Dear Conscious Design friends,

Welcome March ! I couldn't resist a tropical home for our cover this month. Many of us snow bunnies have traveled south to seek some sun and sand this winter. Take heart, spring is around the corner !

In this issue, we have some great articles on healthy children's rooms, embracing the new "in" color Turquoise, Heaven on Earth by Christan Hummel, and are so grateful for the contributions by the Bau-Biologists Diana Schultz and Melody Graves. Our goals are healthy, empowering and happy households !

With Gratitude,
Renae

by
Diana Schultz, BA, BBEC, is a Building Biologist and Certified Bau-Biologie Environmental Consultant at Green and Healthy Homes in Orlando, Florida. www.greenandhealthyhomes.net.

Stories From A Building Biologist
The expectant mother's voice on the phone was nervous and concerned. They were preparing the baby's nursery. Her husband had installed new wainscoting wall paneling and the smell was terrible. She was so concerned about the health of her baby, she, herself could not even breathe in that room without gasping. Other advice they heard ranged from getting air scrubbers, to ozone treatments, air purifiers, filters, etc. I advised them to take out the offending particleboard paneling and glue that was used to apply it to the wall.

They did that (after covering and taping shut all the vents in the room) and parts of the drywall came off with the paneling but the smell still lingered, even after days of airing out the space. I surmised that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) had off-gassed from the glues and particle-board (most likely formaldehyde) and had soaked into the carpet and/or the drywall. These soon to be first time parents were not willing to take any chances. They pulled out all of the carpet, which was a synthetic fiber with a glued backing, along with the carpet padding, which by law contains toxic flame-retardants. They installed solid oak tongue and groove flooring with nails. No glue was used. Then they repainted the room, including the ceiling, with non-toxic Mythic paint, which is completely free of any VOCs and or other unhealthy chemicals, including the color tinting.

By
Diantha Harris, ASID, FSII, MPIWOC

If you live long enough you'll find colors coming back into fashion that have been around a while! When I was 5, almost 60 years ago, my parents built one of those horrid 50's ranch houses with no personality but they used turquoise liberally in the decorating scheme. Now it is back as Pantone's color of the year, 2010!

But this time around, the color leans a bit more towards the green hue bringing in more yellow. And so it is with color. With literally thousands of tints, shades and combinations, there is bound to be some change when a color re-emerges as a favorite.

So what does this 2010 turquoise hue have to say to us from the standpoint of the psychology of color? With its inclusion of so much green, it is telling us that the time of the heart is here. We are being told that this color of the year is supporting us in bringing more heart centeredness to our decision making processes, and this extends from the personal level all the way up through our businesses and into our government. The influence of this color on this heart centeredness couldn't come at a better time. It coincides with a new grounding process that emerged recently where the heart is the center. And who wouldn't welcome in a more heart centered world?

by
Diana Schultz, BA, BBEC.
Published in EcoDwell
Institute of Bau-Biologie & Ecology

Having just discovered the International Institute for Bau-Biology & Ecology only 3 weeks prior to the 2008 IBE Conference in Tennessee, I was as fresh as you could get to the concepts of Building Biology. And to be "green" I bought more than 40 of the new squiggly compact fluorescent light bulbs and replaced all the regular bulbs in my house. I was so looking forward to sharing about my contribution to a healthy environment! Needless to say as I listened to the presentations about the health hazards of CFLs - I was shocked.

Since that eye-opening IBE conference in 2008, and completing over 400 hours of coursework to become a Bau-Biologie Environmental Consultant (BBEC), I have learned a great deal more about hazardous and safe - lighting choices, and I share this information with my clients and workshop guests.

Known hazard #1 - Mercury

Compact fluorescent bulbs contain vaporized elemental mercury, (Hg), which will immediately spread through the air if the bulb breaks. If you breathe the vapors, Mercury enters the lungs and can enter the brain directly through the nasal cavity. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states that NO amount of Mercury exposure is safe. The EPA Reference Concentration (RfC) is set at 300 nanograms of vaporized elemental Mercury; exposure levels above that become toxic.

by
Melody Graves
Ecodynamic Living Solutions

In this hurry-up-and-go society, we tend to take our bodies for granted, pushing them to the limit with stress and long hours, feeding them unhealthy caffeine and energy drinks, and spending too little time sleeping.

What precious time you spend in your bed should be restful. But what most people don't know is that your mattress has a lot to do with how well you sleep at night, and for a very different reason than you might think magnetic fields.

A large percentage of the population sleeps on traditional innerspring mattresses with a box spring. Even though you might have gotten a new mattress and the support and firmness feels just right, if you're using a mattress with metal in it, and especially if you use it conjunction with a metal box spring and bed frame, you may be subjecting yourself to very strong static magnetic fields at night. Why? Because the coils inside mattresses tend to become magnetized with the normal movements of sleep. And once they become magnetized, they are likely to stay that way.

This information is in agreement with the Institute for Bau-Biologie® & Ecology (IBE). IBE is a non-profit organization that promotes the holistic study of human health in relation to the built environment and the natural environment. The principles of Bau-Biologie®, or Building Biology, are based on the concept that buildings can and should function in harmony with nature and human life. To learn more, visit www.buildingbiology.net.

