Smart Meters – What Can Be Done?

Smart meters have been rolled out in many parts of the country, have you got one?

Given I am so immersed in this kind of technology, I am always surprised when someone hasn’t even heard of them. 🙂

So, let's start with what they are.

What are Smart Meters?

A smart meter is a relatively new type of electricity meter.

We all had analog ones. These new ones are digital, and the majority of them transmit information back to the power companies.

Please note, that not all of them do.

The move to smart meters in Australia has at least several reasons that I can figure out:

  • They don't need to be manually read, as the data can be transmitted – saving the power companies money;
  • It was decided that they would be rolled out in Victoria after the terrible fires we had some years back that were caused by power lines coming down. If smart meters were installed, they could shut down the power and it is hoped that this would then prevent this from happening again; and
  • As part of the bigger picture of the Internet of Things (#IoT) and #5G, they can talk to devices and turn them on and off…

What is So Different About a Smart Meter?

In a nutshell, smart meters transmit information wireless (thus utilising radiofrequency EMF).

This is both the benefit AND the issue.

What is Wrong with Smart Meters?
Aren't they Smarter?

No, they are not. When they first came out and sensitive people began experiencing symptoms, many of us were calling them “Dumb Meters!”

Smart Meters emit four different types of electromagnetic fields (EMF).

  1. Radiofrequency EMF – as already mentioned, this is the wireless technology. This can pass through walls and travels quite long distances.
  2. “Dirty Electricity” (High Frequency Transient Spikes) – due to the fact they contain an inverter. This type of EMF is on the wiring, but can emanate into a room through the walls.
  3. Magnetic Fields – from the wiring. This also passes through walls, but levels drop off very quickly with distance.
  4. Electric Fields – from the wiring. Although this type of EMF can pass through walls, it is seeking the fastest route to earth. So, it may easily bend to reach earth if a good conductor is nearby. (Think of lightning hitting the tallest tree.)

eco-health-solutions-home

Any issue with that?

All of these types of EMF are at far higher levels than what we are looking for from a health perspective.

When ours was first installed, the power company offered to send me their literature to allay my concerns. Having waded through the 100-ish pages, I found that smart meters emit magnetic fields at 17 mG. From a health-perspective, we are looking at 2 mG for daytime exposure and 0.2 mG for bedrooms.

The power companies claim that they only transmit wirelessly up to six times a day. Whilst it may be true that the information is only received up to six times a day, they are emitting 24/7 and spike (rapidly reach a much higher level) frequently.

Instead of helping, my concerns were heightened!

Early in my career as an Indoor Environmental Health Consultant it became very clear that the levels emitted, and the fact that EMF is being emitted 24/7 (and we can't turn it off), many people I encountered had reached their tipping point. This has resulted in* these people to develop a heightened sensitivity to EMF, with symptoms varying from insomnia, muscle tension, vivid dreaming, grinding their teeth (bruxism), ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and so on.

*These symptoms are anecdotal – I have accumulated this list from what has been reported to my by clients.

My stance is that it is never one thing that causes heightened sensitivities, but it can easily be one thing that “breaks the camels back.” That said, it is vital that we reduce all environmental stressors, particularly for when we are asleep.

What Can Be Done?

  1. Not get one – if you have the chance to not have one installed, please avoid doing so.
  2. Have it removed – in some areas, people have been able to have them removed. Occasionally, they have to pay more per year someone manually needs to read them. (Worth it, I think!)
  3. Have the chip removed so it can't emit wirelessly – this will solve the issues of one of the four types of EMF.
  4. Move the aerial – if you contact your energy provider, they may be able to put the aerial on the roof.
  5. Have your power company “power it down” – smart meters can function quite well at around 5% (or less in some cases) capacity… and they are installed and set at 100%. Note, that not all smart meters can be turned down.
  6. Shielding – done with care can be a simple and effective solution. In most cases, it should be able to be done for less than $300.

