How does improving the energy efficiency of a home affect radon levels?

Question

Emilia Aguirre · Accepted Answer

Improving energy efficiency of a home generally means reducing the exchange of outdoor air (ventilation) with indoor air that can be contaminated with radon gas.

Due to its radioactive nature and lack of taste, odor, or color, radon gas is undetectable to humans and can cause lung cancer depending on the amount and duration of exposure. Radon gas enters buildings through foundational cracks and voids from the surrounding soil. As we strive to save money and conserve energy, building energy efficiency has been rising steadily. However, this also results in less airflow between the inside and outside of buildings, particularly in the winter months. As a result of this practice, the concentration of radon gas will rise to levels that may be dangerous for human consumption. There are several ways to lessen the risk of radon gas in a home, but before anything else, the building's gas concentration must be measured. If the risk is high, the gas itself needs to be extracted.

Wesley Alvarado · Answer

undefined Improving the energy efficiency of a home can potentially increase radon levels if proper ventilation measures are not implemented. This is because sealing up cracks and gaps to improve energy efficiency can also trap radon gas indoors, leading to higher concentrations. Therefore, it's important to ensure adequate ventilation and possibly implement radon mitigation measures when making energy efficiency improvements to a home.