Have you heard of circadian lighting? Perhaps you’ve heard about human-centric lighting or read how blue light can disrupt your sleep cycle. You may wonder what Circadian Lighting is and what you need to know before implementing it in your building or space. Circadian lighting is light that has a biological effect on our circadian system. A healthy circadian rhythm is essential to better long-term health and sleeping habits. Circadian lighting’s goal is to send signals to our brain, telling our bodies what functions to perform, whether day or night, according to the time of day. Many new designs incorporate circadian lighting to improve visual environments, increase productivity, and promote health.

While there are many unanswered questions regarding circadian lighting and its adoption, the conversations are inspiring. As lighting designers and engineers, we should consider some of the main themes of circadian lighting but also weigh the ‘unknowns’ and concerns before producing designs that support a healthy circadian rhythm.

What are Circadian Rhythms?

Circadian rhythms are natural internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle. And light, whether natural or artificial, has the most significant influence on this rhythm. Photoreceptors in the eye pick up ambient lighting cues to determine the time of day. These cues regulate the sleep-wake cycle by controlling the body’s production of melatonin (the sleep hormone). All organisms, including plants, use circadian rhythms to regulate their internal cycles.

For you, it’s the sleep-wake cycle, staying awake during the day, staying focused (in good lighting), and regenerating at night. Light is one of the most significant influences on our circadian rhythms. As the pressure to be more sharp increases, indoor industries such as healthcare, education, and office spaces are taking this new research and technology into consideration. A strategically designed system can positively impact building occupants’ productivity, alertness, and decrease sick days. Using light to influence humans’ Circadian rhythms is relatively new to the lighting industry, but an exciting advancement! Without a lighting system capable of producing these effects automatically throughout the day, circadian lighting would be tough to make consistent. We use the combination of Ketra lighting, Lutron shading, and the Homeworks control system to produce effortless circadian lighting on autopilot. 

According to studies, healthy circadian rhythms and coordination, cardiovascular activity, cognition, weight control, immunological function, and digestion can be related to one another. To regulate these biological processes, developing the following daily habits to support your sleep-wake cycle is essential. 

1. Keep a regular sleeping pattern

Setting and maintaining a sleep schedule will help you maintain your circadian rhythm. Waking up consistently every day is necessary. Your body clock will get conditioned to help you sleep through the night if you follow a regular sleep-wake schedule. After a sleepless night, resist the impulse to catch up on your sleep. On the weekends, it’s typical to want to sleep in or take a lengthy nap, but doing so can harm your circadian rhythm.

Around nine o’clock at night, the body is often signaled to sleep. Around 7:30 a.m., it begins to slow down, which signals the body to wake up. Try to plan your sleep hours so that you have extra time to unwind before bed during these periods. 

2. Inhale fresh air in the morning

Early morning light exposure causes your brain to create less melatonin. When your alarm goes off, you should open the blinds right away. Take a walk outside or enjoy your coffee on the porch if you have the time. Your internal clock will be reset for the day by exposure to sunshine.

3. Later in the day, stay away from large meals and coffee

Sleeping patterns might be affected by what you eat. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that can cause your brain to be triggered to keep your body active, while food and alcohol create heartburn. Allow your body 12 to 14 hours to rest without eating (this can include the hours you sleep). Your liver will no longer have to work as hard all night if you practice fasting. Your master clock sends messages to the liver directing it to cease producing the enzymes needed to convert calories into energy and to start conserving energy when it causes the release of melatonin. More food is stored in the body than is burned when you eat excessively before bedtime, which makes your liver work harder.

4. Limit your nightly screen time

In the same way that morning light has an impact on your circadian cycle so does evening light. Your brain can be tricked into believing it is still daylight by household light, such as lamp light and the blue light emitted by laptops, smartphones, and tablets, which prevents it from producing melatonin. Avoid scrolling social media in bed and start reducing the lights two hours before bedtime. You can use a blue light filter app on your device or wear blue light-blocking glasses if you work nights or need to use a screen in the evenings.

Your body maintains a 24-hour body clock naturally through your circadian rhythm, which supports the maintenance of a regular sleep-wake cycle. You can maintain this important bodily function by leading a healthy, active lifestyle that encourages restful sleep. 

Circadian Lighting For Your Home

Without a lighting designer, developing an interior design project is like going to a restaurant and ordering only the bread. Although the bread is fantastic, there are a lot more delicious foods that you are skipping. A space gains a new depth through expertly positioned lighting, bringing an interior design idea to life.

Unfortunately, in today’s reality, spending much time outside in daylight is nearly impossible, necessitating improvements to the artificial lighting conditions of our indoor environments. Adapting indoor lighting to our biological needs can significantly impact our daily well-being and nighttime sleep. Daylight exposure is essential for healthy circadian rhythms, which indirectly influence sleep onset at night.

Excellent lighting adds height and depth, illuminates cozy areas, and highlights your most striking features. The right amount of light and shade is crucial for revitalizing a room’s atmosphere. 

For those who like to meditate or simply take a minute to savor the wonderful creation that is our planet.

Sitting by the ocean, relaxing to the sound of a running stream, or looking into the horizon from a mountain cliff can transform the experience of meditating or relaxing from ordinary to extraordinary.

This is an experience we would like to share with anyone who is interested in mediation, yoga, relaxation, mindfulness or any other type of spiritual practice.

As we develop our new Meditation Room concept, one aspect we were struggling with is the media content. Sure, we can source media content containing great scenery from around the world on YouTube, but what would be the fun in that? Besides, the video quality will not be 4K, and overall, we felt it will not be very authentic. So, the only solution was to source our own media content. And the only way to source our own content was to send someone out into the wild to gather it.

Our owner, Alon, jumped on the opportunity, and he set out to find some beautiful serene places one would like to sit for a bit and connect with the universe. Since we live in Covid times, travelling to just about anywhere is not feasible.

So, the decision was made, we are exploring the Maine coastline.

Maine, dubbed Vacation Land, is known for its picturesque coast and its natural splendor with Acadia National Park, its crown jewel. In addition, Maine is on the travel safelist for residents of the NY Tristate area, which makes it an ideal destination for his family of four.

This is Alon’s travel journal, with some behind the scenes of the spots he gathered inspiration from.

In late August, a window of opportunity opened to travel up to Maine to collect some content for our Meditation Rooms concept and have some family fun while we’re at it. We decided to start in Southern Maine to avoid having to drive for ten hours or more in one shot. For the first three nights, we stayed in a beach town called Old Orchard Beach, mainly since it has a water park, we figured we would satisfy the twins’ hunger for water slides first. Old Orchard Beach reminded me very much of the Jersey Shore, albeit less crowded and a wider shore, and the water is about 10°F colder. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the water park was closed during the week due to Covid, and with temperatures not suitable for tanning we were forced to explore what else the area had to offer.

First stop: Portland Head

On the advice of friends, we headed towards Portland Head, the famous Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth at the entry to the Portland Harbor. New England is dotted with lighthouses and this one is among the more impressive. This is a great place for scenic photography, and family photos galore. The shore itself, as we found is typical to Maine, is made of jagged cliffs, providing ample opportunities to over-active kids or any other adventurers to test their cliff climbing skills. We also enjoyed some overpriced lobster rolls from a local track, and the view from the picnic table was so worth it. Besides the lighthouse itself and the museum at its base there is also a short scenic trail along the cliffs and even a small beach. There are plenty of parking spots, though I can imagine that the place gets crowded during the main summer season. Please note that Portland Head closes at 2 pm. So, make sure to arrive there no later than noon.

The Lighthouse at Portland Head

Feeling Motivated in Harpswell

On day 2 we opted to venture a little further. After reading some reviews online, we decided to head to Harpswell and Bailey Island primarily to explore the Giant’s Stairs. We read this was one of the most scenic walks in Maine. Well, we weren’t disappointed.

The Giant’s Stairs – Bailey Island

The trail along the jagged cliffs is breathtaking and we wished the trail was longer than a mile. The trail is extremely easy to walk with some offshoots leading down to the cliffs and various spots to stop and savor the majesty of this natural beauty. You can sit at the edge of a cliff and enjoy the sights and sounds as wave after wave are crushing on the cliffs. What an ideal corner to disconnect.

The Giant’s Stairs – Bailey Island

In our quest to extend the Giant’s Stairs trail, we reached the end of the road and with it a charming cabins hotel named Driftwood Inn. We fell in love. Driftwood Inn is at the end of a peninsula and thus is surrounded by the beautiful shoreline on three sides overlooking an island at the other side of the cove. It has plenty of vistas to take in the natural beauty and the cottages are lovely. It all makes Driftwood Inn a perfect spot to sit and quite down. We knew right away we had to spend a night or two there and since we left a couple of nights at the tail end of our trip for the unexpected, a cottage was shortly booked for two nights – spoiler alert, the plans are going to change. One thing was for certain though, this spot had to make it into our meditation library and now we needed the opportunity to capture and share this experience. Will we get it?

Our appetite for cliff trails was not satisfied and we decided to head to another trail called plainly the Cliff Trail. The Cliff Trail also offers some beautiful scenic views of fjord like bays decorated with evergreens. It is a short and easy loop trail that takes about an hour. I’d recommend it if you have the time.

The Cliff Trail – Bailey Island

From Old Orchard Beach to Blissful Bar Harbor

On the third day of our trip the forecast was calling for a warmer sunny day, perfect opportunity to spend some time on the beach to satisfy the Misses’ affection for sun, sand, and waves. Well, the weather had some other ideas and stayed somewhat cool and cloudy.

TheAutom8Group founder

The cloudy sky deterred the crowds, and that along with the pleasant temperature created a perfect backdrop for some quiet time and relaxation on the beach. For me it was also an excellent opportunity to create a relaxation video that celebrates the way the clouds interact with the water to create a perfect atmosphere.

And so, my first relaxation video was created.

By noon we realized the sun wasn’t going to show itself and decided to head up to Bar Harbor where we had accommodations for the next two nights. But before embarking on the three-hour drive, we had to savor the marsh views at Pine Brook the adjacent town to Old Orchard Beach. We had lunch at Bayley’s Lobster Pound. The quality of the fresh seafood matched that of the beautiful scenery. Overall if you intend to stay in that area, I would highly recommend staying in one of the seaside hotels/motels at Pine Brook over Old Orchard Beach.

Driving up the Maine Turnpike is a pleasant experience in and of itself. The road was rather open and the scenery intriguing. From water canals to open bays and the diversity of the trees and vegetation made the drive so much more interesting than your usual highway transit.

Exploring Bar Harbor

I must admit I hadn’t heard of Bar Harbor until a week before our trip. I was happy my wife did the research though and booked us for a couple of nights there, even though these plans were about to change. Apparently, many of America’s most influential people owned or own a home in the town or its immediate vicinity and for good reason. This town is absolutely beautiful! From its waterline to Acadia National Park at its backyard, there’s no shortage of great views and great adventures.

We arrived at Bar Harbor towards dinner time and wasted no time in exploring its streets. Situated on Desert Mountain Island and practically serving as the gateway to Acadia, the streets are humming with tourists and hikers. The downtown itself is incredibly charming, and there are plenty of restaurants and souvenir stores. Unfortunately for us it started raining as soon as we left the hotel and we were restricted to a quick restaurant search, though still managed to enjoy a beautiful sunset over Cadillac Mountain.

Rainy Sunset over Bar Harbor


Immersed in the Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain

With an elevation of 1,530 feet (466 meters) Cadillac Mountain’s summit is the highest point within 25 miles (40 km) of the Atlantic shoreline of the North American continent and is known as the first place in the U.S. to see the sunrise (although that is only true for a portion of the year). I paused for a second when our hotel concierge told me I should leave the hotel by 4:30 in the morning if I wanted to get parking at the summit and view the famous sunrise from Cadillac Mountain in its entirety. But I was on a mission to source content and surely the first sunrise in the US will be a spiritual experience that should be captured and shared.

So, I rolled out of bed at around 4:15 in the morning and snuck out quietly not to wake the sleeping bunch. The 15-minute drive in the dark up the winding road to the summit was a mystical experience in and of itself, though more, much more was yet to come.

Upon arriving at the summit, I noticed quite a few silhouettes heading in one direction. Since my objective was to create a video documenting the sunrise from first light until the big ball of fire is fully exposed, along with the natural sounds, I figured I’d head in a different direction, climbing over rocks on a less traveled path to try to find some solitude. To my fortune, the full moon was still at full force shining its light from the west, and I could see the obstacles in front of me. Before long I was able to situate myself in an optimal location surrounded by beautiful boulders and low evergreens. A red sliver was appearing on the horizon and the reflection of the moonlight on a water runoff contributed to the mystic atmosphere.

full moon was still at full force shining its light

This was ideal I thought; the amazing view along with the whistle of the wind will make for the perfect meditation scenery. I set up my camera, got comfortable, and started filming. Indeed, the sunrise did not disappoint. As the first rays broke over a ring of red and orange clouds, the full view of Desert Island, Bar Harbor and the bay gradually became visible in all its glory.

sunrise, the beginning of a new day with all its promise

I personally love the energy that comes with the sunrise, the beginning of a new day with all its promise. It’s also my favorite time to meditate, usually the world is still quiet before the wheels of life start humming.

As I sat there on the cliff, with the sky becoming brighter and redder by the minute, my mind became quieter and uplifted.


As I was diving deeper, some voices and conversations behind me pulled me out of the sun’s rays and the whistling wind. I stood up, looked back, and saw what must have been about a hundred people on the cliff right above me. All taking selfies and posing with the grand view. The first sunrise in the US is quite popular as one can expect and might not be the perfect place for total solitude. Looks like this video will require a nice soundtrack after all.

Once the sun became fully visible over the ring of clouds, the crowds started to dissipate and the howling of the high-altitude wind returned to dominate the soundtrack. Since, the camera’s battery (and memory card) ran out, I could now truly relax and enjoy the breathtaking view that was exposed right below me. I found a rock that resembled a lounge chair and lounged with the sun’s orange rays warming my face. The relaxing scene was completed by a private show from a local squirrel who was rejoicing on a rock about three feet in front of me. This must be the beginning of a great day. A day we got to hike a trail which took the lives of more than 60 hikers.

relaxing scene was completed by a private show from a local squirrel who was rejoicing on a rock

Check this Link to see how our smart lighting can mimic sunrise & sunset


The Unique Experience of The Precipice Trail

High from my sunrise experience and the fact I was able to capture a full one-hour video of this beautiful experience in 4K, I headed back to the hotel to wake up the sleepy heads. Fortunately, they were already raring to go and after breakfast we headed back to Acadia.

We were debating which trail to hit first and while reviewing trails on All Trails I came across one called The Precipice, which consisted of walking across some narrow cliffs and climbing ladders. The pictures didn’t seem intimidating and I must admit that neither me, nor my wife knew the meaning of the word precipice and that turned out to be a good thing (Precipice: noun, a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one). From that point, the thrill-seeking twins wouldn’t hear of anything else. The Precipice it had to be. We arrived at the head trail at around 10 am and not too many parking spots were available. Apparently, this trail is very popular, and it’s recommended to arrive in the earlier morning hours. The initial ascent, although steep, seemed peaceful and not unusual. And then we reached the ‘challenge’: A decently tall boulder with just a couple of metal rails.

This is a test, if you can muster the strength, flexibility and courage to get to the top of it, you may go on.

There were several hikers ahead of us and we had to wait for our turn patiently while maintaining social distancing. A couple of these hikers were struggling and that had sewn doubt in me, will I be able to make it? After all, my legs aren’t in full strength after sustaining a back injury several years ago. The twins hopped over the boulder as if it was nothing but a small rock. As for my wife and I, the less said the better. We did make it eventually and there was no turning back. There were numerous points along the trail when I thought, why didn’t I turn back when I could?

The ’Challenge Rock’ at The Precipice Trail


From here, The Precipice lived up to its name and didn’t disappoint. This trail has everything: challenging – check, amazing views – check, heart pumping adrenalin rush – check. Some of the sections which included climbing metal stakes imbedded into rocks or traversing over narrow cliffs were darn right scary and as close as one can get to rock-climbing. When we finally made it to the top with our quads burning and our shirts soaked with sweat – well, the sense of accomplishment is difficult to describe. It was well worth every challenge we endured.

Narrow cliffs at The Precipice

After some rest we started descending back through a trail that loops around the mountain. Some hikers take The Precipice back down, although we deemed it a bit too scary for our taste. If you are a real thrill seeker, it might be a good option. It was hard convincing our mountain goat-like twins to take the easy way back with us. All in all, The Precipice might be one of the hardest trails I’ve ever hiked, but at the same time one of the most exciting and fulfilling. So much so that the twins complained that every subsequent trail we hiked wasn’t exciting enough. We now know to keep the best for last the next time.

