Energy efficiency and clean air are the foundations of clean and renewable energy development. My project has built a coalition amongst ASUSES (Appalachian State University Sustainable Energy Society) Solar Club, Habitat Club, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp. and the NC Radon Office. The goal of our retrofit project in the HIgh country *Watauga, Ashe counties NC is to install CFL's and provide radon testing at no cost to residents in homes of modest means. Radon is the number two cause of cancer deaths annually behind smoking. The CFL's are used to reduce the energy consumption and costs for these homes, which can see up to a $2000 savings for every 50 bulbs installed. Currently Watauga county is in an EPA zone 1 radon area where on average homes are keeping above average levels of gas in the home.http://www.ncradon.org/zone-counties.htm
The quantitative metrics of the project are derived form energy audits which take place at each home participating in the project.
