From Name
Jack Bartholomew Jr.

This has been a longer battle than I ever thought it would be and it’s good to see the passion behind the words. Some battles take more time and many different voices. At least we are still trying.I am one of those who installed successful passive and active systems in energy efficient new homes 20 years ago. We got beat up by many builders when we delivered the message and the code language in the Pacific NW in the late ‘80’s. A few builders did not believe until their tighter above grade constructions had 50+ pCi/L and no preliminary slab sealing or vent riser, and required a vent esthetically routed out of the designed building and operate quietly too. Lucky we were good at it.
 
I agree that the passive vent associated with RRNC is really more about rough-in for an active system later, it's a coin flip until you test. And when approached that way, allows for more complex vent designs with elbows. Idealism as it is, the thought that “no fan is required” is the ultimate goal of a low energy home. On the other hand, the foundation and sub-floor prep the RRNC guidance specifies, and the excellent pressure extension abili
ty that can be developed with low airflows and an energy star rated fan hardly makes the system an energy hog. So, fear not the active approach but do we need a motor in evey new home. In many cases, the small fans I have installed have excess airflow capacity suggesting the single continuous active soil venting system could also provide continuous whole house or spot exhaust ventilation, as if reducing the potential for radon induced lung cancer isn’t enough of a motivation to apply the good sense.
 
2 more,
Jack Bartholomew Jr.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Hill
To: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU
Sent: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 11:12 am
Subject: Re: [RADONPROFESSIONALS] LEED-H
This is my personal opinion:
 
Most of us agree that the green building movement is a great way to market the radon message in the future. Some of us have been working on that for several years. Lets=2
0be clear about the shortcomings of the LEED-H, NAHB Green Building, and Energy Star IAP programs as they pertain to radon. They get their inspiration for RRNC from the EPA and we all know a passive pipe does not make a house "resistant" to radon. It is merely a rough-in pipe for a system. This continued branding of a rough-in as RRNC is misleading and irresponsible. If EPA were to take a leadership position in changing their branding, perhaps the green build programs would be more effective at protecting people from radon.
 
My 2,
Dave Hill
From: International Web Resource for Radon Professionals [mailto:RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jeff Miner
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:17 AM
To: RADONPROFESSIONALS@LIST.UIOWA.EDU
Subject: Re: [RADONPROFESSIONALS] LEED-H
Thanks, Trudy,
I will post your comments for the radon community to see.  I think more of u
s need to hear the problems with radon being ignored by LEED-H committees.
Jeff Miner
Trudy Y Smith wrote:
I'm really pleased to hear you have been following the LEED-H standards-writing and have been as disappointed as I with the relegation of radon to a step-child--again.  Since LEED-H refers to the EPA Energy with Indoor Air Plus, I'm doubly disappointed that EPA changed the final version of that program to only cover RRNC in Zone I areas.  The original package required RRNC in Zones I and II.  In the USGBC meetings I've attended the radon message has been soundly ignored. I think it will again take more hollering from the radon community to get these consensus-based documents to give radon its due.  It's not hard to get onto the USGBC comments e-mail lists.  Usually the local chapter dues are fairly low.  Yet another spot where our voices are needed.
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