The 4 Waves of a Green & Healthy Building

There are 4 waves or aspects that I feel encompasses the exciting & pioneering field of green sustainable building. The first wave is where most people are aware of sustainable design as an aspect of saving energy. The second wave is where more people are understanding that there is also an aspect of how design can include healthy, non-toxic use of materials and air systems. The third wave includes an awareness of invisible EMF and electrical toxicity and how to design for this. The fourth wave and in some ways a much less known aspect, is how to design buildings to work with invisible environmental energies and how to enhance the vibrational frequencies in a pro-active & protective manner.

The First Wave – Green, Sustainable Building as Saving Energy

The first issue in green, sustainable, building is one of saving energy, which is also partly about saving money. This is often termed as Life Cycle Costing - considering the energy, water, money, and other resources that will be consumed during the entire life of the project. There is ALWAYS a trade-off between initial cost and long term cost. Can you push the trade-off in a more sustainable long-term direction? This can be done through increasing insulating methods, Building Envelope technology, and/or adding independent, off-grid, alternative energy systems (solar, wind, geothermal – the main ‘green’ buzz words these days). The added up-front cost of building this way is often paid off in a 5 or 10 year operating cost plan. And, it simply is just better for the earth to build this way.

Secondly there is the issue of Embedded Energy Budgeting - Energy cost has become a much larger factor in the manufacture of construction materials. How much energy was used up to produce this material or to transport the material to the building site vs. the long-term energy use for each aspect of the building? Those are not necessarily always individual up-front, costs, but our individual choices can ethically help or hinder the overall consumption and deterioration of our planet. So our choices can include a larger, collective, perspective that becomes an issue about the greater good for all, or for several generations at the very least.

Another aspect would be to be aware of the materials and energy entering the proposed structure with those leaving. We know that, in the long term, what comes in must equal what goes out... Food comes in, human waste and garbage go out, etc. What waste products are there? Is there some way that useful work or material or money could be extracted for the benefit of the occupants or the owners and can you minimize landfill dumping?

The Second Wave – Creating a Healthy Building too

The second aspect to Green Building design is creating a healthy building. Commonly this is understood as indoor air quality (sick building syndrome), mold prevention, natural/full-spectrum lighting, good ventilation and the selection of non-toxic building materials. The off-gassing of mass produced building materials that were cheaper to create have been found to affect one’s health in a variety of ways (asthma, allergies, cancer, etc.). Examples of ‘toxic’ materials include formaldehyde off-gassing in insulation, particleboard, & kitchen cabinetry; synthetic carpet off-gassing; volatile organic compounds in adhesives, sealants and paints; the pesticides, fungicides and heavy metals used to treat wood, etc.

Some ways to design a Second Wave Healthy Building include;

Designing for the reduction of mold and rot through special building techniques and materials from foundation to roof.
Ensuring that higher toxic zones are designed away from primary living spaces (such as bedrooms or work spaces)
Through the placement of doors and windows, designing to allow a greater passive & fresh air flow and enhance the use of natural daylight as much as possible.
Specifying building materials and building methods that reduce the exposure to toxic chemicals

The Third Wave – Designing with EMF (Electro-Magnetic Frequency) & ELF (Electrical) awareness

Now, a third wave of building healthier is slowly emerging. Designing with EMF/ELF awareness. Many ‘green aware’ buyers already recognize EMF/ELF as an issue of concern, especially those people who would be interested in a “green” building, or a “healthy” building to start with. The perception of the public is that EMF/ELF is slowly becoming a real issue.

There is an organization that originated in Germany over 40 years ago called the International Institute for Bau-biologie & Ecology (www.bau-biologieusa.com). They have been in Florida, USA, since 1987. They have developed very sound guidelines of what is a healthy building, from specifying non-toxic, healthier building materials to how to actually design for EMF/ELF protection. A handful of graduates have been gradually influencing the North American market and this general awareness is slowly filtering to the public.

“Organisms live in a delicate balance with their environment and are exposed to natural and man-made sources of energy. Electromagnetic energy can be classified into three categories based on its source: techno energy, earth energy, and life energy. Public concern is focused on electromagnetic energy generated by our technology and includes radiation and fields produced by power distribution networks, computers, microwave ovens, cell phones, wireless communication antennas, and satellite communication systems worldwide.”
-Magda Havas, B.Sc., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies at Trent University

There are three fundamental principles of field reduction when designing the electrical systems in a building. They are (1) distance, (2) natural field cancellation, and (3) shielding. A single plan review process will define the procedures for all units, and it then becomes a simple matter of adherence to the design and the exercise of best practices in wiring installation. Expensive magnetic shielding can almost always be avoided.

