonly used for plumbing) runs from the gas permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases above the house.
E. Junction Box
An electrical junction box is installed in case a vent fan is needed later to create an “active” system from a “passive” system.Mitigating High Radon Levels in Existing Homes
But what if you want to mitigate a radon problem in your existing home with a radon level of 4 pCi/L or more? If you have a house with a crawlspace, it may help to open the vents in summer time and close them in winter. Not only will this help to ventilate your crawlspace and remove radon gas, but it will also help regulate your home’s temperature. In most cases, though, installing a radon resistant system similar to that for new houses will be required.
When considering making your home radon-resistant, it is recommended that you contract with someone who has been trained and passed EPA's Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program. Lowering high radon levels requires specific technical knowledge and special skills, and RCP contractors are required to follow EPA standards to make sure their work meets minimum standards of quality. Without the proper equipment or technical knowledge, your radon levels could increase or you could create other potential hazards. To find a qualified mitigation contractor in middle Tennessee, contact the state radon office or either of the private radon proficiency programs: The National Environmental Health Association or The National Radon Safety Board.
Conclusion
Knowing the health risks of radon exposure, all new and existing homes should be tested for radon levels, following EPA-recommended procedures. When building a new home, homeowners should consider building it radon-resistant. It only adds $350-$500 to the cost of the home to install a passive system, as opposed to $800-$2,500 if radon is detected in the house and a mitigator has to retrofit the system.
There are many resources available on the topics covered in this article as well as the previous article. For more, go to one of the following websites:
Tennessee Office of Environmental Assistance's Radon Program
http://state.tn.us/environment/ea/radon/
"A Citizen's Guide To Radon"
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
“Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction.” http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
“Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide to Build Radon-Resistant Homes” http://www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/buildradonout.pdf
11/16/2008
"Radon Protection" or "What's a picoCurie?"
Have you ever taken a radon test in your home? We did recently, and the test results told us we had a radon concentration of 4.6 picoCurie per Liter of air (pCi/L). So what does that mean? It means we need to retest, because the results were higher than they should be normally. So what the risk of high radon levels, and why should you care? The biggest reason you should care is that radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. On a personal note, my dad died of lung cancer about 10 years ago, though he never smoked a day in his life.
I wrote a couple articles about radon for the local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council recently, because I think it's important for everyone to be aware of the topic, not just those homeowners wanting to certify their home with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Hope you learn something:
It has been said that many of the credits needed to achieve a LEED-certified building just make good sense. This is especially true for LEED for Homes credit IEQ 9, Radon Protection, and it is important to know the health risks associated with radon exposure and how to detect radon in your own home.
Health Risks
You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but radon may be a problem in your home. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in most rocks and soil and is harmlessly dispersed in outdoor air. However, when elevated levels of radon are trapped in your home, it can increase your family's risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, claiming about 21,000 lives annually. Radon is typically measured in picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L). Daily exposure at 4 pCi/L of radon is the same as smoking half a pack of cigarettes each day. Additionally, one year’s exposure to 10 pCi/L of radon equates to having 500 chest x-rays.
Testing
The first step is to identify your risk to indoor radon. Below is a map of Tennessee showing the Radon Risk Zone for each county. Though homes built in Zone 1 have the highest risk of elevated radon levels, excessive amounts of radon can be found in homes located in each Zone. Because of this, the U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all homes be tested every two years and retested if structural changes are made to the home.
Figure 1. EPA Map of Radon Zones in Tennessee. Red indicates Zone 1 (highest potential), Orange indicates Zone 2 (moderate potential), and Yellow indicates Zone 3 (low potential).
In Tennessee, “do-it-yourself” radon test kits can be purchased at most local hardware and home improvement stores, through the American Lung Association, or by calling the Tennessee Radon Hotline at 1-800-232-1139. Limited quantities of free test kits are available. In addition, the Department of Environment and Conservation has partnered with the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service to make low-cost radon test kits available in every county of the state through the local county extension agent. For a directory of local offices, visit www.utextension.utk.edu/offices.
EPA-recommended testing procedure
Step 1. Take a short-term test (which takes 2 to 90 days), and be sure you follow the directions on the test kit. Once you've finished the test, reseal the package, and immediately send it to the lab specified on the package. You should receive your test results within a few days. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow up test to be sure.
Step 2. Follow up with either a long-term test (greater than 90 days) or a second short-term test.
