Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/819093
are safe and non-polluting. Noise, which is generally not thought of as a form of pollution, in fact is a significant factor in safety and quality of life. "Sound has a culture all of its own," Wood notes. "Whether in the workplace, the home, or public spaces, when it occurs in the form of unwanted noise it can disturb and degrade our quality of life." Sound All Around Wood is so deeply concerned with the preservation of domestic tran- quility that he has published a practical pamphlet on noise suppression and management in the home. Readily accessible on the Internet, it has led him to be interviewed by The New York Times and This Old House. Usefully entitled Noise and Sound Control at Your Home, it explains in simple language ways for homeowners to deal with a variety of noise- related distractions. Careful selection of dishwashers, small kitchen appliances, air condi- tioners, and even yard equipment can make a real difference in one's quality of life. "Traffic noise can prove more intractable," Wood notes. "But there are ways to build sound-deadening fences — make them high, wide, and thick — and place sound suppressing storm windows on street-facing outer walls." However, in some instances, "the only real remedy for vehicular noise, especially trucks and motorcycles, is a real estate agent," he says. Moderating Impact You're not alone in dealing with the concerns Wood treats in his book- let, nor are the sound-abatement engineers, product designers, and regu- lators tasked with moderating the impact of sound-producing devices. Consider the lowly leaf blower, for instance. Its depredations have come close to sparking civil war in some neighborhoods, where hordes of landscapers regularly descend upon local yards. Some think the louder the leaf blower, the more powerful it is, but manufacturers like left: Brenda and Eric Wood "My dear wife and I have enjoyed living amidst the peace and quiet of Weston for over 45 years." C O U R T E S Y O F G E O R G E M A L I N G IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING about innovative ways to improve the acoustical environment in your own home, you can obtain a free copy of Noise and Sound Control at Your Home. Go to wwwinceusa.org/publications/technical-reports/ 82 W e l l e s l e y W e s t o n M a g a z i n e | s u m m e r 2 0 1 7 A Little Quiet, Please!