Wind Turbine Acoustics - Wind Turbine Technology: Fundamental Concepts of Wind Turbine Engineering - page 461

- Wind turbines were perceived as louder when the wind was blowing from the wind-
turbine towards the dwelling and less loud vice versa.
- Wind turbines were perceived as louder when the wind was strong and less loud with
a weak or no wind. However, more respondents thought it was louder than less loud
at night, even though wind speeds were lower at night, on average.
With Respect to Annoyance from Wind Turbine Sound
- Of the potential annoyances from wind turbines, noise was the most annoying.
- The most common description of annoying wind turbine sound was swishing; annoy-
ance was more probable for respondents who gave this description than for those who
did not.
- Benefiting economically from wind turbines decreased the probability of being
annoyed by wind turbine sound.
- Location near a main road (in comparison with a built-up area) decreased the prob-
ability of being annoyed by wind turbine sound.
- Although the presence of background sound from road traffic made wind turbine
sound less noticeable, higher levels of background sound did not reduce the prob-
ability of being annoyed.
- Annoyance with wind turbine noise was associated with a negative attitude towards
wind turbines in general and the perceived negative visual impact of wind turbines on
the landscape.
With Respect to Other Health Effects Associated with Wind Turbines
- The risk for sleep interruption by noise was higher at levels of wind turbine sound
pressure levels above 45 dB(A) and lower at levels below 30 dB(A).
- Annoyance with wind turbine noise was associated with complaints of psychological
distress, stress, difficulties in falling asleep, and sleep interruption.
References
American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 1978, Method for the Calculation of the
Absorption of Sound in the Atmosphere , ANSI SI.26, New York: Acoustical Society
of America.
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), 1988, Standard Performance Testing of Wind
Energy Conversion Systems , Standard AWEA 1.2-1988, Washington, DC: American
Wind Energy Association.
Andersen, B., and J. Jakobsen, 1983, Noise Emissions from Wind Turbine Generators:
A Measurement Method , Danish Acoustical Institute Technical Report No. 109, Lyngby,
Denmark: Danish Academy of Technical Sciences.
Bendat, J. S., and A. G. Piersol, 1980, Engineering Applications of Correlation and Spectral
Analysis , New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Brooks, T. F., and T. H. Hodgson, 1980, Prediction and Comparison of Trailing Edge Noise
Using Measured Surface Pressures , Preprint 80-0977, American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics.