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Quiet Products In our daily living there are a growing range of quiet products we can use to improve the quality of our lives and that of our neighbours. Below, we indicate just a few. In time, we want to build on this. We welcome information about quiet products and services from individuals and from companies, manufacturers and academics. If you want to advertise on our site, or even sponsor it, please do get in contact with us. Some General Tips Carry out a noise audit of your life. Make a note of all the things you do throughout the day and look at your own behaviour and the products you use to assess ways that you can reduce your own noisy activity and turn down the volume in your life. It will not only be for your own benefit, but may contribute to the overall noise climate and make it more pleasant for others. Start at home. How quiet is your home? Look at your behaviour too. Is your television, radio, or music you listen to too loud? Wooden floors may cause noise problems. Scatter some rugs in areas used regularly and go barefoot or wear slippers. Look at the products you use such as washing machines, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner. A whole range of quieter household products are now available. Check the specifications for the decibel output. When you come to upgrade your plumbing consider installing quieter options for boilers, showers and toilets. In the garden there are a number of quieter mowers and shredders now available. You may think wind chimes and water fountains are relaxing, but to your neighbour they may just be annoying sound! Take down wind chimes at night and switch off the fountain pump. Out and About. Again, check your own behaviour and what you do that creates noise. How noisy is your car? When it’s time to replace it, consider an electric one, which is environmentally friendly as well as being quieter. If you have a mobile phone follow the mobile etiquette (i.e. don’t shout when talking on the phone, turn down the volume of your ringing tone, switch to voice mail or vibrate if you are in a public place, especially the cinema, theatre or place of worship.) If you have to travel by train, consider booking your seats in a "Quiet Carriage" that many operators, such as Virgin Trains, now have. At Work. People work in a variety of places, with many of them very noisy. Exposure to high volumes can lead to hearing loss, so care must be taken to protect yourself. Check out on the link below for further information. The other problem in the workplace may be caused by annoyance from lower levels of noise. You may need to discuss this with your boss of course, but look at the amount of noise you are exposed to and see if there are things you can do to reduce it. Make sure you get some quiet times. Some sounds cannot be avoided, but where you can reduce it, make the effort. It is a worthwhile investment in your health and well being. If you continually go home from work feeling tired, ask yourself “am I getting enough peace and quiet?” Music in the workplace can be a difficult one. We understand that listening to music in some jobs can help reduce the monotony and boredom, but sound is a stimulant and having too much may be just as bad as not having any at all. Peace and quiet isn’t necessarily about being void of sound, but a little break from constant sound is not a bad thing either. Products and Services and further information by Category Out and About (including Quiet places to stay) |
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Note: Products listed are not necessarily endorsed or tested by the UK Noise Association. Statements provided are obtained from marketing departments, suppliers or manufacturers themselves. |
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UK Noise Association, PO BOX 551 Chatham, Kent ME4 9AJ Tel: 01634 863 852 www.ukna.org.uk info@ukna.org.uk |
Low Noise Products: Index
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