By Margaret Henderson
Radon levels in excess of the EPA recommended action level (4pCi/L) have been found in all 95 counties in Tennessee. Therefore, distributing the radon message to all Tennessee residents advising them to “test your home” is a goal the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Radon Program is achieving through mass marketing campaigns. Focusing on media and events in 2015, the Program’s radon messages will be broadcasted and staff will participate in large-scale events that draw thousands of attendees.
In preparation for National Radon Action Month, January 2015, Governor Bill Haslam signed a December 2014 proclamation for “Radon Action Month,” which attracted considerable media interest and was shared with the mayors of the 95 Tennessee counties. The proclamation encourages testing homes, mitigating elevated levels of radon and building new homes with radon resistant materials and features.
In April 2015, the Radon Program will sponsor two annual Earth Day events. “Both Nashville and Knoxville have large Earth Day events with live entertainment, exhibitions, and a variety of activities for all ages,” explained Jan Compton, the Radon Program Manager. These celebrations typically draw thousands of environmentally conscious individuals, whose interests make them receptive to the radon information the Radon Program will be sharing at its exhibitions at the Knoxville EarthFest and Nashville Earth Day Festival. Through these sponsorships, radon messages will gain significant media exposure in press releases and promotional spots. At the events, Radon Program staff will use exhibit space to provide testing information and share the message that “The Tennessee Radon Program is encouraging all attendees to test their home for radon.”
Another Nashville event the Radon Program will sponsor is the “Free to Breathe” 5K Run/Walk in March of 2015. This opportunity provides high visibility and a large audience for sharing the message about radon, while supporting people affected by lung cancer.
Sponsorship of Public Broadcasting System (PBS) agriculture and sustainability programming is designed to reach appropriate audiences and encourage testing homes for radon. The Radon Program will be a sponsor and underwriter of “Live Green Tennessee,” a popular program aired by PBS. Advertising spots will air at initial and close of the program and will be broadcast in the viewing areas of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky in April, and later in the summer, on statewide affiliates. These spots will educate viewers about radon and advise how to obtain a radon testing kit. The program will also have a logo on the “Live Green Tennessee” website in addition to a link to Tennessee Radon Program web page. There will be cross-promotion in the member magazine, the “Close-Up,” a full color bi-monthly magazine.
The heightened and focused media and event campaign of 2015 is designed to reach as many Tennessee residents as possible and to specifically target audiences whose interests make them receptive to testing for radon and mitigating when elevated levels of radon are discovered.
For more information, contact:
Jan Compton
Radon Program Manager
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/sustainable-practices_radon-program.shtml
Toll Free: (800) 232-1139
TDEC.Radon@tn.gov
United States