The view from Schooner Head at the top of The Precipice

Acadia Cliffs, Jordan Pond and The Bubbles

We dedicated the second day of our Acadia adventure and the sixth of our trip to some easier hikes. We started the day with an easy stroll around Jordan Pond which provided for a beautiful backdrop for another meditation video. One of the most striking things about Jordan Pond is how exceptionally clear the water is with an average visibility depth of 46 feet. I can also attest the water tastes great.

Jordan Pond


After an easy stroll and a light lunch we headed towards Ocean Path which winds along the cliffs which adorn the shoreline. This path is rather crowded, though it’s easy to go off the trail and find some beautiful vistas to stop, relax, and take in the amazing views. The boys also stole an opportunity to go rock climbing along the cliffs (good thing their mom didn’t see). As late afternoon approached, it also made for a great opportunity to record another meditation video celebrating the beautiful cliffs and the sound of the breaking waves.

Ocean Path, Acadia

Check this Link to see how our smart lighting can mimic sunrise & sunset


When we were visiting around Jordan Pond, I was very curious about the two bubble-looking mountains at the backdrop of Jordan Pond. Turned out their name reflected their shape, The Bubbles. So, as sunset was approaching, we decided to hit one more trail and climb up The Bubbles. As it turned out, there is a North Bubble and a South Bubble. We chose the North Bubble as it was a shorter trail and sunset was fast approaching. The North Bubble trail is relatively short yet steep trail that makes for a good workout.

The view from The North Bubble

Upon reaching the top, the sun was already dipping behind the horizon. The beautiful view, the sound of the wind and distant waves, as well as the fact it was the first time during our Acadia adventure we were truly on our own, called for another meditation video. After a short meditation as the shadows were growing longer, we packed up and hurried down the mountain while we could still see the path. Another amazing day at Acadia came to an end. We were supposed to head back south the next day, however this felt like unfinished business. We were having too much fun and couldn’t find it in our hearts to leave just yet. So, another night was booked at Bar Harbor with a night scratched at Bailey Island. Sometimes hard decisions had to be made.

Some Places Are Just Worth Repeating

On our last day at Acadia after watching the sunrise again, this time with the entire family, we were itching for one last trail to go out with a bang – something challenging (to compete with The Precipice), and with great views. We’ve got all that and more with the Cannon Brook, Cadillac South Ridge and Ladder Trail. This trail ascends almost 1,300 ft mostly by climbing over stairs and ladders in less than a mile to the top of Dore Mountain. You then descend for around 300 ft to a ravine and ascend another 500 ft to the top of Cadillac mountain. Of course, every muscle in our legs was screaming from exhaustion. The amazing views made it all worth it though. From Cadillac Mountain we then descended to Cannon Brook which offers a completely different scenery with its running streams and beautiful vegetation. When all was said and done, the sun was already high in the sky and it was time to head south towards Bailey Island.

We arrived at The Driftwood Inn on Bailey Island in the late afternoon and settled in our cabin. As I mentioned earlier, The Driftwood Inn is at the end of a peninsula (and just steps from The Giant Stairs). The place is so peaceful and relaxing with low light pollution at night. To add to the peaceful atmosphere, there’s absolutely no cell reception and the Wi-Fi was spotty as well (anyone know an AV company that can help with that?). So, out of other options, we fortunately were forced to sit on the porch, listen to the crushing waves and watch the stars which were gleaming in their millions.

On our last day in Maine we enjoyed the peacefulness of The Driftwood Inn with its magnificent ocean views all morning. It was also an opportunity to film one last meditation video to capture the absolutely calming atmosphere.

The view from The North Bubble

At last it was time to head south, back home. But not before we have one last real Maine Lobster Roll. Since it was Labor Day, we couldn’t find a decent table at any of the local restaurants and we ‘settled’ for lobster rolls from the local general store which we took to an oceanfront picnic area. I must admit these were the best, freshest lobster rolls I had the entire trip. That was a fitting way to bow out. We vowed to come back to this magnificent part of the world as soon as we could.

It is safe to say the most important steps toward achieving a sustainable building project within established cost constraints are performed during the project’s feasibility and design stages. The construction industry, by its very nature, is a big user of natural resources. But with growing concerns over climate change and the finite nature of these resources, there is increasing pressure on construction firms to reduce their environmental impact.

Greener practices from all businesses are now top concerns for consumers. They want to ensure that they’re leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible. Contractors and construction companies have picked up on this interest as more and more are now offering ‘green building’ in their construction.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending in 2019 topped $1.3 trillion. During the first seven months of this year – 2020, construction spending amounted to $792.6 billion, 4.0 percent (±1.2 percent) above the $761.9 billion for the same period in 2019. 

Industry at this scale comes with incredible costs. The construction industry has a massive impact on the environment because energy use is high. Building requires heavy machinery which relies heavily on fossil fuels, and sometimes inefficient electricity can result in the burning of fossil fuels further down the energy supply line. The construction industry accounts for approximately 36% of worldwide energy usage and 40% of C02 emissions.

Earth’s resources are not unlimited

Especially with the growth of the population, the need for sustainable construction becomes more pronounced. Sustainable building materials are essential for creating greener buildings—and a healthier world. Construction and demolition waste makes up about 40% of the total solid waste stream in the U.S. and about 25% of the total waste stream in the European Union, according to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

One has to look at the big picture when considering the impact of a building—the building’s life cycle. The American Institute of Architects’ Guide to Building Life Cycle Assessment in Practice discusses how to evaluate the potential environmental impacts for every stage of a building’s life. One important factor in the building’s life cycle is selecting sustainable building materials. Architects need to consider how building materials are sourced, manufactured, transported, used, and discarded during construction. Every detail matters.

