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What Are Some Sustainable Noise Reduction Strategies?
Unfortunately, traditional soundproofing strategies for homes have often created more health and sustainability problems than they solved. Foam products used for soundproof walls and ceilings are usually manufactured from toxic and non-biodegradable materials sourced from the petrochemical industry. These less than ideal acoustic "solutions" also present a fire hazard for homes.
For the sustainable-minded homeowner who wants to protect their interior environment from noise pollutions, today, there are several high-performance acoustic solutions on the market made from more sustainable materials.
Green Glue
Green Glue is a non-toxic, low-VOC, visco-elastic compound that you can quickly and easily apply to both new home construction and remodels or retrofits. This unique noise-damping product is one of the most cost-effective soundproofing materials available to homeowners, and its application is fast, simple, and effective. The compound in Green Glue can dissipate structural vibrations caused by sound waves that travel through ceilings, walls, and floors. This product is most often applied between two drywall sheets, plywood, or any commonly used building for walls and ceilings. It can dramatically reduce noise transfer from one room to another. With a cost of about $1 per square foot, it is also one of the most economical strategies for soundproofing areas of your home.
Eco-Flex Wall Panel
For homes near interstates, airports, or other noisy, urban infrastructure, creating a physical barrier is an important noise reduction strategy. While houses with large amounts of thermal mass can provide a natural sound barrier, this strategy is not necessarily a feasible renovation strategy.
Eco-Flex is a company that makes unique and visually attractive exterior wall panels that can be installed as a type of fencing around urban properties. These wall panels are made from 100% recycled rubber and can help to reduce traffic noise and other sources of urban noise pollution. These rubber panels are easy to install with tongue and groove joints and can be relocated and removed as needed.
Quiet Batt™ 30 Soundproofing Insulation
Homes need to be insulated for improved thermal performance and energy efficiency. Opting for an insulation option that also offers optimal soundproofing qualities is a good choice for homeowners who want to reduce noise pollution. Quiet Batt 30 Soundproofing Insulation is a 3-inch premium, high-performance soundproofing and thermal insulation product. It can be used in both interior and exterior walls, ceilings, and attic applications and installed between standard wood and metal studs. For homes that already have insulation, this product can be combined with existing insulation products. The Quiet Batt™30 is made from 80% recycled cotton in terms of sustainability, is non-toxic, itch-free, and has a Class A flammability rating.
Echo Absorber™ Acoustic Cotton
Like the Quiet Batt™ insulation, Echo Absorber cotton panels are made with 80% recycled cotton. They are also entirely free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fiberglass, and formaldehyde, making for a healthy interior soundproofing strategy. The panels are very flexible, allowing for simple installation in a wide array of homes. This acoustic, recycled cotton product is also mold and flame-resistant, and lightweight.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