The higher your initial short-term test result, the more certain you can be that you should take a second short-term rather than a long-term follow up test. If your first short-term test result is several times the action level - for example, about 10 pCi/L or higher - you should take a second short-term test immediately. If your first test results are between 4 and 10 pCi/L, take a long-term test instead.
Step 3. If you followed up with a long-term test, fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more.
If you followed up with a second short-term test, the procedure is slightly different. The higher your second short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher.
What do I do now?
If the results of your long-term test or the average of your two short-term tests were below 4 pCi/L, save your test results. Though the EPA doesn’t recommend any action be taken at these levels, you may want to re-test in the future since radon levels do not remain constant. In addition, in the event you sell your home, you may need this information.
11/15/2008
Halloween 2008
Since I haven't written in my blog for over a year, I thought I'd try to make up for it with a couple posts today. As you can see from the pictures here, the kids really seemed to enjoy Halloween. Luke had been watching the Garfield Halloween special for a couple weeks up to Halloween and was thrilled to dress up like a monkey. Unfortunately, his little feet got tired of walking about a mile around the neighborhood. He probably would have much rather enjoyed riding his tricycle instead.
Josh really enjoyed the night, dressing up as a plain ol' cow, though most people mistook him for theChic-Fil-A cow, instead. It was so cute that whenever anyone asked him what a cow said, half the time he wouldsay "Mooo!"and the other half of the time he would just pucker his lips up.
Lucy was just happy to be here, dressed as a pumpkin.
Enjoy the pictures!
04/10/2007
Joshua... He's the Man.
In my opinion a good blog should be updated every 4 months as a rule... that's my excuse for being so lazy with this blog. No wait... I have a better excuse: How about running after two little boys? Yup, ever since Josh showed up on January 2, things have been a bit crazy. He's over three months old now, and so far he shows no signs of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS), like Luke has. He's a cute little booger and can melt your heart with a smile and a "coo."
Luke has taken to him pretty well. At first he ignored him, then he tried to poke his eyes out, but I think he's accepted him and loves him. For example, sometimes when Josh is crying, Luke will find his pacifier and try to stick it in his mouth. I'm sure he'll be a great big brother. Enjoy the new pictures. I'll try to add more soon.
Well, that's all for now. Until August, keep hanging on...
11/11/2006
"By Your Powers Combined..."
If you can complete the above sentence, then you must have watched Saturday morning cartoons a lot in the early '90s. Captain Planet wasn't the best Saturday morning cartoon around, but it did what it could to introduce children to the idea of saving resources, reducing pollution, and being environmentally responsible. I imagine that I was one of those children.
It just so happened that at the same time, the rest of society was in the midst of an environmental awakening. The federal government passed the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and, and a few years later, Executive Order 13123, both of which mandated landmark energy and water efficiency improvements for manufacturers and federal facilities. As a result, we all started buying low-flow fixtures for our faucets and shower heads, and toilets were reduced from 3.5 gallons per flush to 1.6 gallons per flush.
By my parents' account, I was a concerned about the environment at a young age, and I would frequently educate Mom and Dad about recycling and the latest low-flow fixture. For some reason, though, I forgot all about that part of me as I got older and went to college. However, as energy prices have risen the last few years, my interest in helping the environment reemerged. In 2005, I heard about the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and immediately felt that getting involved with them would be the perfect match between my engineering background and my childhood passion for the planet.
I believe that God has a "calling" for each of us, having programmed us with a unique combination of talents, values, and passions. Choosing not to find it does a discredit to God and to ourselves. As for myself, I believe I'm on the right track by learning more about the USGBC and LEED, but I'll leave that for another day. Until then, remember, "The Power is YOURS!"
By my parents' account, I was a concerned about the environment at a young age, and I would frequently educate Mom and Dad about recycling and the latest low-flow fixture. For some reason, though, I forgot all about that part of me as I got older and went to college. However, as energy prices have risen the last few years, my interest in helping the environment reemerged. In 2005, I heard about the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and immediately felt that getting involved with them would be the perfect match between my engineering background and my childhood passion for the planet.
I believe that God has a "calling" for each of us, having programmed us with a unique combination of talents, values, and passions. Choosing not to find it does a discredit to God and to ourselves. As for myself, I believe I'm on the right track by learning more about the USGBC and LEED, but I'll leave that for another day. Until then, remember, "The Power is YOURS!"
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