EMF home inspections | Blue Ridge EMF Solutions

EMF Home Inspections following Building Biology Principles

by Blue Ridge EMF Solutions | Jun 10, 2024 | EMF assessments, EMF home inspections

One of my greatest joys has been learning and working with mentors and colleagues from the Building Biology Institute (BBI) for the past six years. This is a stunningly responsive, inquisitive, and caring group of professionals who care deeply about our clients and about preventing and improving health conditions. Our team of BBI-certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialists meets monthly on Zoom, tackling the tough challenges we find in the field to seek and share solutions. The common attitude exhibited in these meetings is: “Wow, what can we do about that?” (vs. “That woman is delusional”). Given how effective our approach has been for the past 30+ years in the U.S., my EMF home inspections follow these Building Biology principles:

Safeguard sleep
Distance is our Friend
Reduce Use and
Favor hard-wired connections

Below I will introduce each of these principles in more detail. And before I do, I will also share the other thing I love about Building Biology’s approach: We follow biological standards on evaluating EMF exposure (see page 5 linked here). We are led by the Precautionary Principle. The simplified version of this environmental health practice: If there is significant evidence of harm, yet not scientific (and/or governmental) consensus, then it is better to be safe than sorry.
This approach feels like a warm embrace to me and my long background in public health: proactively preventing health issues, particularly for those who are most vulnerable.

Good, Better, and Best Solutions: Giving you freedom of choice

As I was taught by my Building Biology mentors, I provide Good, Better, and Best Solutions for all four of these types of EMF’s below. This gives you a blueprint for moving forward and negotiating changes with your family.

Radio-frequency radiation (RFR) from all wireless devices, cell towers and 5G antennas
Electric fields power lines in close proximity, wiring in the walls, and anything electrified that is plugged in
Magnetic fields from power lines, wiring errors (even when all is working well!) and motors in motion
Dirty electricity, or higher-voltage transients, which can be caused by energy-saving technologies, including CFL and LED light bulbs, solar inverters, alternating speed motors, switch-mode power supplies, and more.

Back to those four Building Biology Principles:

1. Safeguard sleep: Prioritizing the creation of a low-EMF sleep sanctuary is an essential first step, even if still being exposure to high EMF levels in your waking hours. Start with keeping your cell phone OUT of the bedroom! In many cases, it can be relatively simple to reduce RFR exposure. You or your EMF consultant can identify what devices and appliances in your home are emitting RFR, using a reliable meter like the Safe & Sound Pro II. If you live in multi-family housing, this can be more challenging. Having professional help for your assessment can open the door to different options for reducing what is coming into your home from other locations.

Reducing electric fields from the wiring in the walls can be tricky. The best way to do this is being willing to turn off circuit breakers (if not rewiring with metal clad cabling). While turning off the circuit that powers a bedroom’s outlets is an easy DIY job, there are often up to four other circuits that may increase electric fields in the bedroom. These include circuits in, around, above, and over the bedroom. I find that some circuit breakers are property labeled, yet many are often not! My NFA 1000 meter from Gighertz Solutions helps me do a great job of this investigation process.

As a nurse, it is deeply gratifying to hear when clients begin to sleep better after electric fields are reduced! And when sleep is improved, the positive ripple effect on our physical and mental health is stunning! I recently heard from clients in their early 80’s with this news: At 8:00 am on the day immediately after our assessment, my client Judy called and said, “My husband slept through the night for the first time in 25 years!!” Yippee!

Given the U.S. epidemic of sleep problems/ insomnia, this is a game changer! Sleeping with little to no electric fields can help reduce our dependence on sleep medications. This is what Mother Nature intended! Over the course of several months, it can reduce our sensitivity to EMFs and a wide range of issues related to the nervous system, including anxiety, irritability, arthritis, dementia, Parkinson, ALS, and more. See my blog on Sleep hygiene for a deeper dive. (This was some of the content of my podcast with international EMF expert Lloyd Burrell on ElectricSense.com. His EMF Practical Guide is a Must-Read for all DIY EMF protection.)

