The modern world is louder than ever. Not only are we constantly bombarded with stimuli in the outside world but we are also becoming increasingly subject to the loud sounds of the never stopping world when we are at home. More and more people are considering the importance of being able to shut out the existence of the outside world. As much as we can (more or less) choose whether we consume visual stimuli when we are at home, ie. whether we watch TV or use our smartphones, it is much harder to control the sounds we hear. This can especially be a challenge for people living in big cities and busy urban agglomerations dealing with large amounts of noise pollution daily.
It is important to know and understand that sound pollution can cause real and measurable health issues. We don’t only mean mental health and general psychological well-being but also issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbance, general stress, and anxiety. These issues can occur not only in adults but also in children. It has been shown that children who live and spend a lot of time near noisy airports, train stations, or streets have been shown to struggle due to high amounts of stress and other problems, such as defects in memory, attention levels, and reading skills.
What can be done to deal with noise pollution?
Even though we are often not able to control our environment, there are small things we can do every day to give ourselves and our bodies an easier time dealing with background noise pollution:
- Earplugs
Earplugs can be an easy way to block the noise in your environment. Wearing earplugs all day may be uncomfortable, but it’s a great solution for winding down at home after work and giving your mind some peace.
- Control the volume
Most of us turn up the volume of our music systems and TVs significantly higher than necessary without giving it a second thought. Try to be mindful of how loud the sounds you can control are, especially if you have children. Listening to music or watching television at a lower volume may seem odd and less fun at first but once you get used to it, you may find that the fatigue caused by high amounts of auditory stimuli will be reduced.
- Protect your home with soundproofing windows
If you live in a particularly busy and loud area you may want to consider investing in soundproofing solutions to protect yourself and your loved ones from the noise of the hustles and bustles of the outside environment.
Soundproof windows can be a great solution for many houses and apartments, allowing their inhabitants to not be affected by noise pollution. However, before considering purchasing these types of windows there are a few facts you should be aware of.
Many customers looking for optimal acoustic solutions consider 3-pane windows believing that the number of panes is the most impactful parameter when it comes to noise cancellation. However, that is not exactly true. When it comes to blocking sound waves the thickness of glass in a window is more important than the number of panes. To put it simply: the thicker the glass in the windows, the more effective sound insulation it provides. If your interior requires more protection, there are additional solutions that can be implemented to provide further soundproofing.
A laminated sound-absorbing film can be a great addition to windows, allowing to significantly increase their acoustic properties. Laminated glass is recommended especially for buildings with high exposure to noises such as those found near airports.
The most commonly recommended glazing package for customers living in large urban agglomerations or near busy areas is a double-glazed single-chamber package with two panes of 4 to 6 mm in thickness.
- External roller shutters can help too
If you’re not planning on replacing your windows anytime soon you may want to consider installing external roller shutters. Even though they will not be as effective as dedicated soundproofing windows, they can still decrease the amount of noise pollution in your home by creating an additional physical barrier between your interior and the outside world.
External roller shutters also have an additional upside, apart from reducing noise they simultaneously provide heat insulation, allowing to reduce the maintenance costs of your home.
If you are interested in exploring soundproofing windows or external roller shutters, be sure to browse DAKO’s products. DAKO is a European joinery manufacturer with almost 30 years of experience in providing advanced joinery solutions to customers all around the world. Visit DAKO’s website at dakowindows.com.