Modern Sustainable Technology

The role of sustainable infrastructure not only benefits the planet but also the investor’s profit margin too. The primary financial goal of businesses is to make a profit. That being said, investing in sustainable technologies is a great start to creating profit. Builders who invest in modern sustainable technology can recoup those costs over time, which results in reduced building operational costs.

The industry standard for sustainable construction, LEED promotes codes and standards for construction firms to follow during the construction process. LEED is not an immediate action; it is functional for today, and in the future. Construction firms need to recognize that sustainable construction is increasing in demand worldwide.

The construction industry isn’t really set up for sustainability. Many of the resources used in one building are hard or impossible to reuse in another, actual construction can reduce air quality, and with the growing population there is a greater need for buildings. So, how does construction become sustainable?

Béton Du Chanvre

Starting in the early 1980s, French builders resurrected a form of building material known as béton du chanvre — now called hempcrete— which dates to circa 500 A.D. The process is simple: a mixture of crushed hemp hurd (material inside the stalk), water and lime. While often seen as a low-tech building solution, the technology has progressed in recent years to include pre-fabricated bricks and panels that have been employed in residential and commercial buildings across Europe and Canada.

The innovativeness of hemp concrete as a building material lies in its function as a multi-performance material. It can entirely replace mineral aggregates in conventional concrete, and historically it was added to concrete and mortars to avoid retractions in plaster or clay brick. When cured, it retains a large amount of air, with a density equivalent to 15% of traditional concrete, making it an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator. An interesting feature of the material is that it is both a good thermal insulator and has high thermal inertia. That is, though light and porous, hempcrete can quickly store energy and release it gradually, making it effective for climates with high temperature variation between day and night. It also has good fire resistance, is non-toxic, and is naturally resistant to mold and insects. There are even surveys that point to hempcrete being a carbon-negative material, which in addition to compensating for the carbon emitted in production, actually stores additional carbon within the material itself.

Nowadays, although there are legal barriers in many countries, the use of hemp as a construction material has had encouraging results, with research demonstrating its strong thermoacoustic and sustainable qualities. Hemp can be shaped into fibrous panels, coverings, sheets, and even bricks.

Cross-Laminated Timber

Another choice is mass timber. It is a category of construction characterized by the use of large solid wood panels for floors, walls and ceilings. Of particular focus in the mass timber family is Cross-Laminated Timber. CLT is kiln-dried lumber aligned in multiple layers, each at a right angle to the preceding layer and glued together under significant pressure. The result is a structural panel with exceptional biaxial strength, rigidity and stability.

As the term “mass timber” implies, CLT segments can be large; up to one foot thick and 10 feet by 40 feet or larger in width and length. Panels can be manufactured to custom sizes, which reduces on-site cutting to speed on-site construction. CLT’s strength makes it a viable option for floors, walls and roofs, and its natural aesthetics enable it to be used fully exposed. Developed in Germany in the early 1990s CLT soon became popular in Europe and is now gaining traction in the U.S. In 2015, CLT was incorporated into the American Wood Council’s National Design Specifications and into the International Building Code (IBC), which is the default code adopted by jurisdictions across the U.S.

The alternating fibers and solid composition of CLT give it the potential to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings by replacing structural concrete. It’s lightweight, strong, and fire and earthquake resistant.

Dalston Works—the world’s largest building constructed out of CLT—weighs approximately one-fifth of a concrete building of the same size. And on top of that, it was completed an estimated eight months faster than if traditional building materials had been used.

According to a study published by the Journal of Cleaner Production, timber is sourced from sustainably managed forests to maintain wood resources. One of the most important environmental benefits of using CLT is its carbon sequestration properties that aid in climate change mitigation. It is estimated that roughly one cubic meter of wood stores around 1.10 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Here are some other examples of green building materials that you can use:

1. Solar Tiles

Regular roof shingles exist to protect your home from the elements, but don’t do anything with any of the energy they absorb. Solar tiles do both: they protect your home while converting solar energy into power for your home.

2. Sustainable Concrete

Concrete is responsible for 7-10% of global CO2 emissions. Sustainable concrete can include recycled materials that would otherwise have gone to waste. Similarly, grasscrete involves laying concrete with space for plant life, which reduces the material need as well as improving stormwater absorption and drainage capabilities. Hempcrete is another sustainable concrete alternative; it is a concrete-like material made with hemp fibers.

3. Bamboo

Bamboo may be lightweight, but when it comes to durability, it’s actually a strong replacement for many heavier materials. It’s fast-growing, which makes it a great renewable resource that’s environmentally friendly.

4. Wood

You can’t go wrong with wood: it’s been a reliable building material for centuries! When people properly manage forest and wood production, they provide a sustainable renewable material that is less energy-intensive to process other building materials.

5. Mycelium

Mycelium combines biology, design, and computing to create a unique building material composed of mushroom bricks. This material is strong, durable, and water-resistant.

Sustainable Interior Finishes

Although the bulk of the energy-saving work is done in the building envelope, interior finishes can also play a role in indoor environmental quality, carbon sequestration, and communicating sustainability to occupants and other stakeholders. The number of green design materials available has exploded in recent years. Products that used to be offered in limited colors or designs are now as varied as their traditional counterparts. Because of consumer demand, sustainable painting, flooring, and countertop products that might have been less durable and expensive in the past are now stronger, longer-lasting, and often more affordable.

Paint: Nearly every major paint company has created its own green line, but not all green paints are created equal. A new generation of low-VOC or zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints give homeowners a healthier option. The new range of paints is every bit as durable as their unhealthier predecessors, but with a plethora of health and environmental benefits. The water-based paints are easier to clean and release fewer landfill, groundwater and ozone depleting contaminants. The paints are a far better choice for everyone, especially those with respiratory ailments, allergies or chemical sensitivities.