2. Distance is our Friend! Emissions from all four types of EMF’s drop with distance. Here are some simple DIY examples to apply today:

For your cell phone: Keep it off your body and brain! Use speaker phone and text with a stylus.
Pull your bed six inches away from the wall.
Never sleep with your head on the other side of a refrigerator or utility meter, even if it’s not “smart.”
If still using Wi-Fi: Keep the router as far as possible from your living spaces as possible, and particularly far from children and pregnant women, who are most vulnerable.

3. Reduce Use! Your cell phone is likely your biggest RF exposure of the day. Taking a Tech Sabbath once a week can help cut back on the habit of always checking. It can also improve our connections with those we love. Try having a cut-off time each evening for all screens, so that your body can produce melatonin for restorative sleep. A corded landline is the BEST way to talk on the phone!

4. Favor Hard-Wired Connections! Sure, Wi-Fi is convenient. Yet even with the router at a distance, your laptop or PC are emitting massive amounts of RF radiation close to your body and brain, in order to connect to the router. Hardwiring is cheap (no electrician needed)! All devices can be connected with one sort of network adapter or another (just search: “Network adapter for my _____ and fill in the made and model of your device.)” Hardwired connections also deliver the faster and most secure internet connections! This well-known fact can help hesitant partners and family members to get on board.

For assessing all of these factors and four EMFs noted above, I use professional equipment from Gigahertz Solutions and Safe Living Technologies. There are highly sensitive and specific meters to narrow down the frequencies and levels of exposure. After assessing what the numbers reveal, I develop a mitigation plan for each client, providing Good – Better – and Best options for mitigation, based on your budget, needs, and desires.

Ultimately, sensitive folks’ bodies are the most important “meters” to measure or determine if an environment feels healthy. Sometimes clients are reacting to measurable EMF’s. Sometimes, our bodies are reacting to other toxins like VOCs or mold, even after a remediation project. And sometimes it is geopathic stress from the earth. My team and I at Blue Ridge EMF Solutions can narrow it down for you. We sensitive souls can and should be able to live well in this modern world!

I am deeply grateful for opportunities to have witnessed and personally benefitted from Building Biology principles used to help create hundreds of healthy homes. Hoping you and yours can also flourish with this comprehensive approach. Reach out today for a Building Biology based home assessment. Call me at (828) 628-5003 or use this contact form.

Blessings, Mary Anne

Committed in the New Year to Only 1 EMF Product!

by Blue Ridge EMF Solutions | Jan 1, 2024 | EMF home inspections, EMF products

“What EMF product do you sell?”

This is a very frequent question I am asked. After 13 years of studying, measuring and mitigating EMFs, I know one thing for sure. This is a highly complex issue. As a result, my answer to this question is both complex and simple. On this New Year’s Day, I am committed in the New Year to only 1 EMF product. And that is enhancing well-being. That is my “product.”

Here are the reasons why:

There are four different kinds of electromagnet fields (EMF), which have different frequencies with varying health effects. There is no one solution to quantitatively lower all 4 of types of EMFs. The four types include wireless radiation (or radio-frequency radiation/RFR), electric fields, magnetic fields, and dirty electricity. You can find details about each of these here.

My motivation for this work is not on sales of products. I am a registered nurse with a long background in public health. According to my pledge as an RN, “I devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.” I take this “environmental nursing” very seriously. I am also driven by a spiritual calling on my life to prevent others from suffering from EMFs. I could never recommend any interventions that I was not sure could improve health outcomes. Because the stakes are so high, particularly for our children, the Precautionary Principle is my guiding light. Here is the gist of it: “When there is significant evidence of harm, yet not scientific consensus, it is better to be safe than sorry.” The bedrock for this precaution is the seven decades of science on EMF health effects.

