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Radon Action Month

By: Lexi Brown

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., responsible for 21,000 deaths annually. You may have never even heard of radon, but it may already be in your home. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in rock and soil and can accumulate in buildings such as residences. You cannot see, smell or taste radon. Approximately one in five homes tested through the State Radon Program showed levels above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended action level of 4 pCi/L, an exposure level equivalent to smoking 8 cigarettes per day.

Radon may sound scary but protecting yourself and your family does not have to be. The first step to reducing your radon exposure is to test your home and know your number. Governor Lee has proclaimed January “Radon Action Month” and the state of Tennessee is offering a limited number of free radon test kits to residents which can be ordered online. Once you receive your test kit, simply fill out the information on the kit and follow the instructions to place the test kit in your home for 3-7 days. Once completed, reseal the test kit and place it in the mail. Postage is provided so there is no additional fee to get your results. The kit is sent to a lab to be analyzed and you will be notified of your results within a few days.

Although high levels of radon have been found in every county of Tennessee, radon mitigation companies can effectively reduce the level of radon in a home to a safe level. The only way to know if your home has elevated radon levels is to test. Protect your family by ordering a test kit today.

Community Corner

As Tennesseans across the state dealt with sub-freezing temperatures and high electric and gas bills last month, the reaction for many is to explore options for improving their home’s energy efficiency. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, homes and commercial buildings consume 40% of the energy used in the United States. Of the $2,000 the average American spends paying for energy annually, $200 to $400 could be going to waste from drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems. Click here to learn more about the value of energy efficiency upgrades and how you can reduce your energy-related costs.

Residents should be aware that weatherization and other energy efficiency upgrades can have negative impacts on occupant health and safety if not accompanied by appropriate indoor air quality (IAQ) protections. Tightening a building can build up unhealthy levels of indoor pollutants such as combustion gases, secondhand smoke, radon, and volatile organic compounds. You can visit the US Environmental Protection Agency’s website to learn more about how you can protect IAQ in your home.

Business Corner

Upcoming Webinar

Corporate Partnership Opportunities and Carbon/Water Programs

Wednesday, January 11, 2023 || 1pm CST

Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl to the benefit of multiple species including people. To protect wetlands and waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited works with a range of stakeholders, including partnering with corporations and businesses on conservation projects. This webinar will provide an overview of Ducks Unlimited, their work with corporate and business partners on conservation, and their emerging work in carbon and water nature-based solutions, and how partnering can help companies meet their sustainability goals. DU will highlight case studies of existing projects that are happening now and introduce new ideas for conservation that you might not have thought of.

State Government Corner

Tennessee State Parks (TSP) are constantly looking for ways to make their parks more accessible to their guests. With many of our parks located in remote locations, unreliable cell service can often limit the availability of useful information such as park maps. However, thanks to the generous donations from TSP’s Trail Pack supporters this past year, visitors can now access offline trail maps for free.

The Avenza Maps app uses GPS location tracking so it is able to work even when you don’t have service. As you hike on any of our state parks’ trails, your location moves in real-time on the map and will guide your way. To learn how to access the app, click here.

If you are looking for more Tennessee State Parks maps, you can visit the Smart Parks Open Portal, powered by ArcGIS, to explore interactive web maps, view or download geospatial data, and more.

Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

Happy New Year! Make your business resolutions achievable by working with TN’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) to get into environmental compliance. SBEAP can review your TDEC-issued permits to determine what the expectations are for your specific business, explain paperwork requirements, and may even perform site visits to check for obvious indicators of pollution. Contact us today to start the conversation! Our New Year’s resolution is to better help you achieve environmental compliance.

Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards Application

Recipe of the Month

How do you use food wisely? Make 3 meals from 1 roasted chicken! Check out these recipes from The Pioneer Woman.

News Articles

Meta turns to the sun to power data centers in Tennessee and Georgia

Nashville one of 16 pilot cities for AAA mobile EV charging

Events

Tennessee State Parks Events

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Environmental Education in Tennessee Events

Socket, Nashville's Sustainability Outlet

Funding Opportunities

TDEC Grants and Programs

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

TDOT Rural Planning Initiative

Grants.gov

West Tennessee Capital Grants Program

Deadline: February 3, 2023

USDA Farm to School Grant Program

Deadline: January 6, 2023

Conferences/Workshops/Training Opportunities

green|leader - The Nation's First Localized Sustainability Certificate
Ongoing Opportunity

Pick TN Conference

February 16-18, 2023

Stay tuned as we receive updates about upcoming conferences.

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