Counter intelligence
If you've heard any of the recent hoopla about radon being emitted from granite countertops and you have granite countertops you may be panicking. But before you plan a total kitchen overhaul, know this: While radon, a gas that occurs naturally when uranium breaks down in soil, rock, and water, is a health hazard emitted from different kinds of granite in varying levels, the Environmental Protection Agency does not believe that the granite used in most countertops significantly increases indoor radon levels. According to Richard Toohey, president of the Healthy Physics Society: "No action needs to be taken to remove granite countertops in existing homes."
However, the granite countertop scare is a good reminder that all of us could stand to check our homes for radon, a major cause of lung cancer. EPA guidelines suggest that people who live in houses with radon levels higher than 4 picocuries per liter employ radon reduction techniques. For help with testing and reduction, contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Radiation Control Program (800-723-6695).
If you ever do plan a kitchen renovation, consider skipping the granite anyway not just because of the low levels of radon it may emit, but because quarrying new granite can be environmentally damaging and shipping granite isn't fuel efficient. Try eco-friendly options such as Icestone (recycled glass and concrete), Paperstone (recycled paper and natural resin), or reclaimed wood, metal, or stone. Your Home, Your World (www.yourhomeyourworld.com) in Concord, N.H., and Green Depot (www.greendepot.com) in Stoneham are good local sources for green building supplies.
Green tip: At least one thing about greening your home just got simpler. When your energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs burn out, you can safely dispose of them via the new CFL recycling program at all Home Depot locations (www.homedepot.com).
Christie Matheson is the author of "Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style." Send questions to globegreenside@yahoo.com. 