San Diego Home Tours
Explore Sustainable Living in San Diego
Tour green homes. Meet the experts. Be inspired.
Explore Sustainable Living in San Diego
Tour green homes. Meet the experts. Be inspired.
Join the San Diego Green Homes Tour and discover how local homeowners and builders are redefining residential sustainability. Explore innovative, sustainable homes on a self-guided tour that showcases the latest in green building, design, and energy efficiency.
The Green Homes Tour is a program of the San Diego Green Building Council, a 501c3 community benefit nonprofit organization. SDGBC is a local aligned community of the US Green Building Council (previously known as the USGBC Chapters), partner to the International Living Future Institute and host to a local Living Building Challenge Collaborative.
Each year, the San Diego Green Homes Tour brings together hundreds of members of the local community to celebrate best practices in green building and design while showcasing the innovative work of some of the industry’s top professionals.
The diverse projects include sustainably constructed or remodeled single-family residences, urban multifamily developments and many projects that are GreenPoint Rated or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified, the top third-party verification system for sustainable structures around the world.
On the self-guided tour, attendees may visit as many of the homes as they like, meet with industry professionals and homeowners, and learn more about the latest green home design, construction and upgrade options.
Each sustainable project features innovative, high-performance design features including impact areas such as energy and water conservation, building materials, indoor air quality, landscaping and sustainable building sites.
2023 – Backyards Tour
Gordon Residence (Scripps Ranch)
In 1986, a brush management zone was established around this housing development and after that, yearly weed-whipping created the ideal environment for invasive, flammable grass. The homeowner managed to get the weed whipping stopped in 2009 and began to replace the non-native weeds.
Local native shrubs provide superior slope stabilization because of their tough, extensive, and deep roots. Extensive horizontal webs of native roots hold the critical top layer of soil together to maintain the hill’s stability.
A hugelkulture bed captures rainwater, increases soil aeration and provides ongoing nutrition for plants. The best plants from San Diego’s rich plant diversity have produced an incredibly attractive, diverse, and robust native habitat – including a dead grass backyard that has become a meadow of local wildflowers.
Syren Residence (SDSU Area)
This backyard garden demonstrates the many ways that growing our own food benefits the environment: by saving water, reducing “food miles” and food waste, and building healthy soil. And these homeowners have taken things a few steps further, by gardening zero waste style. This means avoiding sending anything to a landfill and living according to the following principals: reduce, refuse, reuse, rot and recycle.
Clever reuse and upcycling eliminates the use of plastic, significantly reduces garden waste, and saves money. Insect pests are controlled with castile soap and essential oils. Home composting enriches the soil, helps it retain moisture, and suppresses plant diseases and pests.
Pool to Pond Residence (La Mesa)
Check out the ultimate in re-purposing: In an effort to create a native plant garden to mimic local nature spaces and encourage pollinators and other wildlife by providing habitat, this homeowner converted a pool to a pond which now attracts many birds, bats, dragonflies and other wildlife. It provides a water source for drinking, bathing and breeding and is a safe haven for many species.
The back and front yard landscaping are approximately 90% native plantings, watered by rain water collected in 4 cement containers totaling 1000 gallons and 3 plastic totes totaling 1000 gallons. Plants are irrigated with recycled shower water, therefore little to no municipal water is used for irrigation. The home also has a solar array, and runs close to net zero energy every month.
Gordon Residence (Scripps Ranch)
Syren Residence (SDSU Area)
Pool to Pond Residence (La Mesa)
2021
Sustainability on a Budget (City Heights)
Sustainability on a Budget is an inspirational example of how to sustainably retrofit a home through creativity, collaboration with various nonprofits, and a limited budget. The front yard serves as neighborhood education and conversation. The owner, Wendy, works with the local collective Food2Soil to run a neighborhood compost hub in the front yard for waste reduction and soil improvement. Nutrient-rich soil supports the flourishing garden and native landscaping, which fosters a biodiverse habitat for birds and insects. The landscaping is irrigated by greywater from the laundry and shower as well as a 1,000 gallon rainwater tank, purchased in part using a rebate from SD Water Rebate. Aside from the sustainable garden, this 1945 home features solar power by Grid Alternatives and community-centric aspects such as walk/bikeability, supporting community events such as canyon cleanups, and shared garden space for neighbors.
