My darling friend, Jen passed this one along to me. You were right baby, it speaks for itself. Kind of makes you think, huh? Yes, and we can make a difference.

Beautiful rooftop garden setting compliments the exterior brick wall. What a sweet place to hang out.

Green rooftops are now becoming a hip-thing of the present, growing in urban cities worldwide. It makes complete sense. According to Science American, “Ground cover, shrubs and other flora planted across a building’s roof can reduce storm water runoff, easing the burden on local sewers and water treatment systems. And the vegetation can keep the roof cooler in summer, lowering interior air-conditioning costs and therefore peak demand on area power plants.”

Here’s more:

This one is my favorite green rooftop. It’s the messy hair which reminds me of my own mane.

This one’s a nice shaggy-do which really balances out all that metal. I love how it cascades down the building like a beautiful waterfall, evoking a calm energy.

Of course Europe has been doing the green-roof-thing for more than a decade and according to Science American, “Tokyo now requires that at least 20 percent of any new roof on medium and large buildings be cultivated. Chicago is the U.S. leader. Most installations are made on newly constructed buildings, but retrofits are rising.”

May it continue.

Oh yummy color. Calming yet refreshing. What’s for breakfast?

Ok, I admit it. The decorating urge is coming up again and I’m gettin’ tingly all over. It could be the season since Spring is all about change. From a Feng Shui perspective, when change stirs within, it often wants to be expressed in our external living and/or work spaces. The best thing to do? Just embrace it.

Here are some recent design musings I’ve been turned on to lately.

I’m in love with the floor. Natural warmth. And that fireplace is the sweetest hearth. Throw in an earth friendly rug from Kush Carpets, an eco-fabulous couch from Crate and Barrel, some soy candles, an organic cotton blanket from Rawganique and my cats and we’re all set for some serious cozy time.

Yes, female and gorgeous and yes, a very powerful work space.

I remember seeing this photo in one of last years Domino Magazine issues and falling in love. What great personal style. Bonus: the ceiling is the shape of the top of the Bagua or an octagon. That’s very good Feng Shui.

Most importantly, remember to decorate consciously by choosing no and low voc paints (volatile organic compounds), sustainable and/or re-purposed furniture, fair trade accessories and other earth loving stuff. There are so many choices.

If you have questions or need some help, comment here or send me an e-mail.

A glimpse into the future: Masdar City–the world’s greenest place on earth

Ok, this is not a science fiction story I’m about to share with you. Although if it were, I’d be one of the first to read it…especially since it pertains to the future of our planet.

So check this out. The city of Masdar in Abu Dhabi located in the United Arab Emirates (together with The Worldwide Fund for Nature) “launched a Sustainability Action Plan to deliver the world’s greenest city – Masdar City. Located near Abu Dhabi International Airport, Masdar City will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, aiming to exceed the 10 sustainability principles of ‘One Planet Living™’– a global initiative launched by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and environmental consultancy BioRegional.” ::Source: The Masdar Initiative

Model of the future city with 50,000 inhabitants

Here are some of the green details as stated by The Masdar Initiative:

ZERO CARBON: 100 per cent of energy supplied by renewable energy – Photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, wind, waste to energy and other technologies

ZERO WASTE: 99 per cent diversion of waste from landfill (includes waste reduction measures, re-use of waste wherever possible, recycling, composting, waste to energy)

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT: Zero carbon emissions from transport within the city; implementation of measures to reduce the carbon cost of journeys to the city boundaries (through facilitating and encouraging the use of public transport, vehicle sharing, supporting low emissions vehicle initiatives)

Check out the car rail system…How fun! That definitely appeals to my inner 7 year old.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS: Specifying high recycled materials content within building products; tracking and encouraging the reduction of embodied energy within materials and throughout the construction process; specifying the use of sustainable materials such as Forest Stewardship Council certified timber, bamboo and other products

SUSTAINABLE FOOD: Retail outlets to meet targets for supplying organic food and sustainable and or fair trade products

SUSTAINABLE WATER: Per capita water consumption to be at least 50 per cent less than the national average; all waste water to be re-used

HABITATS AND WILDLIFE: All valuable species to be conserved or relocated with positive mitigation targets

CULTURE AND HERITAGE: Architecture to integrate local values.

EQUITY AND FAIR TRADE: Fair wages and working conditions for all workers (including construction) as defined by international labour standards

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS: Facilities and events for every demographic group

Sound like a green utopia? Maybe. Or maybe, world leaders are starting to catch on to higher thinking in terms of dealing with the global crisis And just maybe, Masdar City will lead other world cities into doing the exact same thing and we’ll be out of this mess before it’s too late. That thought gives me the goose bumps all over…

Art installation at restaurant Cabbages and Condoms. Love those colors!

Ok so I’m noticing an inspiring trend these days in social activism. Instead of focusing on what is wrong, ‘new activists’ are now infusing a sense of humor into raising consciousness and it’s working. As reported in the May issue of ODE Magazine, article New Model Army, “From executive suites to department stores, new activists are showing how to get things right.”

A restaurant in Thailand, “Cabbages and Condoms” is a perfect example. Colorful condoms are handed out to customers instead of after dinner mints to promote safe sex and population control. What a grand idea–Have a great meal and then go home and make safe love. I’m diggin’ it and the most important thing; it puts a big smile on my face. This coupled with other creative methods of reducing Aids in Thailand (like my favorite–asking Buddhist monks to bless condoms), has contributed to the decrease of the disease and the reduction of population growth. Hip, hip horrah!

Check out this scene:

A waiter at Cabbages and Condoms serves a yummy tropical drink. Notice the customer’s face. Love it!

Raising consciousness with a big smile is helping to heal the planet.

For the complete article, you’ll need the new issue of ODE. I highly recommend it.