Wind Farm Noise and Human Perception: A Review
Author: | Health, Noise, Regulations
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
The hypothesis from this Review is that serious harm to health occurs when a susceptible individual is so beset by the noise in question that he or she suffers recurring sleep disturbance, anxiety and stress. Research for the Review suggests that 5% to 10% of the individuals living in the vicinity of a large wind farm will experience serious harm to their health. The observed markers for serious health effects are
- wind farm noise level of LAeq 32 dB or more outside the residence and
- wind farm noise is heard or is perceptible (felt) at levels above the individual’s threshold of hearing inside the home.
CONTENTS
PART I – INTRODUCTION
The problems with wind farm noise and its perception
Ineffective compliance approvals
PART II – A CASE STUDY
Prediction of wind farm sound levels
case study with a Waubra residence
Background sound levels
The effects of weather
Audible sound character
Sound character at residence and near locale
Conclusions from Waubra case study
PART III – WIND FARMS AND HEALTH EFFECTS
PART IV – WIND TURBINE SOUND
Wind farm noise
Low frequency sound and infrasound
Heightened noise zones
PART V – PREDICTION OF SOUND LEVELS – APPROACHES AND LIMITATIONS
Wind farm noise standards
PART VI – RESPONSES OF RESIDENTS NEAR WIND FARMS
The effects on people near the Waubra wind farm, Victoria
The effects on people near the “West Wind’ wind farm, New Zealand
The effects on people near the ‘Te Rere Hau’ wind farm, New Zealand
Real-world noise compliance problem at a wind farm
The effects on people near the proposed Turitea wind farm, New Zealand
The Effects on people near the Waterloo wind farm, South Australia
PART VII – INDIVIDUALS’ PERCEPTION OF WIND FARM SOUNDS
The Manawatu–Brisbane pilot study
A study of noise sensitivity vs. specific sounds
Noise annoyance
Makara and Waubra studies into adverse health effects
Community perception and acceptance of wind farms
PART VIII – ANNOYANCE, AUDIBILITY, LOW AND INFRASOUND PERCEPTION
Sound perception
Annoyance
Audibility – low frequency – infrasound
PART IX – MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
PART X – NOISE MANAGEMENT
PART XI – GLOSSARY
RECOMMENDED READING
Wind Farm Noise and Human Perception: A Review – May 2014 Update
This material is the work of the author(s) indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
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