Radon-resistant homes
make good sense

Printed: April 28, 2002; The Decatur Daily News, online edition

THE DECATUR DAILY:

The recent article "A silent intruder" by Eric Fleischauer was an appreciated reminder of an invisible enemy -- radon in Morgan County. As the Radon Education Technician for the Alabama Radon Education Program, it is my job to teach the public, homebuilders, Realtors and other home construction professionals about radon and the health risks associated with it.

I would like to offer one clarification, however, regarding the cost of installing a passive radon reduction system in a new construction home. The cost of radon-resistant new construction techniques in a new home is, on the national average, between $200 and $500. The cost to install RRNC in a new home, stated in the article as $500-$2,000, is erroneous. That is closer to the cost of retrofitting an existing home with elevated levels of radon, between $800 and $2,000. The math is obvious: to do it during construction can save a homeowner more than $1,000 in repairs later.

Another point that seems to be misunderstood is that RRNC is opposed by builders. It is not. In fact, the National Association of Homebuilders not only endorses RRNC techniques, it also offers free publications and a how-to video.

It is in every citizen's best interest to get the whole story before the City Council adopts the building code without radon protection. Without the radon protection code, if a radon problem is found to exist later, the consumer will pay the high cost of remediation or worse -- the cost of death from lung cancer.

The sad truth is that more people get lung cancer than colon, prostate and breast cancer combined. Radon-resistant construction makes sense -- it is an inexpensive way to reduce the risk of lung cancer.