EMF radiation is invisible energy which is produced by electrical products such as the cell phone…
Smart Meter Radiation: What You Should Know
*We may earn a commission for purchases made using our links. Please see our disclosure to learn more.
Long ago, when utility companies aimed to monitor your gas or water consumption, they had to physically visit your meter and manually record the measurement displayed on its gauge. This process was arduous and inefficient, prompting numerous municipalities to seek innovative alternatives.
Introducing the ingenious smart meter. In recent times, cities and towns have embraced this cutting-edge technology. The smart meter seamlessly transmits your usage data wirelessly to the meter reader as they pass by in their vehicles. No longer is there a need for them to disembark or enter your premises. Undoubtedly, this method surpasses the inconvenience of manual meter reading.
However, the convenience comes at a potential cost—your well-being. Smart meters emit electric and magnetic field (EMF) radiation, which has been associated with various severe health concerns.
While you may lack control over your city’s transition to smart meters, you can adopt measures to mitigate the amount of EMF radiation infiltrating your abode.
We have meticulously crafted a comprehensive guide elucidating all facets of EMF and smart meters, including effective strategies to safeguard your home. Let us embark on this enlightening journey.
Understanding Smart Meters
How Smart Meters Work
Picture this: smart meters are like mini computers for energy. They digitally track how much electricity you use, and when you use it. The meter then sends this data wirelessly to your energy supplier for monitoring and billing. It’s a smart way to manage energy, isn’t it?
Remember when I mentioned wireless communication? Smart meters use low power radio frequency waves to send information to the energy providers. It’s pretty much like your WiFi router broadcasting internet in your house, but this one is for energy data.
Benefits of Smart Meters
Have you ever wondered how much energy that old freezer in your basement uses? With smart meters, you can have real-time feedback on your energy usage, helping you identify the energy hogs in your house, and cutting back on usage where needed. It’s a win-win for you and the environment!
Remember the days when you had to wait for your bill at the end of the month to see your usage? Those days are gone. With a smart meter, you get real-time data. You can see your energy consumption as it happens. Surprised by the energy your kettle uses? Now you know!
All this talk about energy efficiency and real-time data brings us to one crucial point – cost reduction. By being able to monitor your usage and adjust accordingly, you could save a pretty penny on your utility bills.
EMF Radiation and Smart Meters
Let’s begin by delving into the fundamental reasons behind the potential hazards associated with smart meters. These cutting-edge devices enable utility companies to effortlessly monitor your consumption, remotely install software, or even terminate your electricity supply, all achieved through wireless data transmission. However, this convenience comes at the cost of emitting radiofrequency waves.
These radiofrequency (RF) waves belong to the realm of non-ionizing radiation. Unlike the extra-low frequency (ELF) EMFs generated by power lines and electricity, RF-EMF radiation operates at a significantly higher frequency. Although smart meters adhere to legal limits concerning non-ionizing radiation, mounting global apprehension suggests that no level of exposure can be considered entirely safe.
Risks of Exposure
Smart meters introduce a surge in the overall concentration of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation within your living space, specifically radiofrequency (RF) EMF radiation. At high levels, RF-EMF radiation is a recognized carcinogen. Although further research is necessary to comprehend the impact of lower levels, the American Cancer Society acknowledges the potential cancer risks associated with smart meters.
Various forms of EMF radiation have been associated with severe and often fatal cancers like leukemia and glioma. EMF can also stimulate tumor growth in susceptible individuals. While the carcinogenic effects of ionizing radiation are extensively documented, the existing evidence suggests that the cancer-inducing capabilities of EMF radiation warrant genuine concern.
Furthermore, EMF radiation has been linked to male fertility issues. Men who habitually carry cell phones in their pockets have reported problems with sperm motility and morphology. Cell phones are major contributors of RF-EMF radiation. In pregnant women, EMF radiation has been found to increase the risk of miscarriage.
For individuals who are sensitive to EMF or experiencing an overload of EMF exposure, symptoms such as dizziness, insomnia, and itchiness may manifest. These individuals often experience immediate relief when they enter environments with lower EMF levels.
Do You Have a Smart Meter?
“Watthour Meter” by Beige Alert is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“IMG_0034” by Miss Efficiency is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Unveiling the presence of a smart meter in your abode isn’t always readily discernible. Contacting your local utility company or the relevant city department (referred to differently across municipalities, such as the water department or department of municipal works) is often necessary. However, the clerk may lack knowledge in this regard, prompting further conversations with a technician or even the department’s head.
Alternatively, you can embark on a quest to locate the brand and model imprinted on the meter itself, subsequently conducting a comprehensive internet search to ascertain if the manufacturer specializes in producing smart meters. Be prepared for potential uncertainties and the likelihood of requiring additional inquiries.
Steps to Minimize Exposure to Smart Meter Radiation
Upon discovering that you have a smart meter, it’s natural to feel concerned, and there are valid reasons for such unease. Minimizing your exposure to smart meters can prove challenging, as consumers often have limited control over the type of meter employed by utility companies. Upgrades typically occur on a community-wide scale, meaning your entire neighborhood likely has smart meters installed. Most cities prohibit individuals from purchasing and installing their own meters, particularly when smart meter technology is utilized. This would place an additional burden on utility company employees who would then need to manually read meters at specific houses.
However, if you reside in an area where smart meters are mandatory, you can take steps to reduce overall EMF radiation levels within your home. While these measures won’t alter the EMF radiation emitted by your smart meter, they can lower your family’s cumulative exposure. Here are a few actions you can consider:
- Replace wireless internet with a wired connection. WiFi is a significant source of EMF radiation, and by making this switch, you can significantly impact the overall radiation levels in your home.
