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SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS |
October
2013
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If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.
-Jonathan Winters |
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Eliza, age 9, from Clinton, TN made this award winning poster |
Radon Awareness Week: October 16-22
by:
Jan Compton
TDEC-Office of Sustainable Practices
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is joining forces with the Department of Health and local sustainability directors to help educate Tennesseans about the dangers of radon exposure and encourage actions to identify and to address radon problems in the home. The quality of air in the home is very important due to the increased time residents spend indoors. Radon is a naturally occurring gas with no color, odor, or taste which can accumulate in homes as it enters through cracks and openings in the foundation. Exposure to high levels of radon gas can pose a threat to human health.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The EPA estimates that approximately 70 percent of Tennessee's population lives in high risk or moderate risk radon areas.
"I encourage all Tennesseans to check for the presence of radon in their homes," TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau said.
"Testing each household is an important step to safeguard homes from the dangers of the exposure to radon."
In observance of Radon Awareness Week, educational events will be held across the state to inform residents about radon awareness and the importance of testing individual homes. A limited number of complimentary test kits will be available at each event, while supplies last. Educational events will include:
Nashville
Thursday, October 17: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Metro Public Health Department
311 23rd Avenue North
Knoxville
Friday, October 18: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lawson McGee Public Library
500 West Church Avenue
Memphis
Friday, October 18: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Central Library
3030 Poplar
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Earth Shelter and Environmental Education Center
by:
Chris Pianta
TDEC-Office of Sustainable Practices
 | | Greg Harris, Harold Madison, Kathy Glapa, Christina Treglia, and Chris Pianta (L-R) stand on top of the earth shelter. |
On September 17th, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Office of Sustainable Practices hosted a Lunch and Learn event in Athens, TN at the city's new Earth Shelter and Environmental Education Center. In attendance were various dignitaries including City Manager, Mitchell B. Moore, Vice Mayor Ann Davis, Former Athens Mayor John Proffitt, Executive Director McMinn Economic Development Authority Kathy Knight, and Executive Director Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Rob Preston.
Attendees had the opportunity to enjoy lunch while learning about the Earth Shelter's sustainable design features and the efforts that went into constructing the shelter, the first of its kind to be built in the United States. Lunch was followed by a tour of the unique structure that was manufactured from recycled plastic materials and uses soil and grass to cover and insulate its walls and roof. The building is 600 square feet and runs completely on power that comes from a 4.5Kw solar array that was also installed as part of the project. The cost of the shelter was approximately $60,000. The structure's completed cost of $120/sqft is comparable to the current average cost of residential construction in Tennessee. However, the shelter is expected to reduce energy demands by 60% over traditional building construction.
The project was funded in part by Clean Tennessee Energy Grant money. The majority of the funds received by the City of Athens from the grant were spent on four 50Kw solar arrays that were built at the Athens Public Works Complex. The arrays will produce approximately $60,000 in income and savings that has been earmarked for future energy initiatives.
The Clean Tennessee Energy Grant (CTEG) Program selects and funds projects that best result in a reduction of emissions and pollutants identified below. The CTEG Program provides financial assistance to municipal government, county government, utility districts, and other entities created by statute in Tennessee to purchase, install, and construct energy projects that fit into one of the following eligible project categories:
- Cleaner Alternative Energy: biomass, geothermal, solar, wind
- Energy Conservation: Lighting, HVAC improvements, improved fuel efficiency, insulation, idling minimization
- Air Quality Improvement, including Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), Greenhouse Gases
The CTEG Program will be accepting applications for the next round of grants starting in November. For additional information about the CTEG Program please visit http://tn.gov/environment/grants_energy.shtml.
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Governor Haslam Announces $2.1 Million in Safe Routes to School Grants
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced Safe Routes to School funding totaling $2.1 for 15 municipalities in Tennessee. The funds will be used by multiple schools to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, signs and safe walking and biking educational activities. The Safe Routes to School Program is a statewide initiative designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing and healthier alternative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
"Increased physical activity is key to improving the health of Tennessee families," Haslam said. "The Safe Routes to School Program helps communities across the state create safer walking and biking environments for students and funds activities that encourage healthy lifestyles."
The table below is a listing of the entities receiving funding for this project:
The grants are made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
"The Safe Routes to School program integrates health, safety, traffic relief, and environmental awareness, all under one umbrella," said Commissioner Schroer. "Funds may be used for infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure activities that directly support increased safety and conveniences for students to walk and bike to and from school."
Since 2005, the Safe Routes to School grants have funded improvement projects at 138 schools across Tennessee. Nationally, more than 14,500 schools have benefited from funds through state SRTS programs.
Click on the logo above to find out more about the program.
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Click on the logo to find an event near you!!! |
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TELL US YOUR STORY!!!
If you have a story for our monthly newsletter, please share it. Deadlines for story submissions will be the last Friday of each month. This monthly newsletter is published by TDEC Office of Sustainable Practices. |
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