EPA and Partners Announce National Plan to Prevent Lung Cancer Deaths Due to Radon Exposure

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Lung Association, and other partners are announcing a strategy for preventing 3,200 lung cancer deaths annually by 2020 through radon exposure reduction strategies. Exposure to radioactive radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. The goal to save these lives will be achieved by reducing high radon levels in five million homes, apartments, schools and childcare centers. The partnership includes three federal departments and agencies, and nine national organizations. “EPA is very pleased to be a partner in this important life-saving effort to prevent lung cancer caused by radon. Working together creates new opportunities for reducing the risk from radon. Combining our resources will save American lives by magnifying our effectiveness in preventing exposure to radon in homes and schools,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The National Radon Action Plan: A Strategy for Saving Lives sets out strategies to drive the changes needed to reduce exposure to radon. Strategies include requiring radon testing and reduction systems as a standard practice in housing finance and insurance programs, and institutionalizing radon risk reduction through building code requirements. The strategy released today builds on the successes of the 2011 Federal Radon Action Plan, which has led to protections from radon in more than 105,000 multi-family homes financed by HUD, among other actions by the federal government. Today’s plan broadens the scope and reach of the Federal Radon Action Plan by including the health, scientific and technical expertise of the national partners. The collaborative strategy announced today aligns federal efforts with those of other national organizations dedicated to lowering radon exposure: the American Lung Association (ALA), American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), Cancer Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR), the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN), Citizens for Radioactive Radon Reduction, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). In addition to EPA, the federal partners are the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the decay of uranium in the ground. Nearly all soils contain some naturally occurring uranium. Radon seeps up from the soil into buildings where it can accumulate to high levels. Since radon is invisible and odorless, dangerous levels can exist indoors without occupants knowing. Testing is the only way to know the radon level in your home or school. Exposure to radon causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually. After smoking, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. However, affordable measures effective in reducing radon indoors are available, and when employed can prevent radon-induced lung cancer and save lives. The new National Plan can be found at http://www.epa.gov/radon/national-radon-action-plan-strategy-saving-lives. For more information visit http://www2.epa.gov/radon

County First in US to Require Radon Gas Testing

Montgomery residents who sell their homes will have to test for radon and give buyers the results under a bill passed unanimously by the County Council on Tuesday.

Montgomery is the first locality in the country to establish a radon testing requirement, according to the bill’s sponsor, council member Craig Rice (D-Upcounty). Like many other recent regulatory measures passed by the council, however, there are few provisions for enforcement. The radon bill does not specify penalties for noncompliance.

“We’re just trying to get people to test,” Rice said, likening the new requirement to having carbon monoxide detectors in homes and other common safety measures.

Maryland is one of several states that require sellers to disclose to buyers any knowledge of radon in their homes. Buyers often request the test anyway as a condition of sale.

But the Montgomery County attorney’s office told the council that the state law does not create an explicit obligation on the part of the seller to determine whether radon is an issue.

[Do energy-efficient homes lead to elevated radon levels?]

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. It enters homes through foundation cracks and other openings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency , it is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, for the general population.

Montgomery, Fairfax and other counties in Maryland and Virginia are a “Zone 1” radon risk, according to the EPA. The rating means that indoor radon levels are likely to exceed four picocuries per liter of air. A picocurie is a trillionth of a curie, a measure of radiation.

At that level, the EPA recommends installation of relatively inexpensive ventilation systems that suction the gas out of the ground and into the air.

The real estate industry opposed the county bill, citing the potential for increased costs for sellers. Prior to the vote, the council rejected a last-minute amendment from an industry trade group, the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, that would have exempted new single-family homes being sold for the first time.

Home and Mold Inspector marks his 18th. year in business.

Santa Rosa, California (PRWEB) November 24, 2015

Steve Zivolich, the owner and senior inspector of Guaranteed Property and Mold Inspections (GPI) serving Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties in California, has marked his 18th year in business.

Zivolich holds the premier nationally accredited certification for home inspectors by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). He is also certified as a residential home inspector by the California Real Estate Inspectors Association (CREIA). In addition, he is nationally certified in Mold, Microbial, Asbestos, Lead Paint, Indoor Air Quality, Energy Conservation and Radon inspections/testing. 

Steve serves on the national certification board of directors for the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC), which reviews applications for new mold inspectors to be awarded a nationally accredited certification. These unique certifications require both knowledge verification in the science of microbial inspection, but also extensive experience in the field.

Due to his extensive training and experience, his firm is able to provide additional mold, environmental, and energy expertise with a residential home inspection at no additional cost to clients.