Toby Israel, Ph.D. is sharing some tips with us this month:

• Avoid listening to the "shoulds", "oughts" or "musts" when it comes to design
• Select colors your ancestors used if they help trigger positive past associations
• Choose colors not only because they look good, but because they have some personal meaning for you
• Get good advice (and tips!) but explore your Design Psychology to find your own design voice

Household Cleaning Products
You don't have to pay for expensive green cleaning products. You can make your own with everyday household items, like baking soda and vinegar and club soda. I even met a woman that cleaned with Vodka. ( not so affordable, but very enjoyable !)

Dishwasher:
Cycle change- Skip the Heated Dry
The heated dry cycle of your dishwasher uses more energy. Turn it off, let them air dry, or wipe with a dish towel.
Have a Fully Stocked Dishwasher
Only run your dishwasher when it's completely full of dirty dishes. Skip the pre-rinse to conserve water.

Refrigerator and Freezer
Vacuum Down Under
Every three months or so, vacuum the condenser coils under the refrigerator. If it gets too dusty and dirty, the refrigerator has to work harder to keep your food cold.
Stock it
Your refrigerator and freezer will need much less energy to retain their cold if they are full of food. The food itself will help maintain the temperature. An empty freezer uses more energy than a freezer that's full of frozen goods
Turn the Freezer Temperature Down
Turn your freezer down to just below the freezing mark. A great way to test for the right temp is to check your ice cream. It should be solid but easy to scoop.

Oven
Re-use Cooking Heat
Baking in the winter? When you are finished cooking and shut off the oven, try leaving the door open. It will allow hot air to enter the kitchen and will help keep the air temperature warmer .

Water is the essence of life and good health. Investing in a whole house water filer is both affordable and responsible. Here are some details about the Carico Whole House Water Filtration systems featured by Exquisite Home Products.

Benefits include: cleaner drinking water, bath water, less need for detergents, soaps, and conditioner, improved quality of skin and health, improved life of appliances.

Four Stage Technology

http://www.exquisitehomeproducts.com

By
Christan Hummel

This April 22nd is Earth Day, traditionally a day to honor and celebrate the Earth, with vendors showing how to reduce our carbon footprint, and organizations working to help us learn how we can be kinder to our planet. And while this has all come such a long way from the early 70's when the ecological movement began, it seems that we are missing something, leaving something out -- the honoring of the spirituality of the Earth as a sacred planet.

What if this year, we made it a Heaven on Earth day? For thousands of years we've been conditioned to think of "Heaven" as out there, something away from the earth, inaccessible. We tend to forget that this is a recent relationship to the Earth coming with the advent of Christianity. At that time, the pagan earth base traditions were overtaken by the new religion sweeping the planet, one in which the earth was seen as a place to escape, a home of the evils of the flesh, while Heaven, was up in the clouds and away from earth somewhere.This all coincided with the astrological age of Pisces which was being ushered in 2000 years ago and brought with it the desire to escape the harsh realities of earth to a loftier heavenly world.

By
Aroon Ajmera

9 Star Ki Astrology originated in Japan but is now widely used in the Far East. The method is based upon the solar system and the year changes on 4th February. The annual and monthly cycles of energy fields are based upon the planets moving around the sun and also the earth circling the sun. The theory is based upon the five elements: Fire, Soil, Metal, Water and Wood. Although there are only 5 elements, there are 9 types of people and each person assumes a character based upon a combination of three numbers: character number, childhood number and destiny number

The first number is the character number or birth star of a person and is most important for creating a supportive environment.

Nine types of people:

Anyone with a birth star number 1 is a Water person, anyone with a birth star number 2, 5 or 8 is an Earth person, with a birth star number 3 or 4 is a Wood or Tree person, with a birth star number 6 or 7 is a Metal person and with a birth star number 9 is a Fire person.

You can now figure out your child's birth star number by referring to the following chart.

Dr. Israel's international experience and groundbreaking theories about people and place are summarized in her book, Some Place Like Home: Using Design Psychology to Create Ideal Places. (Wiley/Academy, 2003). This extraordinary book includes thought-provoking examples that incorporate the concept of design psychology for residential, institutional and corporate design.

With a name derived from the Greek words agape and anthes, meaning "flower of love", agapanthus is the best known and most treasured of South African flowers.

Agapanthus is also commonly known as the Lily of the Nile, African Blue Lily, and African Lily. Agapanthus flowers bloom in large, round clusters or umbels of blue, white or violet- blue. The funnel shaped Agapanthus flowers gorw at the end of a thick 2 to 4 foot tall stem. The Agapanthus clusters measure about 6 to 8 inches across.

By
Deana Schimmenti

Deana is a Healer and Reiki Practitioner working primarily through the energy and vibrations of crystals, stones and the earth.

In this time of great energy shifts, one thing is certain. We all need to find our personal power and nurture it. In these uncertain times, many people can be filled with anxiety and helplessness. It is the anxiety that is most harmful.

