Another Year, Another Successful International Builders' Show in Las Vegas

The NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) is the largest annual light construction show in the world showcasing the latest and most in-demand products and services. This year’s show was in Las Vegas and Radon Environmental attended and exhibited for the third year in a row. There were over 90,000 attendees and 15,000 exhibitors, all in one venue building relationships and networking!

The day before the show, Radon Environmental joined Holmes Approved Builders and Product Partners at the Holmes Summit. There were presentations by Eaton, Residio, Schlage, Quality Built LLC (just to name a few!) and an engaging panel discussion on Net Zero Homes with panelists: Seth Atkins (Holmes Group), Bob Deeks (President, RDC Fine Homes), Johnathan Zerkee (President, Sonbuilt Custom Homes).

David Innes, Director of Sales, presenting to Holmes Approved Builders' and Product Partners

The Bark Side of Radon, presented by Radon Environmental, is a national public awareness campaign promoting home-owner radon testing through pet health.

Mike Holmes Jr. introducing the Net Zero Homes panel

Mike Holmes wrapping up another productive Holmes Summit

The highlight of the show was no doubt the Facebook Live event with the Holmes Team and Holmes Approved builders at the REM booth. If you missed it, be sure to check it out on the REM Facebook page!

L to R: Mike Holmes Jr, Mike Holmes, Alan Whitehead (President, Radon Environmental), Bob Deeks (President, RDC Fine Homes), Sherry Holmes, David Innes (Director of Sales, Radon Environmental), Mark Lehouillier (President, West Ridge Fine Homes), and Crystal Lytle (Radon Sales Manager at Fantech)

Radon Environmental was honoured to sponsor the QB Builder Awards night hosted by Quality Built LLC.

Crystle Lytle (Fantech), Mark Lehouillier (West Ridge Fine Homes) and David Innes (Radon Environmental)

Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes handing out the QB 2019 Builder Awards.

We are already booked to come back next year… see you in Orlando, February 9-11, 2021!

Next up for David & Alan is the World of Concrete (WOC) Show in Vegas February 4th to 7th!

REM Acquires Stake in Airwell Technologies

January 6, 2020, (Vancouver, BC) - Radon Environmental Management Corp. (REM) is excited to announce a new strategic investment that will strengthen and expand the Company’s offering of high performance radon mitigation solutions, to reduce exposure to radon in the air we breathe and water we drink, which will save lives. 

Radon is soluble in groundwater and is released as a gas into the indoor environment when well water becomes aerated as it enters a home or building. Exposure to radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and is also linked to stomach and other deadly cancers. There are an estimated 15 million groundwater wells in the United States, where stringent EPA and state radon in water standards apply. In Canada, 26% of the population is reliant on well water and in many high radon prone provinces, like Saskatchewan, 45% of the population receive their water from wells. Everyone on a groundwater well should test their water and indoor air quality for radon. 

Alan Whitehead, President & CEO of REM said, "We are delighted to have significantly strengthened our partnership with Rob and Jamie MacKinnon, founders of Airwell Technologies, the holding company of the Airwell intellectual property and sales/manufacturing rights. Our equity investment in the Airwell continues our leadership role and commitment to providing the highest performance, cost-efficient, radon mitigation solutions. Under our Shareholders Agreement with Airwell Technologies, REM will distribute the Airwell globally and I look forward to joining Rob and Jamie on the Airwell Technologies Board of Directors.”

Rob and Jamie MacKinnon, Co-Founders and Directors of Airwell Technologies said “We are excited to have partnered with REM. We have been in the water well business for over 25 years and have extensive knowledge and experience with Pressure Systems and water treatment. This partnership brings us to the forefront of radon well water mitigation. By combining REM’s vast knowledge in all things radon and our long-standing experience with well water, it will truly benefit our customers. Under our Shareholders Agreement, the Airwell will continue to be manufactured exclusively by In-Well Manufacturing Corporation in Pembroke, Ontario. In-Well Manufacturing Corporation is wholly owned by the MacKinnon’s.”

About REM
Radon Environmental is a building and environmental health sciences company focused on reducing public exposure to radon gas. REM provides innovative high-performance radon detection and mitigation solutions to treat radon in air and water. The Company consults on radon education, mapping, testing and mitigation planning, with government organizations and the building and construction sector across North America. A strength of the company is its emphasis on strategic development to build strong partner and customer relationships.

