Last week we touched on health concerns for people and animals related to increasing levels of noise pollution. Sounds 85 decibels or higher can harm a persons ears, but what does that actually sound like? Consider the following common sounds; rustling leaves (20 to 30 decibels), thunderclap (120 decibels), sirens (120 to 140 decibels), power lawn mowers (90 decibels), subway trains (90 to 115 decibels), loud rock concerts (110 to 120 decibels). How many are you exposed to on a daily if not hourly basis?
While successful commercial spaces are designed to mitigate sound levels. More and more people are working from home so this week we want to share 10 best practices to reduce noise in your home.
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Windows - Double glazing is an excellent way to reduce noise from the outside. Can't upgrade install drapery panels in front of your windows to absorb noise. |
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Landscape - Planting trees is good for the environment and acts as a natural buffer from your noisy neighbors. |
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Fencing - Acts as a buffer and let's be honest there are some things you would rather not see anyway. |
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Carpet - Wall to wall may not be your thing, but laying area rugs over hard surfaces will help. |
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Furniture - Placing sofas or bookshelves against the wall absorbs noise from neighbors or kids. |
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Acoustic Wall Panels - Decorative wall panels in felt or other soft absorbing materials dress up any room. Vintage blankets or small area rugs can also be hung on a wall. |
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White Noise - This may seem counter intuitive, but adding a soft, relaxing sound such as a water feature will mask harsher sounds and help you relax. |
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Equipment - When choosing appliances pay attention to the sound rating and shoot for 40-50 dB. Outside your home equipment can be higher, 70-80 dB, but think about location. Is your HVAC compressor outside a bedroom window? |
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Quiet Zone - Pick a particular area in the home to use the ideas above, or determine a particular time of day if spaces are multi-functional. |
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Be a Good Neighbor - You may be a night owl, but are your neighbors? Some communities have quiet time rules for loud noise. Be considerate when having a party, running equipment, or doing home improvements. |
Did we miss something? Share your best tip below.
Thanks for reading,
Savvy
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Inspiring Reads - 
Now that it is quiet read something!
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Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers |
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Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions |
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In Case You Missed It - 
Responsible living is more than just caring about the environment. Woven into the ethos is taking a stand for social equity and East Fork Pottery has been fully committed to that from day one. Partnering with community outreach organizations to stretch outside their comfort zone; always paying employees a living wage, they are now working towards increasing wages to a family living wage. Receiving their Carbon Neutral Certification in April has been another huge milestone. All these steps and more have earned them B Corporation Certification, read about the journey here. Instead of seeing this accomplishment as the finish line, they view it as an inspiration for making additional changes. Reading East Fork's About Page was part of our inspiration for starting The Savvy Elephant. AND we haven't even touched on how stunning and beautiful their pottery is! See for yourself by clicking through to the East Fork Website.
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