"We inspect every home as if we were moving in our own family," stated Zivolich.

Unlike other mold inspection companies, GPI does not try to up-sell its clients with unneeded mold testing. Currently the EPA and the California Department of Public Health discourage such mold testing. Further, since it is a conflict of interest, GPI only inspects, and does not remediate mold, this avoids a financial bias in their findings. It is also a code of ethics violation for a company to both inspect and remediate mold conditions. As a result, GPI holds the highest ratings by the BBB, Angie's List, and Yelp.

Steve has completed over 7,000 home and mold inspections for pre-listing, time of purchase, post-purchase investigations, as well as expert witness testimony.

He is currently providing Mold Inspection seminars throughout the state for real estate professionals, and code enforcement city government inspectors to assist with implementation of the new California Mold law SB 655, which is taking effect on January 1, 2016.

For more information, call toll free (888) 252-2274 or visit the Web site located at http://www.gpinspect.com.

Massachusetts, California Continue to Lead U.S. in Energy Efficiency

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Massachusetts, California and Vermont retained the first, second and third highest rankings, respectively, in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) recently released ninth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. Massachusetts has held the top spot for five years. 

The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes and ranks the effectiveness of state energy-efficiency policies and programs, and offers recommendations on ways to improve. 

According to ACEEE, total savings from energy-efficiency programs in 2014 totaled about 25.7 million MWh, a 5.8% increase compared to the previous year.

Study: Poor Air Quality Linked to Workers' Low Cognitive Function

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—People working in well-ventilated buildings with below-average indoor air pollution and low carbon dioxide, levels showed better cognitive functioning than workers in "non-green" offices with typical pollutant and CO₂ levels, according to a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

"These results suggest that even modest improvements to indoor environmental quality may have a profound impact on the decision-making performance of workers," wrote lead author Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment. 

The study of 24 people exposed to different indoor environmental quality conditions over six full work days found that participants' cognitive scores were on average 61% higher on days working in buildings with low pollution levels than on days working in a conventional building. When lowered CO₂ levels were coupled with lower pollutants in buildings, cognitive scores were 101% higher than in conventional buildings.

Top deal-breaker problems in home inspections

The home inspection is a critical stage of the home buying process. It’s an essential step for any buyer and can cause numerous deals to fall apart if any nasty surprises are uncovered. 

Both buyers and sellers should be aware of the types of deal-breaking problems that can crop up in a home inspection.

#3 – “Structural Problems” 
The buyer knows the job is a fixer-upper but comes across more problems than anticipated. They know they’re going to have to carry out basic repairs, but often times in run-down homes there are bigger problems – we’re talking about structural issues, problems with drainage and so on that will cost thousands of dollars to repair. In such cases, these finds can quickly become a deal-killer.

#2 – Expensive Repairs 

Properties of around 20-years old are usually in good condition, but there are many systems that need replacing after this time frame, including the roof, decking, boiler, appliances and so on. Other things like hardwood finishes and carpets may also need fixing, and many buyers are caught out by the length of the maintenance list.

#1 – Cover-ups 

The number one deal-breaker is cover-ups, where previous homeowners may have taken short-cuts on renovations and repairs. Homes which were bought to be flipped often come with nasty surprises like this, wherein the flipper has simply covered up bigger problems like chronic damp, mold or structural issues. 

Caveat Emptor: The Home Inspector

You've found your dream home in the perfect neighborhood. The neighbors are friendly, as are their kids and dogs, the schools are nearby and the price is even below what you were expecting. But wait, you have one more major hurdle before this slice of Norman Rockwell becomes reality: the home inspection, for which the Latin saying "Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware)" was invented.

Common "surprises" inspections uncover include: poor exterior grading, which can lead to basement flooding or leaking; roof leaks; improper wiring; plumbing issues; and heating system malfunctions.

The seemingly every day problems can often prove to be the biggest disasters -- and deal-breakers.

Most of the issues inspectors encounter are relatively simple and can be easily dealt with. But sometimes the cost of fixing these small things can be major. One way the potential buyer can protect him or herself is to make sure, when making an offer on a house, the contract includes a home inspection contingency. This is to ensure, if a costly problem is found, you can require the seller make the repair before the deal closes, negotiate a price reduction to make up for the cost of making the repair yourself, or go look at some different houses altogether.

If a potential buyer balks at the cost of hiring a professional inspector, they should realize that it's a small price to pay, considering what you're gaining. Inspectors tend to base their fee on the square footage of the home being inspected, as well as how complicated the job is...

Buyers can find a certified inspector through the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).