About Airwell
Airwell is a new patented technology, it is a highly efficient, low voltage, low maintenance mitigation system, for removing radon in well water. It is the only system on the market that mitigates the radon outside the home, in the well. The Airwell’s patented aeration system reduces radon levels by 92-99% and will also mitigate methane, sulphur and iron levels present in groundwater wells.

David Innes (center), Director of Sales at REM with Jamie MacKinnon (left) and Rob MacKinnon (right), Directors, Airwell Technologies at NGWA’s Groundwater Week in Las Vegas in December 2019.

For further information, please contact:

David Innes, Director of Sales
Radon Environmental
Tel: (778) 327 4717 office, (888) 527-4717 toll free
Email: david.innes@radoncorp.com  |  Web: www.radoncorp.com

Spreading Radon Awareness

Radon Action Month wrapped up last week with a week of Radon Education workshops.

Radon Environmental hosted two Radon Education Seminars in Regina and Saskatoon, as part of the “Tackle Radon” initiative, launched in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Lung Association to raise radon awareness and encourage testing in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Andrew Greene, Tackle Radon Ambassador and former Saskatchewan Roughrider, even stopped in at the Regina workshop. A lucky attendee in both Regina and Saskatoon was drawn to win in a limited edition football autographed by Andrew and Adam Bighill, Winnipeg Bluebomber and Grey Cup Champion!

Tackle Radon - Regina

Andrew Greene, Tackle Radon Ambassador and former Saskatchewan Roughrider, with Alan Whitehead (left) and David Innes (right) of Radon Environmental.

Tackle Radon - Saskatoon

Alan Whitehead (left) and David Innes (right) of Radon Environmental with Jill Hubick, Community & Patient Engagement, Saskatchewan Lung Association.

The week ended with the 8th Annual B.C. Radon Workshop in Abbotsford, BC hosted by the BC Lung Foundation. This year’s workshop had a record attendance of over 100 attendees, including many local realtors! The session was divided in the afternoon with a special session for realtors led by Dr. Noah Quastel from Simon Fraser University/British Columbia Lung Foundation. Workshop presenters included representatives from Health Canada, BC Centre for Disease Control, CAREX, C-NRPP, CARST, Interior Health, Fraser Valley Regional District, SFU, North Vancouver City Library and Radon Environmental. For the full program, visit: https://bclung.ca/health-professionals/annual-radon-workshop.

B.C. Radon Workshop

Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol, Simon Fraser University/CAREX (left) and Ms. Pam Warkentin, Executive Director, Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (right).

Bark Side of Radon

Alana McFarlane (right) from Radon Environmental with Emily Li (left) from SFU presenting the Bark Side of Radon - a national public awareness campaign promoting home-owner radon testing through pet health.

Testing & Mitigation

David Innes of Radon Environmental presenting new methods of testing and mitigating radon.

REM Teams Up with Pylon and Wescan to Provide Radon in Water Testing Services Across Canada

November 27, 2019 - Radon Environmental Management Corp. (REM) Pylon Electronics and Wescan (a Pylon Company) are excited to announce a new partnership to provide laboratory services to test radon in water across Canada. Radon is soluble in groundwater and can be found in high concentrations in areas where the geologic radon potential is known to be elevated. When the well water enters the home, the radon will off-gas through aeration when showers, faucets and toilets are run.

"We are delighted to have teamed up with Pylon and Wescan to provide this important service to the public. If you are on a well and your indoor air radon levels are high, the well could be a significant contributing factor. Inhalation of radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and ingestion of radon has also been linked to stomach and other cancers. To reduce radon-induced cancer risk, it is important to have well water tested for radon to save lives," said Alan Whitehead, President & CEO of REM.

“We have been working with Radon Environmental for many years and we are excited to expand these testing services to the West coast” said Jim Mullins, Vice President of Pylon Electronics Inc. “The Wescan team is looking forward to contributing to this important activity of helping the public understand Radon risk factors in their respective living environments.”

About REM

Radon Environmental is a building and environmental health sciences company focused on reducing public exposure to radon gas. REM provides innovative high-performance radon detection and mitigation solutions to treat radon in air and water. The company consults on radon education, mapping, testing and mitigation planning with government organizations and the building and construction sector across North America. A strength of the company is its emphasis on strategic development to build strong partner and customer relationships.

About Pylon

Pylon is the largest independent and Canadian-owned service provider of test equipment calibration and repair services in Canada.  We provide quality calibration services with accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025, active participation in the calibration community and commitment to customer satisfaction.

For more information, please visit: www.pylonelectronics.com

Pylon’s Instrument Division is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of precision radon measurement and detection instruments sold worldwide. Pylon also offers traceable calibration services using our radon and thoron chambers for many radon detection devices from a variety of OEM’s.