What If I Am Renting?

No problem, shielding can be effectively installed in such a way that you can take it with you.

Can't We Just Buy a Cage or Wrap Smart Meters in Aluminium?

NO!

Both of these options can result in the meter working harder to get the signal out. This results in much more “force” being required to get the signal out, causing it to emit at higher levels.

So How Can I Shield it Properly?

I get asked that a LOT… so I have made this easy-to-follow guide packed with expert tips for homeowners AND renters.

#smartmeters #EMF #radiofrequency #electricfields #magneticfields #dirtyelecticity #shielding

House Hunting?

Moving (and house hunting) is a highly stressful time…

Add to the mix the need to avoid environmental stressors, keep to a tight budget and manage with low tolerance – house hunting becomes almost impossible.

Sound familiar?

I get it – not only have I been there myself, but I've also guided many clients through this process.

I have also seen things go pear-shaped. Very pear-shaped… Like one of my earliest pre-purchase inspections. 

You would not believe what happened…

My client arranged for me to do the inspection… So I arrived on this sunny afternoon, excited to determine if this house was suitable for him.

“Let's go in!” I said.

“Uh-uh! Not me. Every time I go in there, I get sick. You go in and assess it.”

I did a double-take.

Why would he want me to assess the place if he can't be in while I inspect it????

I explained the scenario to him – all set to head back to the office. But he wanted to go ahead. So, I did. And my report recommended that he keep looking. My professional advice was disregarded. He bought the place…

And moved out almost as fast as he had moved in.

There is no need to make the same mistakes.

If you have been looking for a new place no doubt money is tight. You may not have enough time to organise a professional indoor environmental health assessment done. Stress levels are through the roof.

You've moved before, and it is essential that you don't have to move again because you can't end up in another place that is unsafe, nay, uninhabitable.

The track running in your mind goes something like this:

What do I do? 

How can I avoid the things that make me sick? 

How can I protect your health and that of my loved ones? 

Am I right?

So here's what you can do:

  • Learn my “Crystal Ball” method;
  • Draw on my training, experience and insight so that you can keep a property on or your list or cross it off with confidence; and
  • Become EMPOWERED to make sound decisions for your health and that of your loved ones.

You don't need to invest tens of thousands of dollars or years of time training and equipment…

You just need someone to show you #PROtips and tricks so that you can shortlist properties for yourself with confidence…

eco-health-solutions natural

Thus, I have curated this course.

I want you to:

  1. Be able to confidently cross places off your list, keeping only the good ones;
  2. Avoid having to gather the energy to look at places, only to be sick for weeks after;
  3. Save time, money and energy.

All of my years of training, experience, up skilling and knowledge have been consolidated into 13 online lessons, complete with worksheets, my black book of online resources and the essential 122-point checklist so you know you've covered all bases.

Just what the doctor ordered, hey?

  • Do you suffer from environmental sensitivities?
  • Desperately trying to find a home that isn’t going to make you sick, or sicker?
  • Feel forced to settle on a less-than-ideal home because funds are tight?
  • Multiple home assessments haven’t helped you find the perfect place, but you can’t afford to keep coughing up cash?

A LIFE-CHANGING ONLINE COURSE THAT’S ONE-OF-A-KIND 

In Looking for a New Place? How to Avoid the Pitfalls, indoor environmental health expert Lucinda Curran reveals how to streamline the house-hunting process, eliminate uninhabitable homes with confidence, and make a promising shortlist of homes for professional assessments.

No more:

  • Time wasted on pointless inspections
  • Money spent on unnecessary assessments
  • Needless exposure to toxins at inspections
  • Settling for uninhabitable properties
  • Heartache on learning that the ‘perfect’ home wasn’t right after all

“THIS COURSE IS A MUST” 

“I am now better able to rule out unsuitable properties from the comfort of my home which saves me time, energy and cuts down on exposures. The checklist of what to look for in and around the property is very comprehensive and makes it so easy to look for the potential dangers that may be lurking. This course is a must have for anyone wanting to know what to look for and avoid when searching for a healthy home.”