Sealants / Adhesives: The risk with most finish materials is that chemical adhesives used during installation can counteract the healthy qualities of products that have been manufactured to be green. Sustainable adhesives and sealants contain little to no solvents meaning that less or no VOC are released during the application and curing, nor in the finished product.

Flooring: Wood is one of the best earth-friendly and renewable materials you can choose. Not only are fewer raw materials used in creating them, but they also require less energy and natural resources. While materials like bamboo and cork are popular types of sustainable wood flooring, they can be limited in their durability – especially when compared to hardwood floors. Cork is a softer wood, harvested from the bark of oak trees, whereas bamboo floors actually come from the grass family.

Countertops: The most common kitchen counters you will find in homes are traditional laminate countertops. And they certainly live up to the adage ‘you get what you pay for’, as most of them still contain a lot of formaldehyde and they aren’t very durable. IceStone is one of the most popular recycled countertops out there with a spectrum of colors available. Another is PaperStone is made of 100 percent post consumer paper fused with a petroleum-free resin derived from cashew liquids.The material more closely resembles wood than stone, making it much easier to work with.

Sustainable Textile

As the demand for eco-design and sustainable furniture has increased, the textile industry has adapted to this trend. In modern textile production, therefore, the use of polluting chemicals is dispensed with. In addition, attention is paid to the environmentally friendly extraction of raw materials. Here are some examples:

Hemp Fiber: considered by many as the most versatile and sustainable plant on earth. Its skin is tough and insect resistant, and this is why often hemp is used as a rotation crop. Its fiber and oil can be used in making clothes, papers, building material, food, skin care products and even biofuels.

Organic Linen Fiber: Linen fabrics are made with flax fibers. You can find flax fiber’s excellent properties in the hemp fiber info section.While growing flax is far more sustainable and causes less pollution than conventional cotton, herbicides have been commonly used in conventional cultivation as flax is not very competitive with weeds.

Organic cotton: is an ecologically responsible and green fiber. Unlike conventional cotton, which uses more chemicals than any other crop, it is never genetically modified and does not use any highly polluting agro-chemicals such as those found in pesticides, herbicides and many fertilizers. Integrated soil and pest management techniques—such as crop rotation and introducing natural predators of cotton pests—are practiced in organic cotton cultivation.

Natural wool: is obtained by the annual shearing of sheepskin. Pure new wool expresses that it comes from a living animal. Organic wool also comes from animal welfare. The quality of the wool depends on the body regions, age and origin of the animal.

Bamboo: is a rapidly growing grass plant. It can be harvested every 2-3 years without having to re-plant it. It uses less water for cultivation, no pesticides and improves soil quality. Fabric from bamboo is moisture absorbent, hypo-allergenic and anti-bacterial. Bamboo fabric is very soft to touch and is made use of in luxurious upholstery.

Kapok Fiber: comes from the Kapok tree and is 100% natural. The first and most important to notice is probably that kapok is wild grown and therefore it does not need any artificial watering! Kapok trees are native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The “tree wool”, as kapok is called as well, grows in big pods on the trees and the ripe unopened pods are normally harvested by knocking them off the tree. Afterwards, the fruits are hulled and seed and fibre are removed from the pods by hand. A tree yields about 15 kg of fiber a year. For 1 kg of kapok you actually need 15 pods

TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber

Another product leading sustainability in the textile industry is TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber. The fibers originate from the renewable raw material wood, created by photosynthesis. The certified biobased fibers are manufactured using an environmentally responsible production process. The fibers are certified as compostable and biodegradable, and thus can fully revert back to nature. TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber have gained a commendable reputation for their environmentally responsible closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low environmental impact. They are found in the collections of many leading designers and renowned retailers because they answer both the demand for sustainability and style.

Final Thoughts

The construction industry is undeniably making a profound impact on the environment; thus, it becomes extremely important that companies work towards maximizing the positive benefits while minimizing its negative component. Sustainable buildings are designed to help reduce the overall impact on the environment and human health during and after construction.

Aside from a lower impact on the environment, green buildings also create healthier, more comfortable indoor environments for the people who use them. Protecting the planet and promoting the physical well-being of the occupants are equally significant. This is beyond important for the future of our society.

Our future and our children’s future depend on our efforts to be more green and our ability to use sustainable materials.

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Water is one of the most indispensable and essential components of the general wellbeing and health of humans. In fact, there would be no life without water since the human body consists of seventy percent water. Like air quality in a home, water quality is an equally important consideration for any new construction or restoration. Both are susceptible to contaminants and both can be addressed with peace of mind solutions.

History

Water treatment throughout history dates back over 4,000 years with most civilizations figuring out that boiled and strained water helped eliminate unwanted substances for achieving better tasting water.

The first known domestic filter appeared when the Greek scientist Hippocrates invented the so-called Hippocratic sleeve, which consisted of a simple cloth-back filter.

Other civilizations filtered impurities from their water by sifting it through sand and gravel. With the development of the microscope, scientists zoomed into what exactly is in the water. Out of this revelation came filters made of charcoal, sponge, and wool to eliminate anything unwanted in the water. By the 20th Century, most developed countries had established regulations that set minimum standards of water quality. Even with these standards and water quality supply improving, for a variety of reasons the market for home filtration systems continues to evolve in making water even cleaner, better tasting, and rid of unwanted elements.

Are you drinking clean water?

In order for us to stay healthy, it’s critical that our water is safe to drink. If we can’t always trust the safety of the water coming out of our taps or wells, then it’s up to us to make it secure. That starts with knowing which contaminants to look out for—and how to ensure you’re drinking safe water.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, a water contaminant is defined as “any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.”

