Green is In, Cool & Chic...

Trends and need have always been the driving force behind the style and features of homes that people purchase. The question is what drives these trends? There are many answers to that question. The first is need. We are now experiencing a “Need” for homes that are energy efficient, and non-toxic. The buzz word is “Green and Sustainable” it is the most common term for the newest trend in home and building design. The coolest thing about design today is certainly the ability to fuse technology and architecture with design.
I was reading an issue of Metropolis magazine and the entire publication was devoted to hip and fun applications of “Green Design” from all over the world. It was a fun to read an article about Buckminster Fuller. He started his rise in design and the philosophy of living in the 1930's. His signature look was futuristic, but the underlying foundation of his work has always been in harmony with the earth, the actual site of the building and the folks who occupy them. In the industry they call him Bucky and he has been a forefront designer for many decades. His thoughts and philosophies have inspired designers all over the world.

I have been a fan of organic gardening and living from a very young age, I am so glad I am no longer alone. It is encouraging to see so many people not only interested but actually doing something about it! Most design magazines now have a monthly section and a yearly issue devoted to “Green and Sustainable”. The philosophy to embrace is this, use less, re-use more, live with what you have and try to have the smallest impact upon the environment that you can.

We all can make a difference starting with small adjustments with what we use, how we live and where and on what we choose to spend our money on. Think about this, if you put in state of the art windows you would have paid yourself back in energy costs within a very few short years, but the ultimate plus is you will use less energy. Putting less of a need on imported energy products this is not a bad thing.

Less chemicals in the garden means a healthier you. How? Poisons can cause disease for people and the critters, bugs and birdies who live in your garden. Also the runoff from your garden goes into the storm drains which then dump directly into your local rivers and ultimately into the sea. This affects all living creatures in the sea, the birds who eat the fish and make their nest’s near the shores of rivers, lakes and estuaries.

I encourage you to click through some of the hyper-links in this article and see where you can make a difference. We all share this planet and we should work together in harmony to keep it in good running order. Our future generations are depending upon us.