– Genevieve, VIC

Check it out here. 👉

Please note: this course does NOT take the place of a professional Indoor Environmental Health Assessment.

BUT it does mean you don't have to have so many! 🙂

Sick Building Syndrome: Is Your Workplace Healthy?

“Sick Building Syndrome” is a term that has been around for a few decades to explain how and why people are affected by their buildings. As a building biologist, I am frequently assessing the health of buildings (whether they are sick or not) and how they may impact upon the health of the occupants – be that at home or at work.

Guest author Jennifer Bennett discusses sick building syndrome in relation to the workplace.


Sick Building Syndrome: Is Your Workplace Healthy?

Does it sometimes seem like everyone in your office is coming down with something?

Are you and your colleagues constantly coughing and sniffling, or complaining of headaches, dizziness and nausea?

Or perhaps you’re just really tired all the time?

And yet, when 5 o’clock rolls around and you’re on your way home, you start to feel a lot better.

You might be thinking that you just hate being at work!

Could it be more..?

However, there may be something other than burnout or a bad bout of the flu to blame.

If you’re experiencing odd symptoms that disappear when you go home, your building may well have a case of Sick Building Syndrome.

This is a somewhat mysterious condition that causes general feelings of ill health in occupants of a building, including headaches, aches and pains, skin irritation, fatigue and shortness of breath.

The precise causes of Sick Building Syndrome haven’t been identified, but the general consensus is that it’s a symptom of environmental problems within a building.

People first started reporting Sick Building Syndrome in the 1970s, when economic pressures and oil embargoes forced architects and engineers to design more airtight office buildings to cut energy costs.

As a direct result, indoor air quality drastically worsened, as polluted air became trapped in buildings rather than being recirculated outside.

Chemical pollutants such as VOCs and biological contaminants such as mould then gradually rose in concentration, resulting in the health problems in employees that we now call Sick Building Syndrome.

Poorly designed ventilation systems also resulted in uncomfortable temperatures and high humidity levels, which can further encourage mould growth.

What is the Impact?

A poor working environment doesn’t just have health implications – it can also have a profound economic impact on businesses.

Sick Building Syndrome drastically reduces productivity, with poor indoor air quality estimated to cost employers around $15 billion a year in worker inefficiency and sick leave.

It’s also been noticed that Sick Building Syndrome is most common in open plan offices, and it’s unlikely to be a coincidence that employees in open plan offices also take on average 62% more sick days than those in cellular offices.

It’s clear that something needs to be done.

This infographic…

Paint Inspection have designed this infographic to tell you everything you need to know about this important topic.

Covering everything from the symptoms and causes, to the costs to businesses and some actionable solutions, we’re sure you’ll leave this blog feeling more equipped to deal with your unhealthy office building!


About the Author

Jennifer Bennett is the Content Writer at Paint Inspection, a UK-based coating inspection and surveying company.


Want to learn more about how you can create a healthier workplace?
Book a call so we can create a plan for you. >>


Lyn McLean – An Interview

Lyn McLean

I first met Lyn McLean when I was reaching out to find speakers for the 2015 Environmental Sensitivities Symposium. I had read her book, The Force and was impressed with her knowledge and expression, and just knew she would contribute something amazing to the Symposium.

lyn mclean

When we first talked, I was taken with her level and depth of knowledge, as well as her nature. We share a history of being school teachers, and have a ton of interests in common.

Since that first “meeting” (phone), we have remained in close contact and have developed a solid friendship.

She wrote a fantastic paper for the 2016 Environmental Sensitivities Symposium that exposed the flaws in our exposure standards, particularly for wireless radiation (radiofrequency EMF).

