Living "green" is about more than just energy efficiency and recycling; it's also about giving your family a healthier home.

 

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Breathing "greener" air means checking your home for radon, a leading indoor air problem. Breathing in high levels of radon indoors can lead to lung cancer--yet it is easily preventable. A simple home radon test can tell you if you have a problem. And if your home does have a high radon level, there are simple ways to reduce this radioactive gas and make your home's air safer.

What Is Radon?

Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas--that's also radioactive and can cause cancer. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building--homes, offices and schools--and result in a high indoor radon level. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend that all homes in the U.S. be tested for radon. Testing is easy and inexpensive; you can order a test kit online, you can buy one at many home improvement centers, or from the National Safety Council by calling (800) 557-2366. Follow the directions on the packaging for the proper placement of the device and where to send the device after the test to get your reading.

Building Green

When building a new home, make sure to ask your builder about radon-resistant features. Radon-venting features are easy to install at the time of construction and will help make your home greener and healthier at the same time. Through its Living Healthy & Green campaign, the EPA encourages homeowners and builders to build healthier homes from the ground up.

To learn more, call the National Radon Information Line at (800) SOS-RADON or visit www.epa.gov/radon.

 

(Source: North American Precis Syndicate)

 

 

 

About IEHA

The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) is a 3,200-plus member organization for housekeeping management. Executive housekeepers are managers that direct housekeeping programs in commercial, industrial or institutional facilities, including upscale hotels, hospitals, schools, and other public places. The non-profit was founded in 1930 in New York City, and is now located in Westerville, Ohio, a suburb of the state’s capitol.