EMF is an invisible force field that occurs naturally (e.g., lightning, the Earth’s magnetic field) and also is a byproduct of technology. EMF surrounds any electrical device including power lines, house wiring and appliances. As an electrical power frequency (60 Hertz in Canada/USA), EMF levels fall off very rapidly with distance from the source and have very low energy. Radio, television and cellular and microwave communication are electromagnetic in nature as are visible light, x-rays and cosmic rays. All these forms of electromagnetic energy are part of the ‘electromagnetic spectrum’ that describes the frequency and energy of both visible and invisible fields. Cellular communications, for example, operate at frequencies almost a billion times higher than EMF resulting from electric power, which means they are than much more powerful and can transmit signals over long distances, and as a byproduct can be very harmful for humans.

The term “EMF” as used here refers to electric and magnetic fields at a frequency of 60 cycles per second or Hertz. EMF are commonly measured in units of gauss (G) by an instrument known as a gaussmeter. A milligauss (mG) is 1000 times smaller than a gauss. Healthy EMF & Electrical levels should be limited to a maximum of 3 mG in a home or workspace and that can even still be too high for some, more sensitive or seriously ill people. Some nervous system disorders, such as MS (Multiple Sclerosis) & some cancers such as Leukemia has been linked to EMF/ELF sensitivity for instance. Most homes average out in the range of 1-3 milligauss measured at a 60 Hz frequency. Make sure you don’t live near or directly under any low or high voltage transmission lines though, as their frequencies can be anywhere from 10 – 100mg which is completely toxic and definitely cancer or tumor creating. But even in your home, 1 foot away from a TV will give off 10 – 80 mG, a microwave oven, 100 – 300 mG, a computer 10 – 20 mG, and a hair dryer, 10 - 700 mG. Without awareness, you can really scramble your own bio-energy system on a daily basis! This will detrimentally affect your immune system, your ability to think clearly, your emotional sensitivity, and so on. Through simple, straightforward intelligent planning & awareness, magnetic and electric field levels can be designed to be lowered quite a bit. Results can be calibrated with readings taken from small, hand-held, EMF/ELF reading machines.
Significant long-term exposures can be created by electrical wiring errors, grounding problems, and inappropriate placement of electrical equipment. Low-EMF/ELF design avoids this possibility, and produces uniformly good results. Home automation and communication systems (including Wi-Fi and BPL technologies) are another potential problem area. Whether you have a unique electrical sensitivity, or simply want to exercise a strong measure of caution in limiting exposure, designing in a way that includes EMF/ELF awareness will provide the ultimate in electromagnetic field protection.

Considering a LOHAS consumer target market, incorporation of a low-EMF feature would also offer a strong additional selling point. This is, in part, because it would round out the other environmental health issues addressed in a buildings design, and reflect a comprehensive approach that many buyers would recognize and appreciate. In addition, most other green builders have not adopted the concept except on an individual client and individual home basis, so incorporating this awareness in the design of your building would have a unique advantage.

The Fourth Wave – Higher Vibrational Frequency creates buildings with greater harmony

Everything that is matter is also energetically connected, is always in a state of change and whether you are aware of it or not, your environment also carries a variety of frequencies which can also be understood as levels of consciousness. Understanding how to work with different energetic & invisible vibrational frequencies allows one to restore balance and harmony for all parties concerned, whether it is for restoring balance to the environment, both externally on the land or internally in a building, or energetically for a person or a large group of people. It is the process of creating a beneficial energy environment in a home, office, or on the land, designed to support you, your family, and/or your employees, etc. Detrimental subtle energies can be assessed such as the energies associated with some underground water streams, geopathic stress lines, electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and other possible energies such as cosmic rays, psychological, or a variety of unusual, spiritual types, of energies. Once these energies are discovered, with various tools and techniques they can be transmuted into beneficial energies and the environment is reorganized into a healthier, more harmonious balance.