A more formal introduction:

Lyn McLean is the Director of EMR Australia which she established over 20 years ago. Prior to this, she ran the “EMR Association of Australia” and the “EMR Alliance” for nine years.

She is an educator, trainer and author. She believes that it is important for people to examine the impacts of EMF on their homes and families, and as such has developed many resources to help them understand and reduce their exposure.


Here, I interview Lyn McLean about her wonderful new book Wireless Wise Families. You can get a copy here.

ELF AC Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Fields (MF)

Magnetic fields – can they be harmful?

Did you know? In 2002, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified ELF AC magnetic fields as category 2B. 

What that means is that they recognised the potentially carcinogenic effects for humans (risk of causing cancer) of the MF associated with household wiring, appliances, and power lines.

These fields are one of the most researched areas of EMF – and one of the least controversial. Wertheimer and Leeper's research in the 1970's linked these fields to increased incidences of childhood leukaemia.

ELF AC MF exist wherever an appliance is in use.

What to do?

Magnetic Fields are only PART of the EMF picture.

There are four types of EMF assessed by Eco Health Solutions:

  1. ELF AC magnetic fields
  2. ELF AC electric fields
  3. radiofrequency EMF
  4. dirty electricity

There are a great many people that conduct EMF assessments which include #1 and #3, only.

Because I understand this area more deeply, I see that doing half the job is completely inadequate (check out this post). I have been to many homes and workplaces where the greatest problems are found with the electric field readings and that of dirty electricity.

A thorough assessment is the only way to ensure that all bases are covered in order to provide you with an accurate picture of what is occurring in your home or workplace.

Want to know how to reduce the levels in your place?
Book a call. >>


SAR Levels Can be Increased by Having Metal Objects in Your Pocket

SAR levels are what the authorities use to determine the safety of a mobile/cell phone. Logically, the system is a flawed one* as the levels can increase dramatically. Something that has not been taken into consideration by the decision-makers.

SAR Levels Can be Increased by Having Metal Objects in Your Pocket

Did you know…?

Research has uncovered that having metal objects in your pocket along with your phone increases your SAR exposure?

Discover how to easily almost double your SAR exposure from your mobile phone.


*It is flawed for two reasons. It is based upon the the thermal effects of a mobile phone on a plastic “bucket” filled with water. The other reason is that it does not replicate how people actually use their phones.

A mannequin is made to replicate a US armed forces personnel, called SAM. The plastic “head” is filled with water. Then the temperature of the water is measured when a mobile phone is used in proximity. This is why many of the phones state that you should not be within 2cm of the phone… Here's a fun song written and performed by Kate Corcoran.

Here's what she said in the 2016 Environmental Sensitivities Symposium e-mag:

The inspiration for “Oh Sam (What a Man)!” – came from Devra Davis’ book Disconnect. I learnt that mobile phones were not tested on humans pre-release but were tested on a test dummy and an early model was known as SAM – standard anthropomorphic mannequin. SAM had fluid in his head to represent a human brain and was 6 foot 2 inches tall – the height of the tallest 10% of military recruits to the US military in 1989. He had an 11 pound head, which somehow morphed into the hook for the song – “Oh Sam, What a man – 6 foot 2 11 inches of a man!” – a hook too good to pass up.

I wrote this song to inform people but more importantly for EHS people who are not being listened to. I hope this song will bring a smile to a face or two.


How is Your Wi-Fi Router Like Your Oven?

Wi-Fi – we are surrounded by wi-fi all the time. But there is something that you can do that can significantly minimise your exposure… and it is free!

Why would you want to? There are risks associated with using this technology. This is “radiofrequency EMF” and has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a “category 2B” which means that they recognise it as being potentially carcinogenic to humans.

Apart from cancer, there are other associated risks – including sleep disturbance, grinding teeth, muscle tension, as well as reactions that happen on a cellular level (voltage-gated calcium channels, reactions of blood cells…).

