The inspiration for this article was a call from a client asking if putting solar panels on his roof would have any Feng Shui implications. One of the reasons he asked is because my clients know that when doing any type of remodel, the location and timing of the remodel can influence the occupants living or working inside. Another reason someone might ask is because the roof is a very important feature for a house and in fact the initial enclosing of a roof on a new building will establish what we call the “flying star chart” for the space, having semi-permanent influences on the health and well-being of the occupants.

In the case of solar panels, it would hardly be considered a construction project as the application of the panels is fairly easy to do and does not significantly disturb the roof. Turns out I have solar panels and I know they were installed on a day with little disturbance. Reroofing and removing the old roof could be considered more imposing than installing solar panels.

Another eco-friendly project is rooftop gardening, where again, there really shouldn’t be any negative consequences for using your rooftop space for gardening. No remedies would be needed in any conventional way, compared to what the classic Xuan Kong Fei Xing has to say about interior spaces. One would only hope that the comings and goings from the rooftop would be safe and stable. However, some people have wondered why we normally don’t want to see thick hedges or vines completely covering the exterior walls of a building. That has the potential to create mold on the walls under the plants.

Composting is another question that arises because in Feng Shui we talk about noxious odors or anything in a state of decay as “sha qi” or a potentially negative influence. Most people, out of common sense, place their compost pile in an area far enough away from the house, its windows, or views. I know some people like to add worms to their compost and it might all seem questionable, but really it’s just a part of nature and not even on par with living within sight of a dumpster.

More and more designers create eco-friendly designs and use recycled materials. They are also collaborating with Feng Shui specialists to cover the full range of concerns and priorities of people who want to live in balance with nature on every imaginable level. Reducing exposure to electromagnetic fields and making the most of the sun’s energy is in keeping with what the original masters had in mind anyway.

Rainwater barrels can be seen as a water source and their placement around a property could be chosen consciously with Feng Shui principles in mind, although these rain collectors are covered and would not have the same power as a water source. open or a pond in the backyard. Recycling “grey” water is fine; it’s just really dirty standing water that we don’t like to see on a property.

And as a side note, because everything has its first time, I recently advised a client to relocate their indoor medical marijuana plants because high intensity grow lights could be seen as the “fire element.” I had another wardrobe option in another room where the fire element would not be undermining health and well-being. I suppose those kinds of considerations will occur more frequently as time goes on.