The fourth wave is how to design in an energetic and/or scientific & ‘Feng Shui’, type of ‘healthy’ approach. Working with an awareness of how math, vibrational frequencies, geopathic lines & water patterns, sound, colour, harmonic proportions, sacred geometry and shapes can affect space and how you feel in that space. You can actually feel calmer, and think with greater clarity & concentration in these spaces. There are less arguments, disagreements and thus a greater harmony can be created that affects the people who co-habitate in relationship in this space. This also, as a byproduct, can increase immune systems, productivity, sales, etc. A number of different modalities that utilize an approach that addresses these issues are slowly filtering through our western society from the East.

There are century old traditions that have evolved, been lost as well as are currently being reclaimed with greater degrees of sophistication by various different branches or sects from India, China, Tibet and Egypt. These ancient arts are slowly coming back and being incorporated more & more initially in the remediation of current spaces as well as being included in building design from scratch.

In the Hindu, Eastern tradition from India, Ancient Vaastu Architecture as a very sophisticated & more exact science, is currently being re-claimed through the brilliant work of Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, the world’s most eminent Vaastu architect. Another term for Vaastu is Ayurvedic Architecture. The Buildings are designed with an awareness of how they can influence our emotional & physical health and spiritual & material prosperity. Mayonic Science is based on the universal laws of authentic Vaastu Shastra. This science is now finally being taught in North America (www.aumscience.com) to enable designers to create built space through the use of precise scientific principles and mathematical formulas which are inherent in all creative activities that take place in nature. Although it is best for new building and not very easy to apply to remediate existing structures.

Vaastu understands and has developed a science to work with the 'morphogenetic field', or the 'energy which was before matter and out of which all matter consists'. Using highly developed mathematical principles they know how to manipulate matter through pre-physical energy, or the zero point energy. It can be a profound and sacred experience to walk through a Vaastu designed building. You can completely feel the difference as soon as you cross the threshold. It has been reported that fires, earthquakes or intense hurricanes or Tsunamis completely go around these buildings, leaving them standing as if nothing happened.

“If a part of free space is isolated and confined into a four walled structure called a building, it becomes a living organism and the space enclosed will start vibrating in a particular order. If such a building is designed to vibrate in the same numerical order as that of the indweller, the resultant phenomenon is that he will experience harmony or perfect union with the Universal Self (Quantum Field)”
-Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati

Traditional Chinese or Tibetan Feng Shui, roughly translated as "Wind - Water", has been around for over 5,000 years. Wind is associated with intention and water is action. Intention is also thought of as goals and water is acting on those goals. So the basis of Feng Shui is intentionally arranging our environment to help our goals manifest. There are about 600 various sects or schools, however the six major schools of Feng Shui are; the Form School, Yin Yang Theory, Five Element Theory, The Flying Star School, The East-West School, and the Black Hat Tantric Buddhism Sect. The different schools have varying degrees of sophistication and training methods from 2 day weekends to years long trainings to specialized, intuitive or shamanic or ‘magical’ types of teachings.

“Feng Shui is based on the awareness that an electromagnetic energy flows around and through your body, linking your energy to others, objects and forces in the universe".
-Sharon Stasney, The Feng Shui Training School in Salt Lake City, Utah

In a number of these schools, there are four major principles to begin using Feng Shui: Chi; Yin and Yang; The Five Elements; and the Bagua Map. Defined as the ancient art of Chinese placement, Feng shui provides blueprints and advice for creating the proper the flow of energy in your space. The positioning of many objects are based on the patterns established by yin and yang and the flow of chi, which together create positive and negative effects. An equal representation of male and female energies (Yin and Yang) is sought to create a balanced environment. Everything in the environment falls into either the Yin or Yang category, Yin being female and Yang equaling male. An example of Yin energy is things that are small, dark or heavy; Yang energy is big, bright and light.

Feng shui uses colors, symbols, flowers and furniture placement to create a smooth pathway for chi in a home, office or retail space. Negative energy is removed or counteracted in order to encourage auspicious energy and welcome progress. Colors and shapes related to the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) are used to enhance movement, balance and protection. Home accents such statues, photographs and paintings are carefully chosen and placed to promote positive energy.

The feng shui map is known as the ba gua (ba: eight; gua: area). It indicates which areas of your life are governed by particular areas of your living or work space. The ba gua is usually depicted as an octagon with eight sections surrounding a central area. Together with Center, the nine areas include: Career or Life journey; Wisdom; Health and Family; Wealth and Prosperity; Fame; Relationships; Children and Creativity; and Helpful People and Travel. Every space has its own ba gua; there is a ba gua for land, house, and even one for each room within your home or apartment.