Put simply this means, anything other than an actual water molecule qualifies as a contaminant. Not all contaminants that enter drinking water are harmful. For example, if a stray piece of sand makes its way into your drinking water, it would qualify as a “physical contaminant”—but drinking it won’t harm you. Consuming contaminated water can lead to mild to severe symptoms depending on how long a person is exposed, how healthy the person is, and more.

Water Contaminants

According to EWG, nearly all Americans today, including new born babies, have PFAS in their blood, and up to 110 million people may be drinking PFAS-tainted water.

According to the EPA, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time.
Studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals. Both chemicals have caused tumors in animals. The most consistent findings are increased cholesterol levels among exposed populations, with more limited findings related to:

• Low infant birth weights
• Effects on the immune system
• Cancer (for PFOA)​
• Thyroid hormone disruption (for PFOS)

There are many other substances and contaminants in water that are harmful to our health. The full list of potential drinking water contaminants includes thousands of entries. This can explain why numerous studies find that drinking water across the U.S. is highly contaminated. It’s no wonder when you consider the sheer number of ways that contaminants are capable of entering our drinking water, from industrial leaks to agricultural runoff, and even through additives added at water treatment facilities. Here are a variety of common drinking water contaminants that can potentially cause health issues:

Water Filtration Systems

There are various types of advanced home water filtration system available in the market and the top three are the following:

Activated carbon: It is one of the most common and the least expensive among the many types of water filters. The system is usually installed under the sink. You just replace the filter cartridges as often as needed. Activated carbon filtration systems are known to be effective in removing parasites, chemicals and heavy metals that may be present in the water.

Cation exchange water filter systems: It is also called ion exchange filters or water softeners. In this filter system, positively-charged ions are used to attract negatively-charged ions that are harmful, such as barium and calcium. Barium can cause some health issues as prolonged exposure to this earth metal can affect your internal organs. Magnesium and calcium can damage pipes and also make water taste bad.

Reverse osmosis: This is considered as the most effective home water filtration system. Reverse osmosis forces the water to pass through a semi-permeable membrane using air pressure. Almost all contaminants are effectively filtered out with this system. Water filtration process is either 5, 6 or 7 stages. Brands that process water in more stages (6 or 7) are able to produce alkaline water.

Choose The Best Filtration System For Your Home

To choose the best filter for your home water consumption needs, it is helpful first to learn more about your water source. Your water filtering needs depend on the quality of your particular water supply, your personal preferences when it comes to taste and odor, and any special health circumstances in your household. Understanding what contaminants may already exist in your water is an important first step when deciding whether you want or need a filtration system and, if so, what type will best meet your needs.

Then, consider how the filter fits your home, lifestyle and budget. Many different types of filters are available to consumers. Determining which type is most appropriate for you—or whether you need a filter at all—depends on what functions you want a filter to provide. No filter eliminates all contaminants, so understanding what filters do and do not do is important.

Water filter pitchers
These are pitchers that are filled from the top and have built-in filters that water must pass through before being poured out for drinking or other use. They are inexpensive to purchase, require no installation and are easy to use.

Refrigerators
Many refrigerators have a built-in filter that supplies water through the door and supplies an automatic ice maker. It comes with many refrigerators and often improves water taste.

Faucet-mounted filtration systems
These are attached to a standard faucet and can be switched on and off between filtered and unfiltered water flow. It allows easy switching between filtered and unfiltered water and is relatively inexpensive.

Faucet-integrated filtration systems
These are faucets designed with built-in filters (instead of an attached filter, like a faucet-mounted system) and require installation.

The above options are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, yet they require frequent filter replacement. Not only this may be cumbersome, but the quality of the filtering and with it the water taste degrades over the relatively short filter life.

It would also be best to note that using an inappropriate purification system may result in water not being filtered properly as well as slow down water pressure thus making it inefficient and expensive. Hence it’s important to choose a system that can provide high quality filtration which at minimum removes particles larger than 0.001μm while maintaining a proper water flow of 1.5 – 2.0 GPM (Gallons per Minute).

The chart below demonstrates the difference in quality between Carbon and Micro Filtration and a 4-stage Reverse Osmosis purification system:

Water Can Heal

Given the significance of water in sustaining life, it’s no surprise that access to clean water is a basic human right. Your body needs safe drinking water for it to remain healthy.

Our brains are made up of eighty five percent water and so even if we lose just one to two percent of body water, then this vital organ immediately suffers. 

This can have detrimental effects on our well-being. It is important to constantly replenish the body with high-quality water, to strip nasty toxins from our vital organs and help to carry nutrients to our cells, preventing us from becoming dehydrated. By making sure you stay hydrated, you’ll feel sharper, perform better, have more energy, get more done, and give your body what it needs to help ensure better health.

Impure water, on the other hand, can lead to illness and even death in extreme circumstances. That’s why the importance of water purification is incredibly high today. The good news? You can take charge of your water consumption habits and make sure you’re drinking the safest, and purest water possible. The most effective solution is to invest in an advanced home water purification system. With the increasing amount of water pollution, installing a water purifier that can remove 95-99% of most water-borne contaminants that can threaten health or taste such as lead, copper, cysts and nitrates is a necessity rather than a luxury. Removing only a portion of water impurities while at the same time removing essential minerals will not yield the sought after health benefits.

For that reason we recommend water purifiers from renowned brands like Bluewater who use a proprietary technology called SuperiorOsmosis which can remove contaminants as small as 0.0001μm while maintaining an amazing 50-60% recovery rate that reduces waste significantly, and helps reduce environmental impact.

Water Is The Universal Solvent

It is involved in every function of the human body. Now more than ever, it is essential that we are conscious of what we put into our body. One of the most basic of human needs is water. Drinking purified water assures that the vital minerals you need to function are present in the water you’re drinking.

