Think Green, Live Green and Build Green with Feng Shui
There is an increasing concern around the globe with global warming and climate changes. The big shift with our planet Earth is no longer a concept, but a reality. Vice President Al Gore's documentary movie An Inconvenient Truth has brought worldwide attention to the dire conditions of the planet. Concerned citizens and global leaders alike are asking themselves: What can be done to preserve our healthy planet?
For years, progressive-minded builders have been putting concepts into action through their architectural designs, construction practices and materials used; they call themselves the Green Builders. Recently, more and more builders are following this trend as they realize that buildings with green features are desired by their prospective home buyers.
There is a profound parallel of the modern "green living" with the ancient philosophy of feng shui. The essence of feng shui is about living a life of balance and in harmony with nature. In practice, feng shui is a total living of thinking green and living green.
Green living starts with a wise choice of locations. Rolling hills are preferred to flat land as the landform promotes the channeling of the vibrant chi, or the universal life force. On the hills, the gentle breeze helps to circulate air and maintain a quality of clean air, whereas on flat land, air is stagnant and tends to be polluted. A low-lying area, such as a flood zone, is also highly undesirable as it is prone to natural disasters.
A favorable orientation of a building helps to conserve energies by taking advantage of the natural light. In feng shui, south- and east-facing directions are preferred because of the longer and gentler sunlight, whereas west facing is usually hotter and dryer, and north facing is usually darker and colder.
Landscaping plays an important part in green living. It is desirable to plant trees surrounding a subdivision to create natural barriers to shield from the wind. Trees also provide shades to shield from the hot summer sun. Greenbelts are necessary to maintain a healthy and vibrant environment. Seasonal flowers, plants and rockeries are added to create an aesthetic natural environment. In a feng shui garden, water features such as water fountains and ponds with fishes add vibrant movements. Curved walking paths promote peaceful activities and sitting benches provide a place for relaxation. Combining these features creates a green environment to connect with nature.
Feng shui designs tend to bring a balanced look to a building, as a rectangular shape is preferred. Irregular shapes and forms create disharmony and should be avoided. A solid foundation on a solid ground is a must for safety. Fireplaces with chimneys are unfavorable as the wood burning process emits carbon dioxide and smoke that pollutes the clean air. Too many windows in a building cannot keep warm air in, leading to burning additional fuel, a waste of energy.
The above examples demonstrate compatibility between modern green living with the ancient wisdom of feng shui designs. With the growing popularity of both green building and feng shui, it would be a powerful alliance to preserve a healthy planet Earth.
August 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue