Noise Talk

It’s April 22–Earth Day.

The focus of Earth Day is air pollution, water pollution, and the destruction of the land. There are hundreds of media articles on cutting back on water usage, driving less, urban sprawl, solar energy, and global warming.

But why, on Earth Day, is there almost zero discussion of noise pollution–which is ever-present and just as physically harmful as other sources of pollution?

Al Gore, one of the major environmentalists of our time, has been no help whatsoever to the cause of reducing noise pollution. Gore was vice president for eight years–and yet there was no change in federal policy toward noise!

In 1972, Congress passed the Noise Control Act, which established the Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC) within the US Environmental Protection Agency. ONAC was starting to make progress in the fight for peace and quiet. Yet, in 1981, the Reagan administration de-funded ONAC–essentially abolishing the agency. Reagan’s argument was the noise pollution–besides being relatively unimportant–was strictly a state and local matter.

And look at how much worse the situation has gotten in the last 27 years! Obnoxious motorcyclists–with their illegal “custom mufflers” are everywhere. Hundreds of thousands of boom car boys thunderously pound through neighborhoods. Leaf blowers–which were not even invented until the 1970s–are now standard suburban equipment, creating leaf blower hell. Car alarms (which everyone assumes to be a false alarm) pointlessly blare and screech .

The Reagan administration was definitely wrong: people do care about noise pollution. A 2000 Census Bureau report indicated that noise is Americans’ number one complaint about their neighborhoods, and the #1 reason why they wish to move. Ninety percent of the calls to New York City’s quality of life hotline concern noise.

Many people write to Noise Free America thinking they are the “only one” who cares about noise. They are enormously relieved when they discover that many other people feel the same way. We are truly the “Silent Majority.” But we’re not going to remain silent any longer.

My hero in Congress is Representative Nita Lowey, a Democrat from New York. Numerous times, she has introduced “The Quiet Communities Act,” which would reestablish the federal noise pollution control office. Each legislative session, the voices of the noise-industrial complex (represented on this site by the “Corporate Noisemakers”) kill the bill. Send Representative Lowey a note telling her how much you support her efforts.

And so, on this Earth Day, take a pledge to reduce your own production of noise. Here is a Personal Checklist, developed by Noise Free America:

1. Do not use leaf blowers.

2. Do not hire a gardener who uses leaf blowers.

3. Do not use a keyless car entry system.

4. Do not install back-up beepers on your car or van.

5. Do not use a car alarm. Use the Club instead.

6. Ride your bike or walk as much as possible.

7. Keep your car muffler in good working order.

8. Do not blast your car stereo.

9. When you have a guest in your vehicle, turn down the radio–or ask your guest about their preferences.

10. If you like your music loud, use headphones.

11. Do not mow your lawn before 9:00 am or after 9:00 pm.

12. Do not use power hedge trimmers.

13. Try to avoid revving your car or motorcycle unnecessarily.

14. Use your car horn only in emergencies.

15. Do not announce your arrival at someone else’s house by honking.

16. Do not use hair dryers in public bathrooms.

17. Do not use electric swimsuit drying machines in public bathrooms.

18. Try to position noisy household equipment such as washing machines away from partition walls.

19. Use washing machines and dish washers sparingly.

20, Use washing machines and dish washers only after 9:00 am and before 9:00 pm.

21. Move your TV and stereo away from your neighbors’ walls.

22. Keep the volume of your TV, stereo, and radio as low as possible.

23. For home stereos, keep the bass at an extremely low level.

24. Put fitting carpets over floor boards and curtains on windows to reduce everyday noise in your home.

25. If you own a dog, train the dog not to bark unnecessarily. Never leave your dog alone for long periods; ask a friend to exercise it during your absence.

26. If you buy a new washing machine, choose the quietest model.

27. If you buy a new air conditioner, choose the quietest model.

28. If you buy a new vacuum cleaner, choose the quietest model.

29. Warn your neighbors if you are going to make unavoidable noise. If you’re having a party, invite them!

30. Turn down the volume on your telephone.

31. Use voice mail instead of an answering machine.

32. Always have your cell phone on vibrate.

33. If you own a store or restaurant, closely monitor noise levels.

34. If construction workers are remodeling your home, tell them not to begin before 8:00 am. Tell them to limit the use of jackhammers.

35. If someone lodges a noise complaint against you, treat it seriously.