How to Reduce Your Noise Footprint and Live a Quieter Life
Noise pollution is a very real and dangerous type of pollution. Almost all of it comes from man-made creations – industrial machines, large transport vehicles and the general noise from large population centers. Loud, un-natural and erratic noises cause damage to people in terms of stress levels and overall health. Studies have already proven that workers in loud environments, such as hospital workers, are more vulnerable to general health problems, higher levels of stress, and lower levels of happiness or job satisfaction.
The environment isn’t safe either. Noise pollution has damaged the health of many animals around the world already. There are parts of the world where native animals are now moving away and making their homes elsewhere, just to avoid the effects of noise. When that happens it can alter the entire ecosystem around them, leading to massive environmental shifts. To slow down the effects of noise pollution, we all have a part to play. I’ve put a few tips together for you today to help you do your part. There are quiet living guides to help you along this journey too, so read around and see how many ways you can cut your noise footprint.
- Only Use the Volume You Need
Most devices have volume settings which you can change. It could be something like your TV or radio, which can be turned up or down. For this type of tech, turn the volume to a comfortable level so you can hear it well, but don’t be tempted to exceed this volume. Going louder than you need to can harm your hearing and will always make you less sensitive to quiet noises. Keep your hearing in better shape by following this tip.
Likewise, if you have devices that can be set to silent, it might be better to do that. Most people keep their phone close enough to notice it vibrating, so there’s really no need for loud, blaring ringtones.
- No External Speakers
External speakers are needed sometimes, like at parties or in the car. If you’re listening on your own though, do you really have to blast the noise from your music system for the entire block to hear? Be considerate and use headphones when possible. This applies when you’re out in public too, use headphones instead of forcing your loud music on everyone around you!
- Avoid Heavy/Loud Machinery
At some level, we need heavy machinery to produce the goods our world consumes. With that said, there are times you can avoid it too. Do you really need to use that big, loud, ride-on mower? Or the electric drill? Why not just a regular mower, or a screwdriver? If the automatic tools aren’t needed, ditch them and use something a bit more traditional – and friendlier to your ears.
- Carpool or Use Public Transport
Vehicles produce a lot of noise (and other) pollution, so it’s a good area to target. The less vehicles we have on the roads, the less general pollution there will be. Sharing a car or using public transport is a great way to fulfill this criterion. As an added bonus, if we get the number of vehicles on the roads low enough, we should start seeing improvements in terms of congestion and traffic problems.
