BLUE: The New GREENGreen, green and green tea - your environment, your home, your health.
Sociologist Henrik Vejlgaard, author of "Anatomy of a Trend," sees green influence everywhere in design - from raw wood in furniture, to bulky sweaters. "Minimalist and sleek are out," he says. The trend continues to evolve beyond the color most of us equate with environmentalism. "Blue is the new green," says Vejlgaard. "Air and water are the keys to climate change, and environmentalists will concentrate on them." How will this affect daily life? Most often in little ways, like bringing a reusable cloth shopping bag to the store. Many Americans will switch to drinking filtered water, or even - can you imagine? - tap water. This is greener - or bluer - than shepherding a herd of empty plastic bottles to the recycling bin, or the garbage. It will be hop to be green, and the cloth shopping bag and the Prius have "badge value." But some experts say this alone will not make enough of a difference. "These are not the kinds of developments that provide solutions," says Gerald Celente, head of the Trends Research Institute. New professions - like conservation engineers - will need to develop, and government must lead the way, he argues.
“Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction... Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated with their lifecycle impacts in mind, they can provide great environmental, economic, and social benefits.” Construction, operation, and maintenance of homes requires significant amounts of energy, water, and materials. Homes also develop their own indoor environments, which introduce a variety of health challenges. For a home to be green it must take all of these factors into account, bearing in mind the health, happiness, and well-being of its customers, as well as the impact their homes will have on the environment around them. The result is a healthy home, healthy for the environment and healthy for the family, but will cost be a factor? Will the average American be able to afford a home that utilizes these green building practices? “Building a truly green home and making it affordable is a challenge,” says Dale Spada of Green Homes, “there is so much to be considered. Months of research, cost analysis and planning has been involved in developing a construction model that is both environmentally and consumer friendly, which means the homes must be affordable – and they are.”
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"In 2050, when people look back, they'll see this as the wellness era'," says Celente. "That's the hook that can make green relevant: How can I be healthier? It’s not going to be saving the polar bears in the arctic." In his think tank's newsletter, Trends Of 2008, Celente says "From vitamins and herbal tinctures to yoga and meditation, anything that is deemed naturally healing “to the body" will have a healthy following. What appeals to you? Are you ready to get involved, to make a difference in your world? Go online and find the hottest green products for 2008 plus learn more about the environment, your world, and your place in it. Get clicking at YOUniquePublications.com |
Green, green and green tea - your environment, your home, your health.