Did you know that, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), half the homes in Colorado have radon levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended levels? January is national radon action month. What is radon? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon has no color, odor or taste and can accumulate in buildings unless properly vented, potentially causing health issues. If you have any questions about radon testing or mitigation contact the Energy Smart Resource Center at Walking Mountains Science Center at 970-827-9725.
Three tips for what you can do:
Test. Both the CDPHE and EPA recommend that all home and business owners test for radon.
Get your free test kit. All Colorado residents are eligible to receive a free radon test kit. You can pick one up at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, the Edwards Pharmacy at Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards, the Eagle County Environmental Health Office in Eagle or order one online through the CDPHE website.
Mitigate if necessary. In most cases, radon can be easily mitigated. If your home levels test above the recommended four picocuries per liter (pCi/L), contact the Energy Smart team at Walking Mountains so that they can point you in the right direction for mitigation.