Feature:

How To Create
The Perfect Feng Shui House

by
Stanley Bartlett
Bartlett Designs

 

 

 
 

 

What a worthy goal it is to create the perfect Feng Shui house. What does this mean? It means that we are in harmony with our environment and that the energies are flowing in balance and that any imbalances are corrected naturally and that inhabitants are in resonance with their environments in a way that creates health, happiness, wealth, and all good things. It also means that any parts of us that are not in balance will be encouraged to change and release old negative outdated beliefs and patterns so as to adjust to a new way of living in harmonic resonance with our environment.

The task of building the Perfect Feng Shui House was not easy and continues to offer lessons and growth opportunity but it is a perfect creation, meaning as perfect as we are able to create in this current state of evolution.

The desire to create my own Perfect Feng Shui house was burning inside until finally a few years ago I was given the opportunity to build it with no restrictions except my own self imposed ones.

The goal was to create a perfect home that was in balance at every step of the way, using green, environmentally safe building materials at an affordable price, super energy efficient , that anybody could reproduce. In other words it needed to be a design, shape and construction method that anyone could reproduce and that was affordable. This would be the new paradigm of construction.

In order to accomplish this feat we required technical help from the latest science as well as time proven Feng Shui principles at every step of the way. Energy Star principles were used with the special assistance and collaboration of Efficiency Vermont, a quasi non profit service that is paid for by a small percentage of electrical bills. Efficiency Vermont then provides the technical skills and training to assist builders and home owners to create environmentally safe and energy efficient homes. The challenge was to balance the technology with the Feng Shui principles and my objectives.

I began by looking for land in Northeast Vermont, where there is a minimal amount of zoning and building restrictions so as to allow maximum freedom to create the perfect Feng Shui house. I found land listed as the "snow field", and the magic began.

It is close to an abundance of nature, beautiful mountains, clear skies, clean water, fresh air, lots of open land, a freer pace to life and other supporting factors. When we set our intentions clearly and have passion for what we want and then take action, the creative forces step in and support us. This was certainly the case for this project.

Next comes the process of testing the land and the earth energies to see if there was any geopathic stress, noxious zones, good well water sources, any old wounds or negative energies in the earth, etc. We discovered some old trauma that was then cleared as well as some minor geopathic stress in the area where the structure was planned so these were cleared using dowsing rods, special dielectric resonators, and energy healing. After planning the approximate size of the structure and determining road access and any set back requirements and other Feng Shui principles, we placed the structure in approximately the middle of the rectangular shaped lot with the best views, with a healthy separation from any neighbors, access to the pond and ease of access for the driveway from the road and to the house. Part of the planning included the idea that the main front door would face South or Southeast for the best Feng Shui.

The driveway was placed so that there was easy access to the main road and then upon entering the property, the driveway was comfortably wide and meandered towards the house but not straight towards the house which in Feng Shui would create an intrusive energy towards the main front door. The driveway was also designed so that utilities would have space to go underground.

Special consideration was given to the affect of electric underground and what it would do to the balance of earth energies and how much EMF would it create. Special dielectric tabs were placed every 10 feet on the conduit to neutralize any unwanted EMF.

Once the shape of the house was determined (rectangular), then time was spent staking out the actual placement of the house on the land and the final testing to insure that the earth energies were balanced under the foot print. Dielectric resonator spirals were placed in the ground at key areas to insure that the energies remain balanced over the years, because earth energies do shift and change from time to time depending on earth quakes, blasting, testing by the government/military and other unknown factors.

Plans were also incorporated to add a barn near the house for 2-car parking, tractor, equipment, toys on the lower grade level, and an apartment or office area on the top floor. Most people in suburban living these days seem to want parking attached to the house so that one is insulated from the rain, snow, and inclement weather. In this case, from a Feng Shui perspective, it is felt that the garage is best separated from the house to keep the energies separate and not place a hole or missing gua in the BaGua.

The highly energy efficient (92%) gas fired Munchkin boiler in an already super efficient structure, requires 1/3 of the usual BTU heating requirements. In Vermonter's terms the whole house (almost 3000 sq ft) can be heated all winter for only about 2 chords of wood in a simple wood stove.

We decided that the house was so efficient, that we need only place a simple photovoltaic panel on the roof so that we can sell back unused electric which will probably result in a monthly credit. Connections were put in place to have a backup generator gas fired for times when the power may be out, but in the end we decided to have electric and be connected to the grid because of ease, and expense. The current electric costs are less than $30 per month for the whole house, pretty reasonable by most standards today. We used energy star lighting and appliances, which also helps keep the costs very low for electric.

The construction of the house is unique but easily reproducible, using advanced construction methods, stick framing, 2x6 walls with 2" Styrofoam glued and nailed to the exterior for the sheathing, and special metal bracing for structural integrity. This method actually tests stronger than conventional methods and uses less lumber, plus it creates an air tight envelope that can also breathe and release moisture. Otherwise the framing is 2' on center for higher energy R rating and less lumber and yet as mentioned before is actually stronger. The costs of this highly efficient construction, turned out to be about the same as a conventional house but is much more energy efficient, uses less materials, and should last for a very long time. Easy maintenance is afforded by the exterior high quality vinyl siding which was much less expensive than wood even though wood was preferred. This is an example of how decisions were made. Less cost for the vinyl, less maintenance, nice appearance, will last longer, so that is the overall choice even though vinly is not biodegradable and sustainable. These tough choices have to be made with the pocket book in mind. In some cases the materials are not the most earth friendly but if they conserve energy and last longer than they may be better overall for the environment.

The result was that Energy Star principles were in fact balanced very well with Feng Shui principles, and the house, as built, was awarded the "Best Of The Best" for energy efficient homes built and set a new standard. From a Feng Shui construction perspective, it is unusual because every step of the way was cared for including the energy of the workers and attitude, the earth energies, EMF (electromagnetic field) issues, color, lighting, materials, construction ease, cost of materials, layout, colors, compass orientation, etc.

Check out Stanley's website to see some of the items references for EMF and learn more, www.bartlettdesigns.com , fengshui@bartlettdesigns.com, (802) 626-9492.

PHOTO ALBUM
  

Stanley Bartlett - Bartlett Designs
www.bartlettdesigns.com
P.O. Box 119
East Burke VT 05832-0119
(802) 626-9492

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