Comprehensive survey on radon mitigation and indoor air quality in energy efficient buildings from Romania

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2021-01, Vol.751, p.141858-141858, Article 141858
• Main Authors: Burghele, B.D., Botoș, M., Beldean-Galea, S., Cucoș, A., Catalina, T., Dicu, T., Dobrei, G., Florică, Ș., Istrate, A., Lupulescu, A., Moldovan, M., Niță, D., Papp, B., Pap, I., Szacsvai, K., Sainz, C., Tunyagi, A., Țenter, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy efficiency; Indoor air quality; Indoor radon; Mitigation
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141858

Over the last 10 years applied scientific research has been carried out in Romania to tacked the residential radon issues. The increased interest to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings has lead to the implementation and use of new architectural solutions aimed to save energy in houses and other buildings. As a consequence, the degree of retrofit in existing buildings and energy efficiency of new buildings promoted the need to not only mitigate indoor radon, but improve indoor air quality overall. The present study found that the while the best performance in radon reduction was confirmed to be based on sub-slab depressurization (61% - 95% reduction), centralized and decentralized mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation with heat recovery yielded a good efficiency in overall improvement of indoor air quality (CO2, VOC, RH, temperature). The outcome of our research, as well as future perspectives, take into account the recommended harmonization of energy efficiency programs with those of public health by finding and applying the best technologies in compliance with energy saving and indoor environmental quality. [Display omitted] •High indoor radon levels are not specific to radon priority areas.•Retrofit works should include mandatory radon survey and mechanical ventilation.•SSD combined with radon barrier yields the highest efficiency in radon reduction.•Indoor air quality mitigation requires indoor heat recovery ventilation.•Mitigations of inhabited buildings can be inconvenient yet highly beneficial.