What’s worse than waking up on a Sunday morning because your neighbor has decided to mow the lawn? You’re furious because the loud noise of the lawn mower has made you practically jump out of your bed. While noise is an inevitable part of our lives (it’s practically impossible to avoid it), excessive noise results in noise pollution that negatively impacts both our health and the environment.
The majority of the environmental impact is on wildlife. Animals chose habitats based on the sounds contained within them. Basically, if they can’t tolerate a specific environment’s sounds, they’re unlikely to endure any of that environment’s conditions.
“But!” We hear you speak. “The environment isn’t always quiet either.” Of course it isn’t. In fact, the environment can be pretty noisy – from reptile migrations to and wild winds, thunder and bird calls, the environment products noises of a unique nature. However, most wildlife has adapted to the natural sounds they hear on a daily basis – they are aware of what to expect and how to interpret different noises.
In addition, noise pollution has some adverse impacts on the health of humans. The most prominent ones are sleep disruption and psychological disruption. For instance, the noise around you has a direct consequence on how well you sleep and an indirect impact after you wake up. For uninterrupted sleep, your surroundings should have a noise level in the range of 30 to 45 dBA.
How to Keep Noise Pollution to a Minimum
Noise is something everyone can do something about; whether it’s reducing the volume down a little, fixing a broken mower or making a pledge not to shout or yell unnecessarily. Here are some additional tips for keeping noise pollution at bay:
1. Consider Fencing
Fences for controlling noise pollution must be durable and have some amount of height to keep traveling sound waves out. Louder noises require a thick and impenetrable material. The issue with traditional fencings like brick, vinyl or concrete block is that they can deteriorate due to the weather, environment and ground movement. Fortunately, homeowners and commercial project managers today have access to options like precast concrete fencing by Aftec. These are incredibly durable, require little maintenance, and can be integrated with any design. In case of commercial or industrial fencing, precast concrete fences are deployed either by putting the support columns above the caisson footings or into them and then putting the panels inside column voids.
2. Make Changes in Your Home
If you live near an airport, by the rail track, or in a noisy city, consider switching your current windows with dual-paned ones. Other than that, start weather stripping your residence; this can also provide needed insulation and reduce your utility expenses by minimizing your cooling and heating bills. Moreover, homeowners can rid their residence from the nagging backdrop noise of TV with a simple press of a button. Keep the television off when it’s not being used as it be a potential stressor that interferes with your concentration as you try to finish tasks or chores.
3. Create a Healthier Source of Noise
If you’re unable to eliminate noise in and around your residence, you can set up a healthier source of noise. For example, you can play natural soundtracks, like soft waves, singing birds and a waterfall, or even a custom sound spa. While you’ll be actually trading one type of sound for another, the music of nature is certainly more relaxing and beneficial to your health.
At the end of the day, the most problematic noise is generated by humans, and it is up to us to find ways to battle and minimize it. Managing our environment (starting from our homes) is the first small step we should take to mitigate noise output.
Article Submitted By Community Writer