How To Create A Low EMF Home

A few weeks ago whilst surfing the web I came across a superb article on ‘creating a low EMF home’.

The article (actually a series of 2 articles) gave advice on EMF protection topics which are rarely talked about in any detail. Things like:

recommended maximum allowable ambient levels of EMF and RF
building and neighborhood EMF factors to take into account when choosing a new home
utility services and magnetic field considerations for home wiring
electrical system installation for low-EMR
low-EMR heating via forced air
low-EMF electric radiant heat
low-EMF wiring in a bedroom
pool and spa pumps & outdoor lighting transformers

This got me thinking.

Wouldn’t it be a great idea to get the author on as an interview guest? Then he could share his knowledge and people could get to ask their questions.

The author of the article is a Building Biologist.

I contacted him and asked him if he’d like to be interviewed. He readily agreed.

By way of introduction to the interview I’ve included the original articles below:

The following rules of thumb for EMF are intended to reduce exposure to Magnetic Fields (EMF) and Radio Frequency (RF) Radiation. These low-EMF measures include how to locate the site location, recommended maximum allowable ambient levels of EMF and RF, and best practices for wiring a home to minimize exposure to EMF. As a Building Biologist I find these guidelines helpful for our pre-purchase clients selecting a suitable location, and also for our green building clients desiring to rewire and minimize exposure to EMF/RF.

Building Location & Neighborhood Considerations for EMF

Building more than a ½ mile from electric power transmission lines
Building more than 100 feet from Utility Substation
Building more than 25 feet from distribution system electrical transformer
Building more than 75 feet from overhead or 25 feet from buried electrical distribution lines
Building is in a neighborhood without wireless Broadband Internet service
Building is not in direct line of sight of any cell phone antenna

EMF/EMR Site Evaluation and Recommended Ambient Levels of EMF/RF

Magnetic fields: 0.2 mG (20 nT) or less
Digital communication radiations: 10 µW/m2 or less at 10 ft above site elevation

Utility Services and Magnetic Fields

Cable TV, Phone, Electric power, water service entry points are within 10 feet of each other
Water utility pipe into house is plastic or if metal has 3 ft plastic section 10 feet from house

Plastic Pipe on Incoming Water Line to Minimize Stray Current from Neighborhood

Electrical meter located more than 10 ft away from bedrooms, family room, HUR
Cable TV sheathing, phone cable sheathing bonded to electrical system within 10 feet of entry point

Electrical System Installation for Low EMF and RF

Main Electrical Panel (MEP) & sub panel is more than 10 ft away bedrooms, family room, High Use Rooms (HUR)
Supply cable from MEP to a sub-panel does not cross beneath or above a bedroom or HUR
Electric panel wire lay out minimizes production of magnetic fields

Electrical Panel Wired to Minimize Magnetic Fields – Compliments of Karl Riley’s book, Tracing EMFs in Building Wiring

The electric panel design provides a neutral buss running the full length of each circuit breaker column
If metal water pipes are used, the only bond to metallic water piping is at the MEP regardless of the number of sub panels
MEP and sub panel are mounted to wood. On concrete surfaces Panel is on ¾” plywood. No panel mounting screws can penetrate the plywood into concrete.
The only bond between neutral & ground buses is in the MEP where the main breaker is located
Neutrals from multiple branch circuits meeting in a J-box are kept separate (no ganging of neutrals from different branch circuits)

If there are three-way switches, three-way switch circuit hot and neutral are sourced from same location & three wire travelers are used between switches
If there is low voltage lighting, the transformers for 12-volt can lights are not located below bedrooms

Many people are increasingly aware of the health threats from exposure to synthetic radiation. Over the past 100 years we’ve created an entirely new environment… surrounded by silent, odorless, invisible radiation. If you suffer from electrical hypersensitivity, or if you just are being pre-cautious, I hope these EMF rules of thumb and best practices are helpful.

The above article was originally published on Healthy building Science.

Electrical System Installation for Low-EMR

All rooms are wired for high speed Internet using Cat 5e or 6 cable
All rooms wired for phone service using shielded cable
There is no wireless Internet or cordless phones in house
There are no cell phone booster stations in house
All circuit breakers are accurately labeled as to area/devices serviced

Cell Phone Radiation Sign — No Cell Phone Repeater Stations – This Nice Signage from Doctor’s Office

Low-EMR Heating Via Forced Air

If there is air-conditioning, the AC condenser & Freon lines are more than ten feet of any point on any bed or any HUR
If there is a forced air system for ventilation, heating or air-conditioning, the Air Handling Unit (AHU) or Forced Air Unit (FAU) fan motor is located more than 10 feet from any point on any bed or any HUR

Low-EMF Electric Radiant Heat

Ceiling or floor radiant electric heat designed to cancel magnetic fields
If heat is by electric baseboard, electric baseboard heaters are located more than 5 feet any point on any bed

ThermoSoft seems to have a good low-EMF electric radiant heating system that accounts for both magnetic AND electric fields. However, it’s not “zero-EMF” as they claim.

Low-EMF Wiring In A Bedroom

Using only one of the following 3 strategies is necessary – each strategy is intended to minimize electric fields.

