New Yorkers are bombarded by noise. A 2005 New York Magazine survey investigated the sounds we encounter on a daily basis. While a regular conversation is about 65 decibels, the sound of traffic on the Upper West Side is 79 decibels, with honking horns reaching 90 decibels. Each increase of 10 decibels makes noise sound twice as loud, and prolonged sounds above 85 decibels can permanently damage hearing. More than mere annoyances, noises can significantly impact quality of life.
Several new books have emerged on the topic of sound and silence: Zero Decibels, by George Michelsen Foy; The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want, by Garret Keizer; and George Prochnik’s In Pursuit of Silence. In looking at silence, they inevitably dissect noise and its impact on people, places, and cultures. To all of these authors noise is more than a nuisance. It prevents people from hearing and being heard; it disrupts calm and breeds irritation and anger. Silence separates an individual from the rush and chaos of the city. A quiet space is private.
Noise pollution is being investigated on many fronts. Scientists, engineers, and urban planners have developed techniques and tools for enhancing and controlling the quality of sound. Soundscaping is a concept used in urban planning. It is focused on maintaining sound quality and diversity in human environments. Engineering techniques like quiet concrete and quiet steel are efforts to dampen sound by modifying traditional materials. Researchers in Spain are developing an acoustic cloak, which will make objects impervious to sound.
Of course, there are solutions to noise pollution at an individual level as well. Many energy efficient appliances are quieter than older, less efficient versions. New double glazed and energy efficient windows can block noise better than single paned windows, and also save money on heating and cooling costs through improved insulation.
Learn how Energy Investment Systems, Inc. can help improve indoor air quality and address other sustainable objectives through our sustainability audit.