I want to share with you a simple tip that can make a big difference.

From today onwards, I want you to think of your wi-fi router like you do your oven.

HUH?????

Yup!
Your wi-fi router is like your oven.

From now on:

  1. When you want to use it, turn it on.
  2. Let it warm up.
  3. Use it.
  4. Turn it off again.

Simply by doing this, you can greatly reduce your exposure and begin to create new patterns around its use.

When you are ready, I highly recommend changing over to an ethernet-only router – and there ARE many choices.

Contact me – this is one of the many EMF problems I love to tackle.

Mobile Phones – Aussie Kids

Changes To Mobile Phone Use and Ownership in Aussie Kids

Recent Roy Morgan research finds that girls own their first mobile phones earlier than boys.

Children between the ages of 6-13 were surveyed, along with children 14 years and over. They found that from the age of 8-9 years old, 12% more girls than boys own mobile phones.

The survey is discussed here, and this graph is taken from this page.

Concerns About Young People Using This Technology

Apart from:

  • the lack of real face-to-face social skills
  • the risk of 24/7 bullying
  • the fact that WHO and IARC classified radiofrequency EMF (used for wireless technology) as a possible human carcinogen

… there are numerous concerns about the use of mobile phones, particularly for the young developing/growing bodies.

Recently at the 2016 Environmental Sensitivities Symposium, Dr Mary Redmayne shared research that she did in 2009 into New Zealand ‘tweens usage of mobile phones, comparing it to nowadays. She found that many children used their phones “covertly” – inside their pockets and so forth, which can be particularly problematic in terms of the proximity to reproductive organs.

I am not going to delve into that here… merely point out ways to stay safe.


Staying Safe from Mobile Phones

I am going to add to this list:

1) Divert/forward mobile phones to your corded landline, and then turn your mobile phone off.

2) Don't hold onto your mobile phone when it is on or in use.

3) Carry your phone in a Radiation-Reducing Phone Case to reduce what you are exposed to – and ideally keep it in flight-mode while you do this.

4) Air-Tube Earphones are a better alternatives to the standard ones – but speakerphone is better still.

5) Put your mobile phone in flight mode and turn it off when it is not in use.

6) Charge it overnight – well away from bedrooms.

7) A side note – if you use a tablet – follow these steps to hardwire it, so that you don't have to use wi-fi.

eco-health-solutions-gadget

Some extra tips for mobile phone safety from Environmental Health Trust:

Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed… as automatically power increases to emit a maximum amount of radiation because the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to each nearest network antenna.

 

Children should only use cell phones for emergencies. Children’s skulls are thinner than adults’ and their brains are still developing. Hence, radiation from cell phones penetrates more deeply into their brains and is likely to cause more damage.

Avoid using your cell phone in metal contained spaces like a car, elevator, bus, train or airplane.

Protect your fertility. This radiation has been shown to damage sperm and the ovaries. Many people move the phone away from their head to reduce exposure but down to their torso forgetting that a cell phone or laptop to the abdomen results in higher radiation absorption to the reproductive organs.

 

Read your cell phone manual to find the minimum distance the federal government recommends that your cell phone must be kept away from your body. Keeping it closer than the designated distance can result in a violation of the FCC Exposure Limit. Exceeding FCC levels is proven to result in burns, sterility, and brain damage. Learn more about fine print instructions at ShowTheFinePrint.Org.

Remember that these “minimum distances” in the cell phone manuals do not protect you from nonthermal effects such as sperm damage, damaged brain cells and increased brain cancer risk. Federal guidelines are set thousands of times too high to protect from these “nonthermal” effects from long term low level cumulative exposures.

Special Note if You're Pregnant It is especially important for those who are pregnant to reduce cell phone exposures because research has shown cell phone radiation can damage to the brain and reproductive system in developing pregnancies. To learn more, please go to the Baby Safe Project.

#mobilephonesafety #mobilephone #EMF