- Activate airplane mode on your cell phone when not in use, and avoid keeping it near you during the night. Refrain from storing it in your pocket throughout the day.
- Swap out smart bulbs, LEDs, or CFLs with incandescent bulbs. Although incandescent bulbs are slightly less energy-efficient, they produce lower levels of RF and ELF radiation, making them a safer alternative to modern energy-efficient options.
- Invest in a high-quality EMF meter capable of detecting both ELF and RF radiation, such as the TriField TF2. This tool allows you to establish baseline levels, identify major EMF sources in your home, and monitor your exposure over time.
After obtaining an EMF meter, utilize it to assess the EMF levels within your home. This practice should be conducted both before and after implementing significant changes, allowing you to discern effective measures from those that yield little impact. For instance, if you opt to transition to wired internet, measure the EMF levels before and after the switch.
- Consider acquiring or crafting a smart meter cover. These specialized covers are designed to be placed over the smart meter, mitigating a portion of the emitted EMF radiation.
- Additionally, you can establish a protective barrier within your home using specific metals or EMF-repellant paint. This simple yet impactful step helps shield your living space from excessive EMF exposure.
Implementing these measures will empower you to take control of your EMF exposure within the constraints of having a smart meter in your community.
What is a Smart Meter Cover?
A remarkable solution for mitigating EMF radiation exposure is the smart meter cover—an innovative device that envelops your existing smart meter. It effectively safeguards outdoor living spaces, such as your backyard or patio, from the emitted EMF radiation. This protection becomes particularly crucial if your meter is situated in a heavily trafficked area. However, due to the substantial RF-EMF radiation produced by smart meters, utilizing smart meter covers is advisable even when the meter is located away from busy zones.
Functioning as Faraday cages, these covers create a barrier that blocks the penetration of electric and magnetic radiation. They encapsulate the emitted radiation from the smart meter while still allowing the necessary signal transmission for your utility company. In essence, smart meter covers effectively contain the radiation while maintaining the essential communication link.
Smart Meter Guard EMF Cover
Among the options available, the EMF Cover from Smart Meter Guard garners exceptional online reviews. This remarkable cover easily attaches over your smart meter and is expertly crafted from durable stainless steel, ensuring its longevity without succumbing to rust or breakage. Its high-quality construction ensures it can withstand even the harshest weather conditions. Particularly for regions characterized by cold and snowy winters, this cover proves to be an excellent choice to safeguard your smart meter. The positive reception of this product further reinforces its reputation as a reliable and durable solution, offering peace of mind in areas prone to challenging weather environments.
Build Your Own
For those inclined towards a cost-effective or do-it-yourself approach, crafting a homemade smart meter cover is a viable option. While it requires a touch of creativity, the financial investment remains minimal.
When creating your own cover, opt for materials renowned for repelling electric, magnetic, and radio frequencies. Aluminum foil stands out as a popular and readily available choice, while nickel-copper ripstop offers a slightly pricier but more durable solution.
Ensure that the materials are securely affixed to the sides of the smart meter cover, taking care not to cause any permanent damage to the meter itself. If covering the top of the meter, employ a metal mesh, as its perforations allow uninterrupted signal transmission between your utility company and the meter.
If you embark on the DIY route, employ an EMF meter to evaluate the area surrounding the smart meter and within your home both before and after installing the cover. This step guarantees the effectiveness of your homemade cover in reflecting and absorbing EMF radiation. It is crucial to avoid inadvertently redirecting radiation into your living room while attempting to protect your patio.
Creating a Barrier
In conjunction with using a smart meter, it is prudent to establish a protective barrier within the interior of your home, positioned on the opposite side of the wall from the smart meter. This straightforward measure effectively prevents excessive EMF radiation from permeating your home’s walls.
To create a barrier, there are a couple of potential approaches you can explore. One option is to craft a homemade shield comprising a reflector and absorber. The reflector’s purpose is to deflect radiation away from your living space, while the absorber absorbs the reflected radiation, preventing its entry into the atmosphere.
The same materials utilized in DIY meter covers, such as aluminum foil or nickel-copper ripstop, serve as excellent reflectors. For the absorber, seek a material capable of absorbing RF radiation. Alternatively, pre-made shields are available, which can be simply hung inside your home, directly opposite the smart meter’s location.
Another option is EMF paint. Woremor claims their paint is 99.95% effective with a single layer and 99.998% effective with two layers. If you choose this route, you will need to apply the RF-shielding paint to the interior wall opposite the smart meter.
Similar to the meter cover, it is advisable to employ an EMF meter to assess your home’s levels before and after implementing a barrier. This step ensures that the chosen method effectively reduces your home’s EMF levels, providing you with the certainty that your efforts are worthwhile.
Parting Words
As cities transition to smart meters for cost-cutting and efficiency, potential dangers arise, necessitating awareness of protective measures to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.
Smart meter covers, whether purchased or homemade, prove effective in reducing overall EMF levels within your home. These covers enable utility companies to perform necessary tasks while preventing EMF radiation from infiltrating outdoor spaces like backyards and patios. Inexpensive and inconspicuous, they provide a practical solution.
Creating a barrier between your home’s interior and the smart meter is another excellent method of shielding your living space from smart meter radiation. Options such as EMF-repellant paint or a DIY shield serve as simple yet effective approaches to repel the radiation emitted by your smart meter, preventing its entry into your home.
Ideally, combining a smart meter cover for outdoor use with a protective barrier inside your home ensures a secure coexistence with smart meter technology. As the prevalence of smart meters continues, adapting and implementing these protective measures now is the wisest course of action.
More to Explore