I am committed to helping clients make measurable changes in all four types of EMFs. I was taught well to do thorough EMF assessments in the my training from the Building Biology Institute. BBI is a non-profit with the most rigorous EMF standards and training in North America. I have been honored to serve as one of BBI’s “lab leaders” for its new trainees in 2022, and will do so again in the fall of 2024. Here I am, surrounded by some of my mentors during a training of new EMF consultants. (Left to right: Mitch Marchand, Diana Schultz, Larry Gust, me and Eric Windheim)

While one common “solution” promoted is whole-house filtering of dirty electricity, it may actually make things worse! If dirty electricity is caused by a wiring error, and not fixed, then filtering can lead to a massive increase in magnetic fields. Elevated magnetic fields are well documented to break DNA and increase the risk of cancer and miscarriage. Careful assessment is needed before any filtering is installed.

Any EMF product should be considered with caution if we can’t quantitatively measure a reduction in exposure. This includes all types of EMF “chips,” pendants, and subtle energy devices. My husband squirms when I admit I wasted thousands of dollars on such “solutions” that did nothing for me. My urgent need to feel better led down a rabbit hole of temporary despair and debt. And this is also the case with hundreds of clients I have served. As a result, I follow the Building Biology Institute’s position on subtle energy devices. Some subtle energy “solutions” may work well as “adjuncts” to quantitative reductions. For some folks, these may provide temporary relief of symptoms. But as exposures increase over time, so does our total body burden of toxins. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine considers the body like a rain barrel of toxins. When new symptoms, the toxic load may have increased.

When I do recommend a product to lower one particular type of EMF, it is after careful testing by multiple EMF experts with no conflicts of interest. This allows me to be sure of a product’s efficacy. One product that is effective for years may be subpar compared to a newer product that is tested by third parties. Given the complexity of this field, I am grateful that we EMR specialists certified by the Building Biologist meet monthly by Zoom to discuss solutions of all sorts, including which products are helpful and which are not. We have a policy when to meet that prohibits promotion from those with conflicts of interest.

While working with clients, I recommend numerous ways to reduce EMFs/RF that are free or very low-cost. So the most important financial investment is in the assessment itself. At SafeTech NC – the non-profit that I run – there are many free solutions to consider for reducing wireless exposure. For those EMF sources that are not clear to you, the first step is always assessing with reliable meters. This is one of the fun things we do together: learning how to use the meters I have and that you may have. This also helps prevent higher EMF exposures in the future, both in your home, at work, and as you travel

Lastly: When we work together to quantitatively lower all four types of EMF exposure, the positive health effects can be stunning! We can turn around a wide array of chronic conditions with low-EMF lifestyles. Why? Because the root cause of many health conditions is an increase in oxidative stress. Ninety-one percent of 290 studies found that wireless radiation exposure increased oxidative damage. (Yes: oxidation, like our cells “rusting”). Well-being is very possible when we are intentional about how we live in this modern world. We want to spread the word on this good news!

Here are some of the stunning results that I and other EMRS have heard and seen from clients following comprehensive EMF assessments and mitigation at home:

Resolution of symptoms at home related to EMF sensitivity or electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS)
Brighter mood!
Clearer thinking / improved memory
Sound sleep
Relief / reduction of chronic pain and arthritis
Improved immune function
Flourishing fertility
Improved behavior related to Autism and ADD/ADHD
And much more!

So in 2024, I will continue to refrain from promoting particular products. I will continue to encourage and carry out comprehensive EMF assessments to lower EMR exposure, and thereby increase your opportunities for well-being.

