I live on Sand Spurrey Rd and have been plagued by a constant buzz for weeks! It sounds electrical, but can't pinpoint if it's someone's pool filter or construction nearby. It's so loud and annoying that I have to sleep with ear plugs at night. I miss the cricket sounds and waking to bird songs. Any advice? Hope this doesn't mean that our quiet little haven is only going to get noisier.

Thanks,
Miriam

Sound attenuates pretty quickly, so the sound is probably very nearby. Check all your outlets and breaker box. Make sure it isn't something in your house. If you are certain is is coming from outside somewhere, first check your electric meter. If the sound isn't coming from there, walk over to the nearest electrical transformers. They would be a good bet. If it is your meter or a nearby transformer, call National Grid. They'll fix it.

The most likely explanation is that its part of a government project like HAARP.

And when I say likely I mean probably not... but its still fun to think about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hum

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3706006/early-national-case-related-to-HAARP

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4090

We have been hearing the same thing over on Thimbleberry for several weeks. I wrote it off to the Dunning work until last night when I took a ride down Hermes Road. The first "factory" or waht ever it is on the right seams to be where the noise is coming from. I don't really find it to be a problem, but I am glad to find where it's coming from.

Yes, the source of the buzz has been located, and it IS coming from Hermes Rd. Specifically, it is coming from the Saratoga Energy Park--the area behind the building. There they have a "fume scrubber" (pretty standard equipment in chip factories), which appears to be causing all the noise. I emailed the town supervisor and others on the planning board, and Paul S (the town supervisor) quickly responded and said he'd look into it. He even emailed someone from the Energy Park, and they wrote back saying they were looking into it. Hopefully the problem will be solved soon. It's probably good that we identified the problem on a small scale, because with all the new tech facilities coming in, the problem will only get bigger if they're not careful to keep down the noise level and preserve the peaceful outdoor environment that we've all come to love and take for granted. I remember in the planning stages the developers said that there would not be the noise associated with traditional factories--but electronic buzzes and other high and low pitch electrical hums also create noise pollution and can be very disruptive to the peace. Hopefully I can get some sleep again soon without the earplugs!

The noise has been quite annoying for several months now. Just this week I finally took a drive to locate the source of "the buzz" and discovered it was the Saratoga Technology Energy Park. I have been trying to decide what to do next when I found this website. Thank you so much for doing all the leg work. I also called our Town Supervisor and left him a message. Hopefully we will have "our quiet little haven" back soon. Keep us posted on other information you find out and I will do the same.

Thanks for writing, Chery. I started thinking I was super-sensitive because so far I only heard from one other person--but the noise has finally gotten to my husband (who doesn't have very good hearing) as well--perhaps because the buzz is so pervasive and consistent. Do you have to sleep with earplugs? What street do you live on? It's gotten so bad that I've had to retreat indoors instead of enjoying my birds and nature gardens. However, I did get a good response from the Town Supervisor and someone from the Saratoga Tech Park; they both said everything is being done to remedy the situation. Let's hope something indeed gets done. They have been responsive to other neighbors' complaints about problems that have arisen with the recent developement, so at this point I'm hopeful that something will be done about this too. I think it's good that people are calling the Town Supervisor. I hope more people continue to do it because his response to us will go a long way to assuring the Luther Forest community that they will do everything possible to preserve the quality of life here.

I don't think a factory can be completely noiseless. This is just the beginning. Once the other factories get built (4 supposedly by AMD) there will be more than just a buzz coming from there. I live on Arrowwood and I can hear noise all night long, glad to know that's where the noise IS coming from. NOT. I guess we'll just have to get use to the noise. Just like the noise from the Northway. Although I find the noise from certain motorcycles in the neighborhood more annoying. Those loud mufflers are illegal and nothing is done about them. They're way above the accepted noise level.

You're right, JP--there will be lots more noise coming from the factories, but I think as a community we have to be pro-active. There are sound barriers and hardware that can be installed for such devices, and although they add to the expense of building, they will help to at least contain some of the noise. And we should try to contain the noise on all levels and at each stage of development before our home environment becomes completely urban. I don't think we should give up just yet. Don't you think?

Bingo, Miriam. Except that the environment won't be urban, it will be industrial. What if we pack the next town meeting? Anybody game?

Yes, Merry! Just say when and where!

Miriam and others~I have not resorted to ear plugs yet, but I have had to put pillows over my head. In the past I have thoroughly enjoyed gardening and reading on my deck, but not this year. Even the hummingbirds have failed to come around. (I live on Pepperbush Place.) I talked to another neighbor this afternoon and she said she thought she was going crazy and wondered if anyone else was bothered with the noise. I also felt the same way, but now I think more people than we realize are upset. She intends to call our town supervisor as well. And I think going to the next town meeting might do some good. Let me know.

explain this buzz. is it something you think is in your head?, and then realize no...that's definately a buzz not in my head. I don't hear it over here on may apple way. can we take it out with a BB gun???

Anyone interested in contacting the Supervisor about this issue,here's his email address.
[EMAIL]Supervisor@malta-town.org [/EMAIL]

Thanks, Forester. A few of us have already contacted the town supervisor. To respond to KM who wanted to know what the buzz sounds like, here's the description. It is definitely not in our heads. It's a high-pitch electrical drone, sort of like a big NY Grid transformer going bad. The noise is pervasive and because it's sort of like a 36-MHz sound, it travels well and sometimes feel like it's pervading the whole body with its resonance. Some people don't hear it as well because of the high pitch--and this is one time I wish my hearing wasn't that good.

Along with the buzz, has anyone noticed the strong ordor that has appeared right along with the buzz? It smells like plastic melting.

Where do you live, Homer? Most people I've heard from live on Plum Poppy or Sand Spurrey. Just wondering how far it all spreads.

quote:

fume scrubber

Miriam, Homer and I both live on Thimbleberry. I found the attached link with some good information about Fume Scrubbers. I worked in a power plant for over 20years and basically what they do is cleanup the stack emissions to meet EPA standards. We used Electrostatic Precipitators to remove the fine partials from the smoke stack. The fume scrubbers are also used to remove some pretty bad stuff from the stacks, depending on whats being sent up there.
Fume Scrubbers

quote:

Originally posted by Homer:
Along with the buzz, has anyone noticed the strong ordor that has appeared right along with the buzz? It smells like plastic melting.

I've noticed that smell too, during my walks around Arrowwood, Wineberry and Dunning. It smelled like plastic burning. I didn't think it was coming from Hermes Road but it's hard to tell because smell/smoke travels. It certainly was a toxic smell and not someone cooking hamburgers on the grill.

I don't want to short circuit the process underway, but there are inquiries being made about a possible source of a new noise in the area. Please follow up with Supervisor Sausville's office if you think there's a new smell too.