Everyone has the right to drink water as clean as nature intended. Now, you can create your own source of pure, fresh and premium water with the right kind of product. Look for products that have the United States Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal Trademark. This seal is an industry standard that certifies water treatment products have been tested to meet industry standards. It ensures that a product is made from safe materials, that the claims listed on the packaging are backed by test data.

Protect yourself and your family by making sure that the water you drink and use is free of waterborne contaminants. Invest in a product that delivers crystal clean, healthier and great tasting drinking water directly out of your tap. Your body will thank you for it.

Close your eyes for a moment and listen to the space you are in. Take a moment to breath. You may hear the rhythmic agitation of a washing machine’s spin cycle muffled only slightly by a closed door, the hum of the air conditioning or the neighbor’s dog barking. This mental sonic imagery illustrates the power of sound as a medium for communication. It can relay meaning, emotion, memory, and facts through language, music, and field recordings.

Sound, when understood as an environment, is a soundscape: a powerful tool that helps humans relate to their surroundings. Soundscape is said to help people sleep faster and feel better. American physicist David Gibson even suggests that sounds, those that induce the feeling of peace, tranquility, and relaxation—help the body and mind heal. The exposure to nature sounds enhances the body’s ability to ‘disconnect’ and let go of its natural ways of response, relaxing the central nervous system and allowing you to truly get connected with your inner peace. People that are exposed to nature sounds, and especially those that have high stress levels to begin with, may show a more positive attitude when being confronted with day-to-day problems and difficulties.

Stress Recovery Theory

Stress often drives people to seek relief through nature, even though we might not understand the biological basis for it. It is our innate desire to seek a safe environment that is behind the feeling of calmness and happiness caused by nature, which allows our bodies and brains to restore and maintain their energy. This is called the stress recovery theory (SRT). Due to this restoring effect, we are also capable of performing better on tasks that require our directed, voluntary attention.

Why is it that we are so driven towards nature? From a genetic standpoint, we are hunter-gatherers from 40,000 years ago-: our biology hasn’t changed much since. We are meant to live in nature, exposed to the sounds of running streams, the wind through tree branches and ocean waves. These positive emotions we connect with nature cause us to seek its presence : taking a walk in the park, bringing plants indoors, preferring a window seat. When people are asked to list their favorite places, natural environments are overrepresented. This concept for our instinctual desire for nature is known as biophilia. While the term is not too well-known, the concept is still very pervasive: people are willing to pay higher prices for real estate closer to lakes, beaches and parks, for high-rise views over cities and forests, or a mountain vista.

We feel what we hear.

In contrast, the feeling of exhaustion that so often hits us at the end of a workday might be the result of an early morning, a string of bad meetings or maybe a lack of caffeine. An equally likely culprit, though, is the barrage of sounds we’re exposed to each day, including ambient noise most people don’t even notice. Those hidden sounds, experts warn, could be having a big impact on your well-being. According to Julian Treasure, founder The Sound Agency, hearing is primal. We don’t have ear lids. There is no way to turn it off. We hear everything around us all day, all the time. When we get stressed out, our immune system suffers.

Replenishing And Restorative Effect Of The Sounds Of Nature

White noise has been called the legacy of sleep sounds as it has lulled people to sleep for ages. White noise encompasses all of the frequencies any person can possibly hear (about 20 Hertz to 20 thousand Hertz), it holds the potential to block out any outside sound. White noise sounds like the static you hear when you accidentally tune cable TV to an unused channel.

However, research explains how nature sounds (pink noise) can physically change our mind and bodily systems, helping us to relax. Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) found that playing ‘natural sounds’ affected the bodily systems that control the flight-or-fright and rest-digest autonomic nervous systems, with associated effects in the resting activity of the brain.

“We are all familiar with the feeling of relaxation and ‘switching-off’ which comes from a walk in the countryside, and now we have evidence from the brain and the body which helps us understand this effect.”

– Dr Cassandra Gould van Praag

Furthermore, a 2011 study comparing the effects of five different speech-masking sounds (including filtered pink noise) found that the sound of spring water was the most optimal for workplace performance, creative thinking and acoustic comfort.

Escape From Screens

With the average person now spending 6.5 hours+ a day in front of screens — bombarded by bad news, endless work, and social media strutting — there’s a distinct shift underway: a retreat from visual/digital culture into music and sound. This flight into music is being led by millennials/Gen Z. A recent global Spotify survey of 15- to 37-year-olds found that one of the five defining traits of this young demographic is that they: “use audio as an escape from their screens,” and audio is a “huge part of their everyday lives.”

It’s not just the kids: A recent Sonos global survey showed the many ways all people use music to boost their wellbeing:

Roughly 75% report they listen to music to reduce stress, and that listening to music is key to producing their best work.

Thus, you might want to consider creating ambient soundscapes to turn your home into a sanctuary and refuge, wherein peace, serenity, and calmness thrive.

Steps To Creating Good Sonic Environments

1. Remove Any Extraneous Noise
These should be positioned away from your space of rest or sound should be absorbed. Then you have to work on the acoustics of the space.

2. Think About The Sound System You’re Going To Put In And How You Route The Sound

3. Think About The Content You’re Putting Through It
That’s where generative soundscapes, appropriate music in retail spaces or biophilic sound masking is important.

Sounds Of Nature In Everyday Life

Now, think of a space in your home that relaxes you. Maybe a bedroom or a relaxation or meditation corner. Try to create the landscape of your comfort place through sound. This will give you a sense of place, and when you have it, you feel safe and peaceful. Music, an ambient soundscape, does more than just make your home feel cozier. It also gives you a feeling of warmth and tranquility. It makes you feel truly at home. You know you’re home when you hear those familiar sounds that soothe you and ultimately, calms you down.