Anxiety is the result of the fear of threats, perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable. It is a future oriented mood state, in which one is ready or prepared to attempt to cope with upcoming negative events. Anxiety, in turn can then cause a multitude of problems from sleeplessness, muscle aches, and depression, to weight gain.

Rather than submit to a defeating fear, one should endeavor to bring back their personal power. Looking to the future for success, overcoming shyness and building your self worth is right at your finger tips.

Woolwich, Maine $1,295,000
Wonderful Double Envelope Solar Passive Designed Home on the banks of the Historic Kennebec River.
Living area (Sq. Ft.): 4425
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 6
Lot Size: 7.80 acres
Private Dock & Float
Designed by acclaimed US architect James Harley
Main House, guest apartment and private office suite above 3 car garage

The Double Envelope or Thermal Envelope design is essentially composed of a house within a house. Thermal energy is captured from a south-facing solarium and heat is circulated by a natural convection flow loop in the cavity between the two building envelopes and through a sub-floor.

The proximity and beauty of the Kennebec River combine with the presence of contemporary design and quality to create this remarkable one-of-a-kind riverfront estate. Privately situated high on the banks of the Kennebec River, surrounded by elegant gardens and mature trees. Spectacular sunsets and picturesque boat traffic on the river make this an enchanting place to live. Granite ledges afford not only a superb vantage point and privacy but valuable protection for this unique residence.

June Crane is a professional astrologer, intuitive consultant and teacher with over 25 years experience. Specializing in personal, electional and relocation astrology she is a certified Astro*Carto*Graphy interpreter and Level III NCGR.

A combination of fast moving astrological aspects influence the first 2 weeks of March. Venus goddess of love & money joins with Uranus ruler of the unexpected & unusual from March 1-7, creating electricity in the air. Relationships take sudden turns now. But with the duo in Pisces might be good to let it mature a bit to make sure it's more than just castles in the air. Mercury (communications, transportation, contracts) joins Jupiter (expansive, law) March 5-8, also in watery Pisces. This optimistic influence can have one biting off more than you can chew or promising more that you can deliver. For the whole it is beneficial, just pay attention to details or small print. It's an over the top influence so expect all issues to be inflated now. Good time for interviews!

Christan Hummel is an international author, seminar leader and ley line and earth grids re-balancer. She is the author of the best-selling book, Do- It-Yourself Space Clearing Kit which reveals techniques for shifting the vibrational template of any space.

She has taught at Kinesiology colleges in Bilbao, and Barcelona, Spain, and has presented at the Gatekeepers conference in London, and the British Society of Dowsers, as well as at Canadian and US Dowsing Conferences.

Christan has led sacred ceremonies and workshops around the world teaching how to use sound, sacred geometry and the devic realms to energetically attune the space and the earth to its original blueprint and highest potential.

In addition, Christan has shared her space clearing techniques at the International Feng Shui conference, and has taught at the Nordic School of Feng Shui, and the Center for Feng Shui and Intuitive Arts.

Her work with the devic realms and the techniques for personal space clearing began with her studying with the teachings of the Rainbow Bridge as a teenager. She later helped co-author the book, The Rainbow Bridge, which is distributed worldwide. She has worked with Drunvalo Melchizedek and Slim Spurling to help create a worldwide grassroots pollution clearing program now underway in over 22 cities globally.

Sometime in your remaining lifetime you may find yourself driving a nuclear-powered car.

by Bruce Mulliken
Green Energy News

Already the US gets about 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power and with President Obama's new commitment for more uranium-fired power plants, that percentage could rise a few points. So, depending on what grid your electric car is recharging from, or for that matter what time of day it is, your car could very well be storing electricity generated at a nuclear plant. If so you'll have a nuclear-powered car.

All this assumes that someday you'll be driving an electrically-driven car, which is a likelihood that's increasing almost daily.

Ford is offering new information about its Transit Connect Electric, the first product in the company's accelerated electrified vehicle plan.

The Transit Connect Electric has targeted range of up to 80 miles per full charge, and will be rechargeable using either 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlets.

By
Jon Sandifer

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times

The father of organic wine, Rudolf Steiner , was Feb. 25 in Austria in 1861, One of the most extraordinary and gifted geniuses of the 20th Century, he was a philosopher, an architect, an esotericist, pioneer of biodynamic viniculture and the founder of new philosophy Anthroposophy, which amongst other ideas proposed that there is no limit to human knowledge.

His I Ching Astrology profile is very revealing. He had the influential and brilliant 4 Wind Star. This remarkable Star shows up time and time again as a groundbreaker in the arts and social influence. Hendrix and Shakespeare had the same liberal Star. But beneath the surface Steiner was thinker with the deep and revolutionary 8 Mountain Inner Star. A powerful Star for meditation and deep thought.

Our Outer Star reveals our action. Our delivery. Here he had the spiritual and intuitive and gentle 1 Water Outer Star. Flexible superficially but below the surface his 8 Mountain Star drove him forward relentlessly to a life of extraordinary creativity.

Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) has a lovely woody, floral scent that is comforting and soothing. It has a steadying and balancing effect on emotions and may help to uplift feelings of despair. Its soothing and refreshing qualities make it a sought-after ingredient in skin care products.