Like, I've gotten somewhat used to it now, but I'd lie if I said it doesn't bother me. And again, I don't want to come across as someone against green technologies, we should be building lots and lots of these everywhere.....just maybe not this close to housing.
Genuinely, should I not be hearing these things? Are the turbines dramatically different?
The problem is making changes that will significantly affect nearby property values without the permission of the owners of those properties nor any compensation.
I live by an airport. I knew it when I moved. No complaints from me.
But, my house backs a golf course. It's zoned permanent green space. A developer bought the land at a discount (because it shouldn't be possible to redevelop it) and it sinking millions into buying local politicians to open the zoning up to condos and commercial use. Damn straight I write my local representatives about that. This isn't just putting a bigger building where one already existed - this is taking a giant green space and bulldozing it all for profit. I'm all for redeveloping underused plots and increasing density where buildings already exist. But removing all the parkland is a no-no to me.
I live under the approach to IAD (DC suburbs) and have jumbos passing overhead much of the morning. They're loud when I'm in my yard, but I barely hear them when inside. Same with the evening outbound jumbos - they don't pass overhead, but we can hear their engines run up for take-off if we're on the deck, but not in the bedroom.
Same for the Dulles Toll Road. I can hear it outside, but inside it just blends with general suburban ambient noise.
And both were here well before I bought the house, so I'd be a right dickhead to complain now (not that that stops many locals from doing so).
however - and i get all the behavioral econ that could back up why this is - but however, it really feels like we're going to NIMBY our way into total failure to address climate because of the 1,000 and 1 small inconveniences the changes will cause.
There are trains a few miles away that are fairly loud when the weather turns cold. Also wakes me up at night.
Noise pollution sucks, and if windmills are put up 500m from your house I think part of that process should involve the local homes is if all is that is true.
OTOH we live in a noisy world, are windmills any different?
I'm definitely not saying "stop building them", though.
On a side note, that's very similar to what tinnitus sounds like. Sometimes drives me mad.
Compared to city noise, wind turbines are extremely quiet.
Though I can imagine that if the sound of the wind turbine is the dominating sound (and probably people sleep with their windows open). That it could be extremely annoying.
However there wasn't such rules when the first wind turbine were built circa ~2005, and you have to keep in mind that wind turbines are usually located in places less desirable for housing and farming due to excessive wind.
Moreover, it's usually the mayor's office or the county's office which approve the construction. There was instances where the turbines were located at the edge of one county and they didn't check if it were bothering the neighbooring county before signing the deal.
Transmission isn’t that expensive in the scheme of things. Else offshore wind, of which I am a fan, would not be viable.
If wind turbines does have an impact, it should be studied and understood so that, whatever the reason is behind the impact, it can be taken into account.
If not, there will always be the risk of backlash that would help nobody.
If the causes are understood, then there can be ways to control the impact, solve those issues or, at least, have a better idea where those should and should not be implanted.
'Cold weather kills 20 times as many people as hot weather, according to an international study analysing over 74 million deaths in 384 locations across 13 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, and USA. The findings, published in The Lancet, also reveal that deaths due to moderately hot or cold weather substantially exceed those resulting from extreme heat waves or cold spells.'