Tipperary County Council Library Service now offers a loan scheme for Home Testing Kits to our members. This service allows you to borrow a Home Energy Saving Kit (HESK) for testing energy usage in your home, and Digital Radon Monitors to check radon levels. You can borrow one or both of these kits from your nearest participating library and keep the item for up to three weeks.
Read on to find out more about how to use these kits and the benefits to your home!
What is a Home Energy Saving Kit?
The Home Energy Saving Kit contains five useful tools, which help you better understand where you are currently wasting energy at home. It comes with a complete User Manual which makes it easy to use. This kit demonstrates how you can save energy and money while making your home more comfortable. It’s the first step towards a more energy efficient home!
Click on the link below to download your Home Energy Saving Kit user manual.
What is the Radon Monitor Loan Scheme?
The Radon Monitor Loan Scheme enables members of the public to borrow digital radon monitors to check radon levels in their homes. This is a Healthy Ireland at Your Library initiative, supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to raise awareness of radon and promote proactive health measures. Radon causes about 350 lung cancer cases in Ireland each year. Borrowing a monitor – in the same way as you borrow a book for three weeks – will give a good indication of radon levels in a home. To get an accurate measurement of radon levels, a three month test is required.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Ireland after smoking. Radon moves from the ground into buildings through cracks in floors, gaps around pipes, and other openings. It can accumulate indoors, especially in ground-floor rooms and basements. While not a replacement for the recommended three-month test, the monitors offer a valuable first step in identifying potential radon issues.
Where can I find further information on radon? You can visit www.radon.ie to get further information on testing your home and reducing high levels to keep you and your family safe. The EPA Radon Freephone line is available 24/7 on 1800 300 600.
