Low Hanging Fruit

Smart Meters alone do not make us sick, although in many cases they have been the proverbial straws that have broken people's backs. While the impulsivity of their RF signals and disruptions in power quality produced by digital wireless electric meters are established hazards, it is unfair to single them out as the only culprit creating problems.

Whether or not you have a Smart Meter, if you have come to the understanding that man-made electromagnetic energy does affect biology, then here are some simple things you can do to maintain your health.

Optimize your sleeping space by moving plug-in alarm clocks at least 6 feet away from your bed. Avoid nightlights or lit clocks, as even small amounts of light can disrupt your sleep, preventing you from getting a full night's rest. Be sure to position your bed away from a wall with an electric meter on the other side. Even non-Smart Meters create an elevated magnetic field of 2-4 feet in all directions, which can be a subtle, persistant hazard. Keep televisions out of your bedroom. To get the best night's sleep possible, keep electronic devices to a minimum, switch them off with a surge protector, or if possible, flip the breaker before bed.

Lighting is crucial. Avoid CFLs due to their high magnetic fields, the toxic vaporized mercury they contain, and high frequency transients that they add to wiring. Be especially careful with recessed fixtures, which may be much closer to a person or pet on the floor above you than to those in the space being lit. My two favorite bulbs for overhead lighting are the 45 Watt GE Reveal PAR 20 and the 35 Watt GE Reveal Halogen PAR 20 (around $8 a piece).

Dimmer switches should be avoided and can be replaced very inexpensively. Dimmers negatively affect power quality, increase magnetic fields, and don't save any energy. The ambiance does not outweigh the side effects.

Most people still use cell phones or cordless landline phones as their primary way to make calls, while some have given them up completely to reduce their exposure to radio frequencies. What you may not know is that not all corded phones are perfectly safe. Some have a strong magnetic field around the speaker in the ear piece. A speaker phone is a good option, although voice over IP with a USB headset may be the highest quality, lowest exposure form of communication.

Computers and their monitors still have the greatest potential for harm, whether they use WiFi or Ethernet. The magnetic fields on a laptop's keyboard are very high and can be completely avoided by using an external USB keyboard. If you have a desktop PC, keep it as far away from your body as possible (never under your desk, near your legs). LCD monitors are much better than CRTs, but again, distance is your friend. If you can't read the screen, zoom in, don't lean in.

Finally, try to keep your living spaces below 1 milligauss (for magnetic fields) and 0.2 Volts per meter for (radio frequency fields). Higher than that is asking for trouble.

Have a safe and healthy 2012!