Wiring above, below, around bedrooms is metal clad (MC) cable or electrical metallic conduit
Wiring above, below, around every bedroom can be shut off with a kill switch
Wiring above, below, around every bedroom can be shut off with a remote control switch operating a relay located at the electric panel

Remote Control Demand Switch – EMF Best Practice for Reducing Electric Fields in a Bedroom

Pool and Spa Pumps & Outdoor Lighting Transformers

If there is a pool or spa, the pool or spa pump or outdoor lighting transformer is located more than 5 feet from any bed or any HUR

These EMF Best Practices have been established for many years, and we have seen them implemented successfully in projects around the world. They are tried and proven best practices for reducing EMF. I’m grateful to the Building Biologists that came before me… and not only created this handy resource, but also were kind enough to share!

If you’re doing a remodel or building from scratch, following these best practices will get you a “better than average home.” To take it to the next level, consider hiring a Healthy Building Consultant!

The above article was originally published on Healthy building Science. Both these articles were written by Alex Stadtner.

Interview

Thursday, 22nd October at 1:00 p.m. EST (10 AM PST or 5 PM GMT) I’m interviewing Alex Stadtner. The interview will last approximately one hour.

Alex Stadtner MS, CGBP, GPR, LEED-AP, HHS, BBEC, CIEC is a certified Building Biologist, and is president and senior consultant at Healthy Building Science.

If you’re not sure of the time zone where you live you can check it here or here.

I will be asking him about:

how to detect faulty wiring
tips for reducing EMF exposures generally in the home
how to create a low EMF home from scratch
and much more

I’ve chosen the teleseminar format so that you can follow via your computer or using your telephone AND you can ask your questions! You can do this in 2 ways:

before the day, by clicking here and sending me your question (if you’re not sure what time the teleseminar starts, the page has a countdown timer.)
on the day, by putting your question directly to my guest

This interview has been broadcast – sign up is closed.

The replay is also FREE but it’s only available for 24 hours after the event for those that signed up BEFORE the event.

Comments

Donna said,

I could not find EMF Protection at petaltone.co.uk
by David Eastoe.I could not understand what verifiable proof there is that the flower remedy protects people from EMF. I do believe that flower remedies can make people feel different but that does not automatically mean it protects us from anything dangerous.
Oleta Payne said,

I am a 72 year old woman who lives alone. I know nothing about electrical and know very few people in my area. How do I find someone who knows about EMF protection? My Smart Meter (outside) is directly across from my electrical box in the garage so I can’t put anything between them which is what I have seen suggested.
By the way, I am very healthy-no medications, eat heirloom and certified organic, grass-fed etc… you get the idea. Would appreciate any information!
Thank you. Oleta Payne
William said,

What about using 12-3 wire with a ground (4 wire TWISTED romex house wiring) leaving the 2nd conductor unused (no sharing of neutral between the hot wires). I had read that twisted cable was as good as using conduit for cancelling out RF emissions. I’m about to rewire a 100 year old house.

Are ANY dimmer switches safe to use?
Mitchell NewDelman said,

Have you heard of European electrical wiring sheathing in specially fabricated flexible plastic tubing made with internal components (patented) and is proven to be +98% EMF suppression? It’s being installed in Northern EU markets with references. Perhaps Alex Stadtner could telephone me to check this out for himself. [Comment edited – personal details removed ] I will be listening in on the 22nd. Cheers, <itchell
Patricia Ormsby said,

The building location considerations are ideal, and should be more widely known by the public. Given the direction of society and the addiction of the majority to EMF-emitting devices, though, I would expect such areas to be increasingly hard to find. You find one, and then a neighbor comes along, or, in Japan’s case, the government or a company tasked with ensuring no places without coverage remain comes along even if your community agrees with you. So the ideal in this case is just not realistic for most of us. Effective shielding from others’ insensitivity will be essential if we want to get through these times with our health in one piece.

One big difference between artificial EMF and tobacco is that the tobacco comapnies never got the idea to put up big smokestacks in each neighborhood to belch out smoke for their paying customers. Another big difference is the usefulness of EMF-emitting infrastructure in surveillance as the world descends into tyranny.

We are cooked unless we can shield effectively.
ellie said,

Lloyd, A big thank YOU, once again, for a great interview with a knowledgable expert. Alex Stadler described the exact situation I’m experiencing in my home; where I feel ‘electricity’ in my floors, bed, whatever my body is touching in my house, when my neighbor’s A/C goes on! I’m relieved to know I’M NOT CRAZY. Now, how to find a local holistic electrician to help remediate the situation.

Patricia, I just wanted to add to your comments about the tobacco industry: only a few million people smoke (smoked) cigarettes. Currently, 5 billion people, out of the 7 billion on the planet have a cell phone. It is becoming almost impossible to find a control group (not using or exposed) for doing research. Those of us with MCS, EHS, etc are the control group. We were healthy BEFORE wifi and cell phones, and now we’re not.

We are fortunate to have found this site and people like Lloyd and Alex, etc. The power of joined voices from communities like this is vital to changes being made. Be the change. Share interviews like this with everyone you know, whether they have symptoms yet or not.
Lloyd Burrell said,

Thanks to everyone who commented here, sent questions in and shared my article on Facebook etc. – thanks for helping me share the message on EMFs and health.