Parametric analysis of the installation and operating costs of active soil-depressurization systems for residential radon mitigation. Final report, Dec 90-May 91

The report gives results of a recent analysis showing that cost-effective indoor radon reduction technology is required for houses with initial radon concentrations < 4 pCi/L, because 78-86% of the national lung cancer risk due to radon is associated with those houses. Active soil depressurization (ASD) is an effective and widely applicable radon reduction technology, but commercial use has been limited in part by installation and operating costs. A parametric cost analysis was conducted to determine if ASD installation and operating costs might be reduced enough to increase voluntary use of the technology, especially in houses < 4 pCi/L. The analysis showed that various modifications to ASD system designs offer potential for reducing installation costs by up to several hundred dollars, but would not reduce total installed costs much below $800-$1000. Such reductions would probably not be enough to dramatically increase voluntary use of ASD technology. Thus, some innovative, inexpensive mitigation approach(es) that would be widely used, in addition to ASD, would appear to be necessary to reduce the risk associated with low-radon houses. Decreased ASD fan capacity and increased sealing might reduce ASD operating costs (for fan electricity and house heating/cooling) by roughly $7.50/mo. This amount would not likely be a deciding factor for most homeowners