Protecting Yourself from Harmful Smart Meter Radiation
Anna Hunt, Staff
Waking Times
Over the last decade, millions of homes worldwide have been outfitted with smart meters. Power utility companies continue to force smart meters upon the population under the argument that they allow a more accurate and concise measurement of home energy usage, and give the resident and utility provider more visibility of and control over power consumption. Yet, concerns continue to grow about the potential dangers from the electro-magnetic radiation given off by these devices.
The US Federal Communications Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) claim that the broadcasting frequencies emitted by smart meters are safe to humans, even though in May of 2011, the WHO officially recognized that wireless radiation such as that emitted by smart meters is possibly carcinogenic. So, according to the WHO, smart meters are safe, except that they may cause cancer – a questionable contradiction.
Hundreds of independent scientific studies have shown that smart meters create a vast and clear health hazard in addition to emitting carcinogenic radiation, and many people living around smart meters have reported insomnia, rashes, headaches, disorientation, neuropathy, sinus issues, thyroid problems, hyperactivity, and other illnesses after the installation of a smart meter. There have also been many instances of smart meters catching fire and destroying homes.
Smart meters emit high-frequency RF radiation 24/7, from 250mWatts to 2.0Watts. At times, the radiation from a smart meter can be up to 160 times the radiation of a cell phone. Unlike your other wireless devices, you have no control over when the device is on and when it is turned off. In some multi-unit homes and apartment buildings, roomfuls of smart meters emit radiation that could be quite dangerous.
Most people aren’t given an option regarding whether they can keep an old meter or have a smart meter installed. Even if a choice is given, it can be costly, and a monthly fee is often associated with having an old meter. Nevertheless, up to now power companies supported by government have made it appear that it is mandatory to switch to a smart meter. They tout the benefits and don’t discuss the potential health risks. Once a resident discovers that their body reacts negatively to the continuous radiation emitted by a smart meter, it is often too late, or very costly, to remove it.
An alternative for many people, thus, will be to protect themselves by shielding the smart meter and reducing its excessive and harmful radiation. The solutions below are examples of what you can do to reduce smart meter radiation output, while still allowing the meter to communicate energy usage with the utility company.
Smart Meter Guard
Below are two videos from Smart Meter Guard demonstrating their wire-mesh, stainless steel Faraday cage that completely covers the smart meter, resulting in a 98% reduction in radiation. This product is a bit costly, at about $130, but it requires no assembly, is very simple to install and is said to fit any brand of smart meter in the US or Canada. The cage can be purchased via Amazon.com or you can go to the company’s website directly.
Smart Meter Block
Another company has created a similar shield, the Smart Meter Block, which is made out of nickel-coated copper. It is slightly more economical at $89, and the company claims that it still blocks about 99% of excessive smart meter radiation. The product comes with size-adjusting inserts and a Velcro tension strap to secure the meter. The company also sells an EMF protection panel and shielding sheets, at additional cost, which can be installed inside the home. All the products are available on their website. Here’s a demonstration of the effectiveness of the Smart Meter Block.
Do-It-Yourself Smart Meter Shield
If you’re on a budget, want a portable solution or live outside of North America, you can make your own smart meter shield using reflective, double-sided bubble-wrap insulation and aluminum foil tape. The home-made shield may not be as effective as the two previous options, but it is still likely to reduce the smart meter’s radiation output by 90%. To create your own shield, following the instructional video below.
RF Reflectors and RF Absorbers
A company called LessEMF, which distributes a variety of products that measure and protect you from EMF radiation, offers two types of wall shielding material – RF reflectors and RF absorbers. These are said to reduce smart meter radiation inside the home up to 95%. An RF reflector will cause the majority of the signal to bounce off, somewhat like a mirror reflects light. It will usually offer better shielding (less RF transmission) than an absorbing material. An RF absorber will absorb much of the signal and minimize reflection. The energy absorbed is released as a tiny, almost indeterminate amount of heat. In both cases, some amount of RF passes through the shield. LessEMF offers RF reflectors and absorbers in the form of fabric, paints, curtains, laminated film material, garments and bedding via their website.
Find out more about smart meter harm at TakeBackYourPower.net and StopSmartMeters.org.
If you still don’t have a smart meter on your home and prefer to keep it that way, you can purchase all types of labels and signs to make your choice known from RefuseSmartMeters.com.
Read more articles by Anna Hunt.
About the Author
Anna Hunt is writer, yoga instructor, mother of three, and lover of healthy food. She’s the founder of Awareness Junkie, an online community paving the way for better health and personal transformation. She’s also the co-editor at Waking Times, where she writes about optimal health and wellness. Anna spent 6 years in Costa Rica as a teacher of Hatha and therapeutic yoga. She now teaches at Asheville Yoga Center and is pursuing her Yoga Therapy certification. During her free time, you’ll find her on the mat or in the kitchen, creating new kid-friendly superfood recipes.
This article was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Anna Hunt and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff.