By Margaret Henderson (CRCPD)
As you might imagine, Alaska’s extreme climate might have some effects on radon issues—issues that are not common to other states. “In an environment where the temperatures may be 40 degrees below zero for a week, energy efficiency is of great importance and a tight house envelope must be complimented with a well controlled and attended ventilation system so that radon concentrations do not build to levels in excess of action guidelines,” says Art Nash, Energy Specialist with the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks. In January, the Radon Program provides alerts through workshops and public service announcements for the Anchorage area as well as small villages. Approximately half of Alaska’s two-thirds of a million population resides in the Anchorage area.
Anchorage is one of the three areas overlying flakey rock that creates particular concern regarding excessive radon concentrations. The other two areas are Nat-su Borough and Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Other outreach efforts are conducted through two websites: http://www.uaf.edu/ces/energy/radon/
which has a publications including Understanding, Testing for and Mitigating Radon and a blog site at http://uafcesenergy.wordpress.com
Last year, the program contacted 56 school districts regarding opportunities for training in administering radon testing. A future goal is to contact every school in Anchorage for testing. Interestingly, those schools built upon permafrost do not experience radon problems since they are built on pilings that allow the cold air to circulate beneath the building to avoid melting the permafrost into slush. Alaska’s extreme climate has some effects on radon issues—issues that are not common to other states.
For other information about the Alaska Radon Program, contact:
Art Nash Jr.
Energy Specialist
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Alaska Fairbanks
308 Tanana Drive
POB 756180
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6180
Phone 907-474-6366
Fax 907-474-5139
Email: alnashjr@alaska.edu
United States