For more information, please visit: www.pylonelectronics-radon.com

About Wescan

Wescan brings a long history of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 of its calibration capabilities with broad measurement and metrology solutions to aerospace and aviation, analytical laboratories, automotive, bio-pharmaceutical, energy, health services and sciences, machining and manufacturing, oil and gas, research and development, testing and other industries. With the recent acquisition of Wescan by Pylon, operations have been expanded to include the Radon in water testing.

For more information, please visit: https://www.wescancal.com/

For further information, please contact:

David Innes, Director of Sales
Radon Environmental
Tel: (778) 327 4717 office, (888) 527-4717 toll free
Email: info@radoncorp.com | Web: www.radoncorp.com

Charles Larocque, Nuclear Lab Specialist
Pylon Electronics 
Tel: 613-226-7920 ext. 241
Email: clarocque@pylonelectronics.com | Web: https://pylonelectronics-radon.com/

Roberta Polukoshko, Business Development Manager
Wescan Calibration
Tel: (604)275-0600
Email: info@wescancal.com | Web: https://www.wescancal.com

Radon Action Month Kicks Off in Abbotsford BC

November is Lung Cancer Awareness and Radon Action Month. Take Action on Radon is a national initiative that works to bring together radon stakeholders and raise radon awareness across Canada. The initiative is led by the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST), CAREX Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

This year’s launch was hosted by Sonbuilt Custom Homes, a Holmes Approved builder. The kick-off event was held at a new Sonbuilt custom home under construction, which has been built to reduce exposure to toxic radon gas - the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Photos from the event:

Alan Whitehead (REM & CARST) with Carmen and Johnathan Zerkee, President of Sonbuilt Custom Homes.

Sonbuilt chose to use high-performance Radon Guard sub-slab ventilation and insulation panels instead of the prescriptive gravel in the code.

Johnathan describing the use of Radon Block, a high-performance gas and vapour barrier membrane engineered to block radon and methane. He also describes using the Radon Guard and Block together as a high-performance system to “Build it Right.”

Johnathan welcoming the attendees and city officials and dignitaries explaining why it’s important to “Build it Right” to save lives!

Henry Braun, Mayor of Abbotsford was presented with a TAOR pin to commemorate the event and recognize the Mayor and City Council’s proactive role to reduce their citizens’ exposure to radon.

A large crowd attended the event, including City Building Code Officials, Abbotsford Mayor and MLA, Health Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, CARST, as well as Global News and Fairchild TV.

Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol (CAREX/SFU) talking with Simon Gibson, MLA for Abbotsford and Mission Districts.

This year's Radon Action Month campaign, Today 4 Tomorrow, encourages Canadians to be proactive and plan for a healthy future by testing their home for radon, and reducing exposure to high levels. During the campaign, Take Action on Radon will highlight the positive actions of municipalities across Canada and the steps communities can take to help their residents protect themselves.

We are excited to see municipalities such as Abbotsford taking a leadership role in raising awareness about radon, including through their participation in the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge.

Stay tuned for more action this month as we join together to raise radon awareness.

Bark Ambassadors Are Barking About Radon

The Bark Side of Radon sprouted from Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol’s health sciences class at SFU where the students came up with the health promotion marketing idea. Radon Environmental’s President, Alan Whitehead, loved the idea so much that they brought one of the students onboard the team to help develop it, and here we are with a full-blown collaborative radon awareness movement. 

The Bark Side movement is rapidly growing and wouldn’t be where it is today without the initiative of Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol and the imagination and creativity of her SFU students.

Dr. Aaron Goodarzi is the latest Bark Ambassador to join the movement. He is the Canada Research Chair for Radiation Exposure and the Chair of the Board and research lead of Evict Radon, a Canadian non-profit organization whose goal is to solve Canada’s substantial and worsening radon-gas exposure problem through interdisciplinary research for the benefit of all Canadians. The Evict Radon Study is now recruiting for the study and is open to all Canadians – tests can be purchased on the Evict Radon website.

In 2015, Dr. Goodarzi was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40. In 2016, he was made a University of Calgary “Peak Scholar” for innovation in radon gas and lung cancer knowledge engagement; in 2018, he was selected as a TEDx speaker and, in 2019, received one of the School of Medicine’s Education Awards for innovation in graduate training. 

The Evict Radon project helps researchers understand how our home environment influences our radon exposure. For instance, they found that newer Western Canadian homes have higher radon levels. Research also showed that 1 in 6 homes tested in Western Canada had dangerously high levels of radon gas.