May you be well in this New Year! Blessings, Mary Anne

Sweet Dreams: Sleep Hygiene for EMF Sensitive Souls

by Blue Ridge EMF Solutions | May 31, 2020 | Blue Ridge EMF Solutions, EMF home inspections

Updated 5/31/24: What an incredible honor it was for me to be interviewed by Lloyd Burrell of Electrosense.com! This world-renowned EMF expert and I focused our hour together on two topics that I’ll call this:

Sweet Dreams: Sleep Hygiene for EMF Sensitive Souls

First, I must give credit to Lloyd Burrell. He was a life-saver for me 12 years ago, when I was sick with EMF related symptoms and took a deep dive into studying his EMF Practical Guide. In fact, when I was actively working the limbic system retraining program by Annie Hopper (the Dynamic Neural Retraining Program) in 2014, one of my “future visualizations” (to move my healing forward!) was sitting with Lloyd in a Parisian café, planning a healing program together for those who are EMF sensitive. How deeply I believe in future visualizations to move life forward!

Below are some of the ideas that I shared on the podcast related to sleep hygiene. These are based four things:

my personal experiences overcoming EMF-related sleep challenges
my decade as a psychiatric nurse working with patients who had severe sleep challenges
coaching more than 200 EMF-sensitive clients, and
and research by the National Sleep Foundation.

One of the enormous blessings in my early journey with EHS was a long conversation with an EMF scientist who knows the physiology – particularly what wireless radiation does to our nervous system. While he wishes to remain unnamed, his advice to me left a lasting mark on my path to wellness. Besides testing for heavy metals and then slowly detoxing if necessary, I learned the importance of a focus razor-sharp on calming the nervous system – especially through good sleep.

Sympathetic vs Para-Sympathetic: Fight or Flight vs. the Parachute!

For those with EMF sensitivities, our autonomic nervous system often works in overdrive, particularly the “fight or flight” mode, or sympathetic response. I remember this by thinking about how I need to have sympathy on anyone (including myself!) going through acute EMF-related symptoms. Our goal for healing should be to focus on the nervous system’s opposite mode: the para-sympathetic response – like a parachute to catch us, or the “rest and digest” mode. This allows all the systems of our body to work more effectively, to feel more joyful, and to sleep well. When we do sleep well – especially for two days in a row – those of us with EHS can be far less reactive to EMF exposures.

Below I have outlined a 3-step process for improving our sleep, including: environmental remediation, routines, and rituals. In steps 2 and 3 below, there are many ideas presented. But to avoid any stress, pick only what works for you.

Step 1: Environmental Remediation to Create a Sleep Sanctuary

Nothing replaces a low-EMF environment that can be measured with reliable EMF meters. It is easy to get lured into buys various different stones, chips, and pendants that may help you feel better. Yet the tests of time have taught us that EMF sensitivities are best healed with significant, quantitative changes to create a sleeping environment with as close to zero radiation levels as possible – just as Mother Nature intended. An EMF home inspection can help you create that sleep sanctuary.

Why? The electric fields from the wiring behind the walls of our bedrooms have been well documented in scientific research to increase the reactivity of our nervous systems, including increasing cortisol, our stress hormone. In order for our sleep hormone (melatonin) to rise, cortisol must be low. High levels of wireless radiation (like from the cell phone many use as an alarm clock) suppress melatonin production.

This fact sheet from the Building Biology Institute highlights the steps needed for the physical changes needed for the sleep sanctuary, including turning off the breakers associated with the bedroom, lowering magnetic fields and wireless radiation levels, using a wooden framed mattress without metal. For the specific EMF levels to work towards in our sleeping spaces, see pages 6 and 7 of these Standards of Building Biology Testing Methods.

