Earth Day Inspired Design Tips

As we celebrate Earth Day today, many of us are inspired to "go GREEN" or to become more informed on the processes that make up many of our household items.  Many now know the term "VOC" and how it impacts health.  Many can not only name the 4 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, reclaim) but implement them in their purchasing decisions.  So, in honor of Mother Earth, here are some easy-to-apply tips that impact our homes (and health) but have no, or limited, impact on the environment.

• Become a LABEL reader!  Know what ingredients are make up an item.  Know where an item orginates from. 
• Become familiar with the manufacturing process and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the product.  Cradle-grave, Cradle-gate, cradle-cradle/open loop production, gate-gate and  well-wheel are all terms that apply to production cycle of all products.
• Implement the 4 Rs into your life and purchasing decisions: Reduce (items purchased, needed, amount), Reuse (purchase products that can be used  multiple times instead of disposed of immediately), Recycle (plastics, paper, glass, compost, construction waste) and Reclaim (think of other uses for items no longer needed-i.e. using a door for a table/shelf, construction waste for other applications).
• Buy local whenever possible.  This cuts down on transportation costs, pollutants emitted into the air and helps the local economy.  (This is actually taken into account when designing a building/space for LEED certification).

Implementing this in a DESIGN specifically, look for:

• Products that have NO VOCs (volatile organic compounds).  This applies to paint, stains, adhesives, plastics and carpeting.  VOCs can impact upper respiratory health, environmental sensitivities, headaches and fatigue.
• Look for cabinetry and other wood items/furniture that are harvested sustainably.  Certifications to look for include: Forest Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Woods Network or any wood that has been salvaged or reclaimed.
• Switch out plumbing fixtures to low-flow.  All major plumbing fixture companies make toilets, faucets & showerheads that help conserve water.  Check out WaterSense for more ways to conserve water in the home.
• Use rain barrels to collect rainwater to use to water your lawn & garden.
• Have a more efficient lighting plan.  I could just say "use less lights" or "turn off your lights" & try to get by with a single lamp in a room, however, an efficient lighting scheme, utilizing the 4 layers of lighting (general, task, ambient & accent) with energy efficient bulbs will help save your pocketbook (lower electric bill), your eyes (less eye strain) and the environment (more efficient).
• Utilize a color scheme that helps maximize the natural light that enters your space/room & helps to warm or cool the space.
• Maximize natural light with appropriate window coverings & proper mirror placement (45 degrees to a window WITH a GOOD view.  NOT directly across from the window!!!).
• Use LIVE plants!  Just say "no" to plastic and silk plants.  For health reasons, you should have 1 live plant for every 100 square feet to help detoxify the air (more if an office and/or by printers, fax machines & computers).  From a Feng Shui perspective, you want something "live" and not "dead" to add a positive life quality to the space & not "dead energy").

Advertisement And lastly, for the Feng Shui afficianados, here are some  Feng Shui tips to help "activate" that EARTH energy for today:

• Use EARTH element to stabalize or ground a space.  Ex: if you want to "stabalize" your finances as money goes as fast as it comes in, apply the EARTH element in the Wealth/Abundance area.  This includes: EARTH representations (clay, brick, stone), the shape of a square (12x12 tile) or colors in EARTH-tones (yellow, brown, tan).
• If you want to "get things moving" as your feel stuck, add the FIRE element to your space.  This includes the color red, candles/crystals/mirrors/bright light or the shape of a triangle.  Jagged edges, abstract patterns or points will also work.
• Go outside & walk barefoot (maybe not today if in Milwaukee) or work in your garden.  Do something that causes you to "interact" with the earth.  Many Earth Day activities include planting trees, cleaning up parks and recycling efforts.
• "Mother" energy is associated with the Relationship Life Area (far right corner of any space when standing at the entryway looking IN to a space).  This area is "activated" by the EARTH element (coincidence, I think not), the color red (if in a legally binding relationship), pink (single & looking for/nurture) or coral (single, not looking for a relationship).  For today, I would use the color pink.  Think pink flowers, throw/pillows or other accessories.
• Use globes in your decor.

So there you go, Feng Shui, eco-friendly and common sense tips for you to apply for Earth Day, or any day you want to feel more connected & grounded.  Whether you want to go "off the grid" with your home design, or just implement a few ideas to create a healthier space, these tips will help get you started.  Happy Earth Day!