Stay tuned for more profiles on the Bark Radon Ambassadors, including Janet Whitehead from Janet's Story, Anne-Marie Nicol (PhD, SFU health sciences professor), Mike Holmes and Mike Jr., hosts of "Holmes on Homes®." and Sherry Holmes, contractor & weekend DIYer! 

Rapidos® Featured on Holmes 911 Show on CTV Life

Did you know that Rapidos® is being featured in episode 4 of ‘Holmes 911’ on Tuesday, October 8th on the CTV Life channel?

For our friends south of the border… you can watch it in the U.S. on Episode 4 of ‘Holmes and Holmes’ - Season 3 which airs on October 23rd on the DIY Network.

The first episode, “Families Helping Families” can now be viewed online here and pulled on all of our heartstrings! Patricia and Rod’s son Jake was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 7, forcing Patricia to quit her job. Their house “The City Barn” needed a lot of repairs, and they also wanted to make it accessible for Jake. When Mike and his crew took over the job, they had to deal with structural issues and a very odd discovery while digging the footings in the basement.

Rapidos® is an alpha track detector for short term measurements - it is suitable for 10-day to 30-day testing. It has the convenience of a short term radon test with the benefits of a long term test. You can find this short-term test and more in Radon Environmental’s Testing Shop: https://radoncorp.com/testing-shop

Testing for radon - Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the symptoms of radon poisoning?

There are no immediate symptoms to exposure to radon at low, moderate or high levels. Symptoms of illness as a result of radon poisoning include those of lung cancer or stomach cancers. If you are concerned about your health, contact your doctor or health official who is knowledgeable about the effects of radon.

2. When is the best time to test for radon?

Anytime is a good time to test. The best time is during the winter or heating season when doors and windows are closed. If you live in a home with a well, don’t forget to test your water also!

3. Where should I place the radon detector in my home?

To provide a realistic estimate of the radon exposure of your family, all measurements should be made in the lowest lived-in level of the home. That means the lowest level that is used or occupied for more than four hours per day. For some, this may be a basement with a rec room, for others it will be the ground floor.

4. What is the differences between a short-term and long-term radon test?

A short-term radon test is a screening test to get fast results. An example of this is to get an idea how much might be held in escrow for a real estate transaction. A long-term radon test is recommended in order to make a mitigation decision. Health Canada recommends conducting a long term test for a minimum of 3 months - this will provide an average radon concentration which can be compared to the threshold defined in the national guideline.

5. I have tested and my radon levels are high, what do I do now?

If your radon test result is above Health Canada’s guideline of 200 Bq/m3, a C-NRPP certified Mitigation Professional can help you identify the best radon mitigation system for your space. They will design an effective system, install it according to proper protocols and follow up with a test to ensure the system’s effectiveness in reducing radon levels immediately after installation. The good news is it’s fixable!

News Release - August 27, 2019

Radon Environmental launches new radon awareness and testing campaign, “The Bark Side of Radon”, with support from Sherry and Mike Holmes Jr.

August 27, 2019 - Radon Environmental is launching The Bark Side of Radon, a radon awareness campaign encouraging pet owners to test their indoor air quality for radon. The Holmes family, including Mike Holmes Jr., Sherry, and their furry family members, are supporting the campaign with videos for pet lovers (see links below). The key message? Pets are part of the family and breathe the same air we do. Protecting their health is protecting your whole family’s health when you test for radon.

Radon, a radioactive, invisible gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Seven times heavier than air, radon accumulates close to the ground – where your pets are. Animals can’t take action to protect the air they breathe, but you can.

The Bark Side team is reaching out to every homeowner that loves their pets. To bolster the campaign, they’ve brought on Bark Ambassadors like Simon Fraser University (SFU) professor Anne-Marie Nicol. The campaign started as a health risk communication project to raise public awareness of radon in Nicol’s Faculty of Health Sciences class. Radon Environmental President, Alan Whitehead recognized the idea’s potential to amplify radon awareness. “We love our pets like family – they are our family and best friends. Protect their health and wellness by preventing exposure to radon and the associated cancer risk. Pet owners who care are pet owners who test,” says Alan.

Emily Li, one of the SFU students behind the idea, is now working with Radon Environmental. The momentum has been building with outreach to the animal wellness community, including veterinary colleges and offices, animal advocacy groups, and pet food supply stores. “This is a unique approach to communicating a public health hazard,” explains Nicol. “By reaching out to pet owners known for their high level of commitment to their animal’s health, we are motivating them to test for radon and protect everyone in the home.”

