Abstract
The indoor environment impacts the health, well-being, and productivity of building occupants. Building new healthy homes and developing affordable renovation strategies are critical solutions to mitigate ambient environmental hazards. In this research, the author explores some factors related to healthy building maintenance in areas prone to high indoor radon levels in Kentucky. The current conventional mitigation guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourage homeowners to mitigate their houses if the indoor radon average is higher than 4 pCi/L. The available mitigation systems are not affordable nor non-invasive for a considerable portion of the population in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This presentation shows the author’s attempts to explore the behavior of radon in residential buildings in Bowling Green, Kentucky, an area classified as Zone 1 by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Over the past five years, various exploratory studies were conducted on mitigated and non-mitigated buildings. The purpose was to explore alternative mitigation guidelines aligned with building operation and maintenance practices, especially, for homeowners or occupants who can’t afford the current radon mitigation systems. The paper shares the overall results of two empirical studies that explored the impact of occupant behavior and regular maintenance practices on indoor radon. The results show a novel insight into potential radon mitigation through environmental education and public awareness.
Presenters
Osama E. MansourAssociate Professor, School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Kentucky, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Sustainable Development for a Dynamic Planet: Lessons, Priorities, and Solutions
KEYWORDS
Health building indoor environment indoor radon sustainability
