a. Radon Has Been Found In Homes All Over the U.S.Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Radon can also enter your home through well water.  Your home can trap radon inside.Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home. That is where you spend most of your time.Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level (4 pCi/L or more).  Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for information about radon in your area.b. EPA and the Surgeon General Recommend That You Test Your HomeTesting is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon.You cannot predict radon levels based on state, local, and neighborhood radon measurements.  Do not rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood to estimate the radon level in your home.  Homes which are next to each other can have different radon levels.  Testing is the only way to find out what your home’s radon level is.

In some areas, companies may offer different types of radon service agreements.  Some agreements let you pay a one-time fee that covers both testing and radon mitigation, if needed.  Contact your state radon office to find out if these are available in your state.

U.S. Surgeon General Health Advisory

“Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country.  It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable.  Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.”  January 2005

(ARA) - As fall turns to winter, energy usage turns into higher energy bills and, according to the Department of Energy, 2007 energy costs are increasing. While there are plenty of costly ways to save on your utility bills this winter — buying a high efficiency furnace, radiant floor heating system or solar-paneled roof — there also are things you can do to cut energy usage that won’t cost you a dime.

“We’re seeing a trend with consumers who want to live comfortably and efficiently,” says Chuck Smith, CEO of Hunter Fan. Smith says many consumers aren’t willing to sacrifice their comfort in the name of energy efficiency, but they do want smart solutions for consuming less.

“Having the right products and home infrastructure is only part of the equation, “says Smith. “Some of the most effective energy savings solutions can be implemented simply by knowing what to look for around your home.”

According to Smith, some of the most effective energy-savings solutions are right under your nose or, in one case, right above your head.

Follow these no-cost energy saving tips for the winter:

Flip the Switch … on Your Ceiling FanThat is

A ceiling fan is naturally energy efficient — it circulates air while using very little electricity. Most people don’t realize a ceiling fan can help warm you up in the winter as easily as it can cool you down in the summer. In fact, less than 25 percent of people are taking advantage of the easy energy savings a ceiling fan affords.

“One of the most economical ways to save energy during the winter is to run your ceiling fan in the proper direction,” says Sandy DeWald, ceiling fans product manager for Hunter. “Many people cringe at the notion of lowering their thermostat when it’s cold out because they do not want to sacrifice comfort for lower energy bills. That’s why the ceiling fan is so important. Operated correctly, a ceiling fan that’s sized appropriately for the room can save you up to 10 percent on your heating bills.”

As DeWald explains, most ceiling fans have a switch that controls the direction of the blades. When the fan runs counter-clockwise, it blows air down, providing the cooling effect desired during warmer months. By running the fan clockwise, during colder months, it circulates the warm air near the ceiling. This circulating effect makes the room warmer, which decreases demands on heating systems and allows you to comfortably turn down your thermostat to save on energy costs.

“Turning down your thermostat just one degree can save you two percent on your heating bills,” adds DeWald. “What makes the ceiling fan even more economical is that it only costs a few pennies a day to operate.”

Get With the Program

If you don’t believe a programmable thermostat can save you a lot of money, keep reading. According to Energy Star, while many homes today have a programmable thermostat, approximately 70 percent of consumers find it too difficult to operate and, as a result, lose out on energy savings.

“Forgetting to turn down your thermostat just one time before you leave for work can mean several dollars in lost energy savings,” says Erich Schroeder, thermostat product manager for Hunter. “People have enough on their minds, and that’s why a programmable thermostat is so useful — it doesn’t forget.”

Programmable thermostats save energy by offering convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings that allow you to scale temperatures back as you leave and warm things up upon your return. When used properly, a programmable thermostat can save you as much as $150 annually in energy costs.

“Most people perceive that a programmable thermostat is difficult to program and therefore don’t use it appropriately, but it can be as easy to set as an alarm clock. The only difference is an alarm clock won’t save you hundreds of dollars each year in energy savings — a programmable thermostat will,” adds Schroeder.

Go Unplugged

Did you know that up to 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off? According to the Department of Energy (DOE), power continues to run through your home electronics even when you have them turned off — yes, even the coffee maker.