Watch the videos:
Mike Holmes Jr. and his dog Caicos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2w_WZkoYcE&feature=youtu.be

Sherry Holmes and her cat Loki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg4mLmG6-8s&feature=youtu.be

Visit the website:
barksideofradon.com

Contact us, get involved:
Alana McFarlane, Communications + Design
Radon Environmental
amcfarlane@radoncorp.com, 778 327 4717

@barksideofradon  @radoncorp  #barkradon

News Release - August 14, 2019

REM Teams up with Fantech in North America

August 21, 2019 - Radon Environmental Management Corp. (REM) and Fantech are excited to announce a new strategic partnership, which will strengthen and expand their offering of high performance radon mitigation solutions, to reduce radon exposure and save lives.

Alan Whitehead, President & CEO of REM said, "We are delighted to have teamed up with Fantech, an established and respected leader in indoor air quality and radon mitigation. Our product lines are both complimentary and synergistic, providing an excellent opportunity for our two companies, to expand their market position, which will benefit our respective clients across North America."

“Combining REM's Radostat technology with Fantech’s air exchange HRV systems is a great example of synergy. Fantech will also add REM’s patented Airwell water treatment technology to their radon mitigation product line, positioning Fantech to now offer a high performance and cost-effective solution to treat radon in well water for the first time" Phil Rivas, Director of Sales, Fantech.

About REM

Radon Environmental is a building and environmental health sciences company focused on reducing public exposure to radon gas. REM provides innovative high-performance radon detection and mitigation solutions to treat radon in air and water. The company consults on radon education, mapping, testing and mitigation planning, with government organizations and the building and construction sector across North America. A strength of the company is its emphasis on strategic development to build strong partner and customer relationships.

About Fantech

Fantech, a Systemair Company, was founded in the 1980’s with just a single product, the inline duct fan. Today, their solutions range in a number of residential and light commercial applications. The Systemair group operates 23 factories in 19 countries globally, 3 of which are in North America. Systemair operates using 3 simple rules attached to our vision: 1.) We put our customers first. 2.) We simplify & 3.) We guide. For Fantech to have a strong future, our markets we work in must be fortified and strong as well, thus market partnerships and stewardship are a priority.

For further information, please contact:

David Innes, Director of Sales
david.innes@radoncorp.com
www.radoncorp.com

Crystal Lytle, Radon Sales Manager
crystal.lytle@fantech.net
www.fantech.com

August 1st is World Lung Cancer Day

Today is World Lung Cancer Day. Lung Cancer claims more lives worldwide than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. Radon induced lung cancer is real and preventable. Like most people, Janet thought only people who smoked got lung cancer. But that’s not the case. Watch her story.

Rachael Malmberg was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at age 31. The former national-level U.S. hockey player had never smoked and had lived a perfectly healthy life. Since her diagnosis, Malmberg has become an advocate for radon testing. Read more about Rachel's story.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking). Health Canada recently increased its estimate of radon induced lung cancer deaths to approximately 16% of all lung cancers or approximately 3,200 Canadians that die annually from radon exposure.

Health Canada's policy is that all Canadian homes should be tested for radon and mitigated if above the action guideline. Interestingly, many people do not choose to mitigate after finding their dwellings have elevated radon levels. Mitigation need not be difficult or costly.

The only way to know how much radon may be present in your indoor air is to test for it. You can order a radon test online to test your home - it’s easy and inexpensive!

What's new at Radon Environmental

Summer is in full swing but we are gearing up for another busy fall season here at Radon Environmental!

As of July 29th, our office moved to 502-1281 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3J7. We are excited about the fresh new space and open for business!

We are booked to exhibit (and speak) at seven shows across North America and more to come! Check out our Events page for details. If you’d like to join us, follow the events page for upcoming promo codes and discounts to attend some of these shows.

We’re already planning for Radon Action Month and we’re launching a new wellness campaign for all the loved ones in your home. Stay tuned for more details!

Welcome to our new website!

We are happy to announce Radon Environmental now has a brand new website!

Look at what’s new!

• book a workshop

• learn about products in action in case studies

• watch Director of Sales, David Innes, install an Airwell with Mike Holmes Jr.

• order a product at the Testing Shop

We’re streamlining to bring you a better customer experience!

We have a new online reporting system, My Pages, directly tied to the laboratory, Radonova. Radonova, an accredited ISO-17025 and C-NRPP laboratory analyzes your completed test and provides your certified radon report.

We’d love to hear your feedback - send us a note and let us know what you think!