Drop Dead Healthy

How to Live the Quiet Life

Three Tips from Les Blomberg of the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse

• Buy electronic lawnmowers and hedge trimmers instead of gas-powered ones. Electric devices tend to be about half as loud.

• I know it’s ironic, but throw a party for your neighbors. Become friendly with them. It’s hard to noise-pollute someone you care about.

• For cooling your house: Central air is the quietest option (and Lenox is one of the quietest brands of central air). After that, try a “mini-split.” These ACs have two parts—one in the window, a noisier section out on the balcony.

If you’ve got the sufficient levels of money and noisephobia, try buying two smaller window units, which are usually quieter than a big one (especially if you turn one off).

. . . and My Two Favorite Ear Protectors.

Blomberg doesn’t like earplugs or earphones because they put the burden on the hearer, not the noise-maker. But I’m all for them.

After sampling a bucketful of noise-dampening equipment, here are my top picks.

—EarProSonic Defenders by Surefire

www.surefire.com/EarProProducts

Originally designed for the military and law enforcement, these guys provide amazing protection—and stay in your ear thanks to a rubber handle.

—Bose Noise-cancelling headphones

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/index.jsp

Cons: Outrageously expensive (about $300). Pros: They make life tolerable. Also, my sixteen-year-old niece says that big headphones are back, so you won’t necessarily look like a tool.