The quiet house: front line defence against traffic noise

Traffic noise is a major environmental problem in urban and rural areas. Over one million people in Australia are exposed to levels of traffic noise above OECD criteria. Increasing private and commercial vehicle usage are continuing to contribute to a growing problem that needs to be addressed, now, before the social, environmental and economic impacts become even greater than at present. While emission controls on vehicles are providing an amount of protection and will continue to be the foundation of traffic noise control programs, it is clear that other measures are needed. These alternatives are termed non vehicular controls and include measures such as noise barriers, treatment of road surfaces, planning and development controls and better housing design. Housing design can play an important part in creating acceptable indoor acoustical environments. The quiet house is designed to protect its inhabitants from traffic noise.