An AEG-Electrolux kitchen means virtually silent cooking, cooling and washing

(29/12/2006)

Everyday living is noisy – and for an increasing number of UK citizens is a headache. Noise complaints remain at their highest ever levels, and half a million English residents moved house because of noise last year. This is a crucial time in noise management, as Government in England prepare a draft Noise Strategy for public consultation during 2007.

The kitchen is quite literally the heart of the modern home. It is a social space for interaction with family and friends and much more than just a place for cooking and eating.

Research carried out by Electrolux and the Future Foundation (October 2005) revealed that 75% of the population now entertain family and friends at home more than once a month – and 15% of people entertain at home weekly – and almost 50% of them entertain guests in the kitchen. No wonder a quiet kitchen is so important; after all, who wants to compete with appliances during conversation?

The Electrolux / Future Foundation research also found that the other most common activities in the kitchen are holding family discussions, talking to children and relaxing – all much easier in a quiet kitchen.

The problem with noise is that it is subjective – one person’s harmonious melody is another person’s nightmare. This makes it impossible to measure noise, only sound can be measured. Most of us realise that that decibels are the units by which sound is measured but few of us know what this means when it comes to measuring how loud appliances are in the home.

The chart below gives a guide to the sound levels of some common noises. These are not absolute levels but give an indication of the relative rankings of everyday sounds. The chart includes average noise level for various domestic applainces along with the AEG-Electrolux quieter models:

0 dB The threshold of hearing
20dB The sound of a whisper
30dB WHO recommendation for undisturbed sleep
33dB AEG-Electrolux Santo K98800-4i Fridge
40dB Refrigerator or a library
41dB AEG-Electrolux F80860 ”Quietest dishwasher in the world”
46dB AEG-Electrolux Lavalogic L1620 washing machine
50dB Average Dishwasher
60dB Sewing machine
59dB AEG-Electrolux Cobra Cooker Hood
65dB Average Cooker hood
70dB Average Washing Machine or TV
85dB Prolonged exposure above this level can cause damage to hearing
90dB Food processor, lawn mower,
100dB Electric drill
110dB Personal stereo
120dB Thunder, loud stereo,
130dB Threshold of pain
140dB Fireworks, plane taking off
150dB Gunshot

What few of us realise is that a change of 3dB(A) technically halves or doubles sound levels. For example, this actually means that a power drill emits more than 8 times as much noise as a food processor and more than 64 times as much noise as the average vacuum cleaner.

An AEG-Electrolux kitchen means virtually silent cooking, cooling and washing. AEG-Electrolux offers products far quieter than average - right across its ranges . It also offers the quietest dishwasher in the world - the AEG-Electrolux F80860 (just 41dB).

Related categories:  Cookers   Noise control   Tumble dryer kits   Washing machines 

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