Now, consider that approximately 60 percent of your energy bill is electricity — 15 percent of that from electrical devices — and it’s easy to imagine how much you can save as a result of doing some simple unplugging this winter.

Some of the most common household devices that consume electricity while not in operation include: computers, TVs, cable boxes, cell phone chargers and other power adapters and anything else with a microchip that requires at least some juice to keep its inner clock ticking. So, while you might think it’s a nice convenience to have a clock around every corner, if you want to save money, don’t rely on your VCR or microwave to display the time.

Creating a daily unplugging routine is easy. For starters, go around the house and unplug those devices that do not need to be plugged in, especially those that operate in standby mode such as computers and home entertainment systems. According to the National Resources Defense Fund, cable and satellite set-up boxes, and digital video recorders are among the worst offenders of using energy when not in use.

For those often-used devices that also are found in groups, such as the TV, cable and surround sound system or the computer, printer and scanner, use a power strip. It allows you to run a number of devices from one power source and operates via one convenient switch.

Assess Your Saving Potential.

If you are interested in energy savings but don’t know where to start, performing a home energy audit is a good first step.

Performing an energy audit will help you prioritize your energy upgrade needs and give you a better understanding for how you and your home consume energy. A good energy auditor will uncover any air leaks or insulation problems and recommend energy saving products. The Department of Energy provides a free, do-it-yourself plan that can be found at www.eere.energy.gov.

Check with your local energy company to see if they offer free professional audits. If your energy company does not perform them, they should be able to recommend an agency that will. A professional audit will give you a more accurate assessment than one you do on your own.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - From compact fluorescent light bulbs to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, consumers are interested in the latest and greatest “green,” energy-efficient products. While these products help homeowners make an impact, many consumers may overlook basic steps they can take to conserve energy in their home and lower energy costs, especially during winter months.

In fact, the Department of Energy reports that the typical American family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills. And heating can account for almost half of the average family’s winter energy bill. Experts recommend that consumers use basic winterizing practices and evaluate the latest heating systems to prepare their homes for colder weather.

Home maintenance and preparation should include:

* Sealing leaks around doors and windows.

* Adding weather-stripping or replacing worn stripping around doors and windows.

* Inspecting and cleaning chimneys.

* Caulking gaps where needed.

* Checking insulation. Focus on crawl spaces, basements, walls, floors and attics.

* Vacuuming vents and other heating components.

* Consider replacing old windows and heating systems with newer, more energy-efficient models.

* Replacing furnace filters.

“There are quick, cost-effective ways to manage your energy expenditures this winter, like having a trusted, local heating and cooling contractor conduct a routine maintenance check on your system,” says Kevin Dudash of Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems. “Additionally, a dealer can provide information about larger investments a homeowner can make to reduce energy costs associated with the winter season.”

A reliable dealer can help homeowners compare the cost of a new system to the estimated savings they may experience over the years following their initial investment. For example, although they may cost more up front, studies show heating cost savings of up to 25 percent when consumers install hybrid solutions, such as the Hybrid Heat Dual Fuel system by Bryant. The combination of a furnace and heat pump creates a system that always works at maximum efficiency. The energy-saving duo capitalizes on less expensive electricity to heat the home in milder weather, switching to more effective gas heating in colder weather.

Consumers can easily find a reliable contractor who will do whatever it takes to keep their home running at maximum efficiency. Visitors to www.bryant.com can even search by zip code for a qualified dealer in their area.

With the right home maintenance practices and a knowledgeable, trusted heating and cooling system dealer, homeowners can assure a comfortable, cost and energy-efficient winter. 

Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.

If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.

On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Health Professionals and The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them.

You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly.

On the other hand, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt, and other contaminants than if you had left the ducts alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, possibly increasing your heating and air conditioning costs or forcing you to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.

You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:

There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
 
Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.
You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.
 
 
Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects); or
 
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.

Other Important Considerations…

Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accumulate inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to health.

EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. If a service provider or advertiser asserts that EPA recommends routine duct cleaning or makes claims about its health benefits, you should notify EPA by writing to the address listed at the end of this guidance. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, little evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase your system’s efficiency.

If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you are not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system may be a good source of advice. You may also want to contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Remember, they are trying to sell you a service, so ask questions and insist on complete and knowledgeable answers.