Can soundproofing hacks reduce loud noise in an old home? Several years ago, I moved into a 1950s apartment building. And I discovered one of the downsides of living in typical mid-century housing. A lot of wood-framed houses are hollow
Parklets and outdoor dining: a calmer experience When San Francisco shut down most “non-essential” businesses at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city became eerily quiet. Going out on an errand was like walking through a ghost town. The
An interview about sound and noise with Tae Hong Park Dr. Tae Hong Park is a musician, composer, educator, and researcher. His projects include Citygram, a community-driven 3D mapping network, and GetNoisy, an airplane noise tracker. His philosophy is “of
Can a sound panel reduce airborne laundry-room noise? If you live in an apartment with a washing machine, you already know that laundry-room noise can take over the soundscape of your home. The spin cycles are particularly obnoxious. So I’m
What should a hospital sound like? In your day-to-day life, you might not think about hospital noise and acoustics. But if you ever need to stay in a hospital, you’ll realize how important it is to get some quiet time.
If I use energy-efficient products, are they also quieter? Sometimes, yes. The same technology that can reduce energy consumption, replace fuel with batteries, or retain heat in cold weather often reduces noise. Let’s take a look at some examples of
Arline Bronzaft is a leading expert on noise. Her research on noise and its impact on the reading scores of New York City school students led to positive changes in the city. From acoustical modifications in the classroom to improvements
Good acoustics, great design We’ve all endured noise in an office, restaurant, or public space that gets amplified by “booming” room acoustics. Putting some sound-absorbing panels on the walls or ceiling can lower the reverb a notch or two. And
Is noise the most neglected green issue of our age? That’s the question John Stewart asks in “Why Noise Matters,” a book he co-authored with Arline L Bronzaft, Francis McManus, Nigel Rodgers, and Val Weedon. Episode 8 of Soundproofist is
What’s Internoise? Internoise is an annual conference and exhibition of noise control engineering and (increasingly) the social and health aspects of noise. This year, the conference was held in Madrid, Spain. It also was the 50th anniversary of the Spanish