One of the greatest benefits of renewable energy is it uses resources straight from the environment to generate power. That means, as long as the sun keeps shining, we will have a source for clean solar power. So, it’s no surprise that many in the industry are looking to solar farms as the new big thing. Solar Farms vs. Other Renewable Energy For well over a century, coal-and-natural-gas-fired power plants have been the norm in North America but the desire to cut back on pollution and greenhouse gases has prompted many jurisdictions to seek greener sources of energy like wind and solar. For example, the State of New York has set a goal of carbon-free electricity by 2040 and the Biden administration recently released a blueprint showing how the US could move toward producing almost half of its electricity from the sun by 2050. To date, a popular option has […]

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If you have been binge-watching Netflix shows or catching up on movies, you will likely come across many scenes shot close to home. Canada has long been a popular destination for film producers, earning the country the title of Hollywood North. At one time, the demand was for production facilities geared at film and cinema. But as more and more streaming services like Netflix and Apple+ enter the market, and YouTube shows gain in popularity, studios in major Canadian cities are bursting at the seams with increasing demand for production spaces. To avoid turning away productions, new studios are popping up across the country and being held to cinema standards. A new $200M film studio in Toronto was recently announced, just one week after another it was announced that Basin Media Hub, a $250 million, purpose-built, state-of-the-art film, television and digital media hub was also coming to the city. The […]

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How did you arrive at Aercoustics? I first came to Aercoustics as an intern in 2011 via my university’s professional experience year program. I saw the company’s job posting in the internship portal and applied because I thought it looked like an interesting field to try. I had some experience in mechanical consulting through previous summer jobs that I enjoyed and I think that helped me secure my internship with Aercoustics. Before I worked at Aercoustics, however, I didn’t even know the field of acoustics, noise and vibration existed. Today, I describe myself as a noise consultant, acoustician, noise guy, or wind turbine guy. I work with wind turbine and solar farms to help them ensure noise compliance and secure permits. My career has been focussed on areas with growth potential. Earlier in my career that meant pushing myself to do the field work and data analysis that was, at the […]

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How did acoustics, noise, and vibration become your specialization? My first exposure to acoustics came from growing up learning and playing instruments; in my case, the piano and trombone. This musical background led me to apply for an internship at Aercoustics after my third year studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Toronto.  It was during the 16-month internship that my interest and curiosity in acoustics, noise, and vibration developed into knowledge and passion for the subject. When my internship was completed, I partnered with Aercoustics to conduct my fourth year thesis on the design of an adaptive vibration absorber, and after graduation I returned full-time where I continue to grow my knowledge and skills in the field to this day.   What project are you most proud to have worked on? I focus on how to predict and measure noise and vibration from anything that people want to control or reduce, which has taken me […]

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How did acoustics, noise, and vibration become your specialization? In April 2002, I was hired out of university to be an “air-head”, so to speak, for a medium-sized engineering consulting firm. Air-head because the typical project work included air emissions inventories and annual reporting for industrial clients.  As a junior and a new consultant, I said yes to every learning opportunity – which afforded me the best site visits to Ontario’s finest landfills, active and shuttered industrial sites and views from the top of industrial stacks. Saying yes eventually provided me with an opportunity to be on an automotive parts plant rooftop in Ontario working alongside a colleague who was doing noise measurements of industrial stacks and dust collectors that were generating noise complaints from the neighbouring residential area. I was drawn in by the work and the equipment. Noise was tangible to me. It could be measured to verify a complaint, thoughtfully evaluated, controlled and the […]

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For the past few years, I have been volunteering several hours a month working with other acoustic engineers at our professional engineering body, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). The work was of tremendous value not just to me but the entire industry. As the regulator of the practice of professional engineering in Ontario, PEO has the ability to publish practice standards and guidelines to instruct engineers on expected work. But PEO does not always have in-house expertise in the specific areas and as such, they will ask experts in the field to join a subcommittee to assist in the development of a practice standard or guideline. Acoustic Engineers Volunteering at PEO I was invited to join a subcommittee of acoustic engineers experienced in preparing Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) Reports and the Noise reports. We wrote about EASR and the implications for the industry when it […]

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In 2015, I wrote my first article here discussing the proposed changes to the National Building Code and what the impact on acoustics. In 2020, the Ontario Building Code (OBC) followed suit with amendments to the Sound Transmission sections but the changes flew under the radar because everyone was focused on the pandemic. The changes are significant and have a tremendous impact on acoustics. This is the first major update to the Sound Transmission section in 30 years. Revisions to Sound Transmission Class The challenge with the old building code is that it only considered the wall separating two spaces (left image), yet we know sound does not only travel through the air from one room to another. Sound travels through indirect paths such as ducts, duct walls, floors, ceilings, windows or even gaps and cracks. This is known as “flanking” noise (right image).  This additional sound wasn’t taken into account before […]

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In 2005, Hurricane Wilma wiped out power across Florida causing businesses to close and grocery stores to lose inventory due to spoilage. Residents were left frustrated by long lines and limited food selections when dozens of grocery stores finally reopened after being out of power for days. An issue that may have been avoided with on-site power generation.   Power losses are common in areas prone to violent storms and hurricanes but even here in Canada, B.C. Hydro estimates the average Canadian will experience roughly 2.5 power outages a year. This can range from a few seconds or minutes to hours and sometimes even days. As seen during Hurricane Wilma, this can have a devastating impact on businesses so, it’s not surprising that there is great interest in on-site power generation for commercial, institutional and industrial sites. Following Hurricane Wilma, several major grocery chains invested in on-site power generators to […]

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Designing for sustainability and wellness in the built environment has become increasingly popular, which has given rise to multiple certification programs. While many projects have remained focused on achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, there are several other sustainability certifications that have grown in popularity. Two examples being Zero Carbon Building Standard and Built Green. Over the years, the scope of sustainability has begun to shift to include occupant health and well-being, which formed the way for new sustainability certification programs, such as the WELL Building Certification program. The WELL program is unique in that it exclusively focuses on designing for wellness. Acoustics has been adapted as a primary concept with a range of credits available, making acoustics an important consideration in achieving any level of certification (bronze to platinum status).   Acoustical Considerations to Secure Sustainability Certification While each certification program has their own requirements, earning […]

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