Step Two: Routines for Sleeping Soundly

Begin in the morning! Getting full spectrum light exposure early in the day can re-set our internal clock, or circadian rhythm, to know when the day outside is beginning, which allows the brain to better understand when it should end. Try drinking your morning coffee or tea outside, or sit at window facing east or south.
Keep to the same or similar time of sleeping and waking. Avoid napping.
Hydrate up until dinner time, with a goal of half an ounce of water per pound of body weight. After dinner, cut back the hydration to sips to avoid waking at night with a full bladder.
After dinner: Lower your exposure to light in order to increase melatonin production. (But don’t use dimmer switches – which increase dirty electricity. These are easy to have replaced with standard light switches.)
Wear sleep attire that is cool enough to not to awaken you, especially for peri-menopausal women.
Wear socks! This prevents our sensitive feet from picking up a draft at night. Cotton socks are often the best choice for warmer and moderate climates.
Allow fresh air to circulate with the window open a crack. This increases exposure to negative ions if not in polluted urban environment. If an air purifier is needed instead, use it with an extension cord from the hallway.
Consider ending all screen time early. Experiment with how early this needed to be. For me, any screen time after 5:00pm interrupts my ability to stay asleep.
Cut caffeine and chocolate as early as necessary. If you have a sweet tooth like me, try carob fudge, sweetened with maple syrup, or a small piece of crystallized ginger, which can help increase circulation to the brain.

Step Three: Rituals for Winding down:

Use a comfy chair in the bedroom or a low-lit, quiet room, or sit at the edge of your bed. But don’t read in the bed while lying down. Allow your brain to associate lying in the bed only with sleep & intimacy.
Soak your feet in a bucket of warm water and about half a cup of Epson salts (magnesium sulfate) or pure magnesium flakes (magnesium chloride), which some folks find more relaxing and with fewer side effects (like night terrors). Magnesium is well known as calming mineral. It helps to stop the flood of voltage-gated calcium channels affected by EMF exposure. Since magnesium can be difficult to absorb, the feet are an easy route in.
Consider three things that you are grateful. Or reflect on: What Went Well Today? This can decrease rumination at night and improve our dream content. Ask your Higher Power for any help that you need the following day.
Taking a personal inventory – like in the 12 Steps. Remind yourself of what you did well today, how you might improve your behavior or attitude tomorrow. Write down anything pressing, so it doesn’t keep you awake.
Engage in right-brain activities that lower brain waves, particularly music in any form: listening, humming, singing, playing an instrument. Pull out your handwork: knitting, crocheting, etc. Just be sure not to start new creative projects at bedtime, so that your brain can remain calm and not overstimulated.
Try a relaxing form of doodling. Zentangle was created by a former Buddhist monk and his artist wife. It’s an easy to learn and relaxing way to create simple yet beautiful images by drawing structured patterns, like found here: TanglePattern.com has an awesome beginner’s guide. My own brain has come to rely on this form of doodling as a highly effective “sleeping pill” for clearing my Monkey Mind to assure a long and uninterrupted night of sleep.

Some folks love to journal as a nighttime ritual. While it can be helpful for some, it can also re-traumatize others with a history of PTSD. So if you like to journal, try focusing on something you are grateful for about the day, or a future visualization that you hope to bring into your life.
Future Visualizations are powerful means to calm our fears and use the power of our thoughts to create our best life. Consider writing or doodling about some goal you plan to complete, the housing or companion you will find, etc. This can be as simple as doodling stick figures, smiley faces or hearts connected.

Final Ritual of the Night: the Breathing Exercise 4-7-8: Mindfulness teacher Dr. Lindsay Bridges taught me this after I was challenged with insomnia following a concussion. This exercise is a nightly, priceless tool in my wellness toolkit. After lying down in the bed and getting comfortable:

Breathe in through your nose while counting to 4.
Hold your breath while counting to 7.
Blow out of your mouth while counting to 8.

Do this 10 times. If you mind wanders, re-start the count to ten. It also works very well for getting back to sleep after awakening in the middle of the night.

Here is the PDF for this info: Sleep Hygiene.BlueRidgeEMFSolutions.July2021

Thank you for considering these ideas. Wishing you Sweet Dreams!

Warmly,

Mary Anne Tierney, RN, MPH
Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist
BlueRidgeEMFSolutions.com

p.s. I receive no commissions from any of the products or websites I have noted above. I wasted way too much time and money in the past on products that did not help. So I only recommend what I know works.