Some Feng Shui schools also work with ritual and ceremony, empowering their students through the spiritual transmission from their lineage Masters. This ‘transmission’, similar to how Reiki energy healing is taught, gifts the students with the ability to intuitively know how to work with healing bodies as well as spaces. Rigdzen Chodon Rinpoche (Madi Nolan), a Tibetan Lama and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (DCM) is one such teacher (www.whitelotushealing.ca). She has started a school called the White Lotus Healing based in Seattle, Washington. She travels around the world teaching this craft and is authorized to pass on these teachings, empowerments and initiations from the White Cloud Monastery in China. Individuals are called initiates in the “Stream of Wisdom” of the Blue Buddha’s which includes the transmission of memory of all of the masters who studied these traditions for the past 800 years. The lives of Initiates go through a “Quickening”, where positive outcomes are a daily experience and miracles come to pass.

In Egypt, Architect & Scientist Dr. Ibrahim F. Karim has been developing the science of Biogeometry over the past 30 years (www.Biogeometry.com). Biogeometry, is a kind of Egyptian Feng Shui, but much more sophisticated. Biogeometry works with the energy principles of how resonance and harmonic relationships affects energy through geometric shapes, colour, sound, motion and vibrational frequency to be able to balance biological (human, animals, plants, land) energy systems. Based on the Physics of Quality, Biogeometry integrates the energy manifestations understood in the universal laws of esoteric spiritual knowledge with science. Dr. Karim has developed tools based on sacred geometry principles that can transmute detrimental energies and/or amplify highly beneficial and natural energy qualities. BioGeometrical shapes have three primary vibrational qualities:

A Negative green colour & sound frequency.
A higher harmonic of ultra-violet colour & sound frequency, and
A higher harmonic of gold colour & sound frequency.

Incorporating the French science of Radiesthesia (which was discovered originally in Egypt), Dr. Karim has developed several sophisticated dowsing tools to be able to detect or calibrate with greater precision the various frequencies of different vibrational energies. It is an incredibly fascinating science that is being reclaimed from the knowledge that the ancient Egyptians already knew thousands of years ago. Radiesthesia uses the vibrational fields of the human body as a link to be able to access information on levels that we cannot visibly see or hear.

Similar to Vaastu, Biogeometry works with an understanding of Quantum Physics and how the ‘zero point energy’ and matter is formed first in the ‘pre-energy’ spiritual field. With Biogeometry an existing space can be remedied to balance & transmute all detrimental energies and enhance beneficial energies. But to be able to design using the principles from the beginning creates an even stronger and higher vibrational frequency. The science of harmonizing the energy of the environment with Biogeometry principles appears to create a greater balance in the energy field of the body which also allows the body a greater ability to be able to heal itself or simply live in a greater harmony.

“Similarly as with air so it is with vitality, emotional, mental and subtle spiritual energies, all these energy types exist in the space around us and give the space qualities that are constantly affecting and being affected by our energy system. The Architect as the sculptor of space should have the knowledge and the tools to work on all those levels. It is therefore essential that we expand our design language to include the necessary criteria to interact with all these energies.”
-Dr. Ibrahim F. Karim

Different cultures have developed the science of working with these invisible energies that can profoundly affect and change your experience of your space as well as how you operate in the world. They are all simply different facets of the truth that makes up a greater truth with even more possibilities of increasing variety and combinations.

Buildings can become more sensual, relaxed – to the eye, to the body, to the environment and there can also be a whole consciousness that can be ‘sung’ into the building as workers work with joy & love as they build! Consciousness through sound/toning/chanting/song can affect & change the vibrational frequencies of all matter, material, building components, completely. Any material type can also follow the mathematical principles of Vaastu. So why not experiment a little, integrating other modalities with, for instance, the new, highly sophisticated, Biogeometry dowsing tools, that can now allow us to test for different frequencies so we can know what creates a higher or lower vibration and see what new architecture can be created?

Buildings can actually enhance the consciousness of the individuals living in them and we can heal people not only with hands on methods to the body, but also through building actual buildings that can enhance healing profoundly and truly affect your ability to receive or work with new information and thus be able to be more expansive, creative, balanced and harmonious.
A building that incorporates all 4 of the Waves of a Sustainable, Healthy and Harmonious Building Design are generally of a higher quality, more comfortable, safer, quieter and can require less maintenance. They are also more durable, and can incur lower monthly operating costs!

Designing in a 4 Wave Healthy approach will ensure that you have the best building possible to optimize & enhance your health & well being on ALL levels!