** This location is outdoor only
Photo Credit: Wendy Miller
Terra Corazon (Valley Center)
This newly completed single-family custom home and ADU is made from post-and-beam strawbale construction. The bales of wheat straw and clay plaster work together to make a natural, non-toxic, super-insulated wall system that sequesters carbon and resists wildfires. Land use is maximized by housing two families on one property with shared infrastructure. The relatively compact footprints requires less energy and materials to construct, and the emphasis on low embodied-energy materials means that these buildings consume less energy and emit less carbon during construction. Bio-based carbon-sequestering strawbales lock up carbon in the walls, creating a carbon sink while providing R-30 super-insulation from an up-cycled agricultural waste product. The super-insulated envelopes with attention to air-tightness, solar reflectance, and distributed thermal mass means the homes will require less energy to stay comfortable year-round. The homes feature orientation for passive cooling with shading along the south sides and natural ventilation to prevent overheating. The homes are all-electric and feature mini-split heat pump heating systems, heat pump water heater, LED lighting and a solar system that covers all their needs and more. Homes include a whole-house greywater reuse system directed to plantings in the yard. The project currently incorporates 7,875 gallons (soon to be 17,975!) of rainwater catchment as well as sophisticated earthworks to reduce runoff and sink rainwater into the ground directly. The property was previously an unsustainable avocado grove, which is now being transformed into a regenerative permaculture farm and demonstration site.
Photo Credit: Simple Construct
Casa de Joelson (Clairemont)
This single-family residence, built in 1958, has undergone most of its eco-friendly renovations over the past four years and provides a great example of what the average homeowner can implement over time. After completing a household climate action plan for a school project, the homeowners tackled projects that would decrease their water and carbon footprint, such as installing a 3.5KW solar panel system that provides 130% of their energy usage (with room to convert current gas appliances to electric), along with rainwater and graywater catchment systems that provide 100% of the water for the front landscaping and backyard vegetable garden and received rebates from the SoCal Water Smart program. In lieu of air conditioning, the homeowners utilize attic and wall insulation along with an eco-model whole house fan to cool and heat the property. Other features include furniture and decor built with or sourced from recycled materials, a shower shutoff system to keep water warm while soaping up, zero VOC paint, LED lighting throughout, dual-paned windows and a composting system.
Photo Credit: Jessica Joelson
The eCorinthian (Rolando/College Area)
This 1,500-square-foot single-family home exemplifies sustainability, especially around energy and water. The owners purchased the house as a flip in 2015 and have been continuously making sustainable improvements ever since. The lush, green lawn installed in the peak of the drought was ripped out and replaced with an award-winning, drought-tolerant landscape that provides habitat to pollinators. Vermicompost systems (above and in ground) provide nutrients to vegetable and fruit gardens. The home is now all-electric and on track to be Net Zero Energy, supplied by a 6.5 kW solar array that also powers electric vehicles. An electric heat pump water heater provides domestic hot water. Cool exhausted air is diverted to either the occupied area or attic, based on cooling needs, while the condensate waters a planter bed. The home also has a whole house fan, central heat pump, Solatube, and induction range.
Photo Credit: Tom Abram
Winter Residence (Encinitas)
The Winter Residence is an energy & water efficient, single family GreenPoint Rated home in Leucadia. The home requires very little heating or cooling via installing high-performance doors & windows, great insulation, and airtightness via breakthrough and revolutionary AeroBarrier technology. The home collects and stores all rainwater from the roof and stormwater from the site in 45,000 gallons of underground water storage to be used for landscape irrigation, it is all-electric minus pool heating and gas range, and has a large solar PV system + Tesla battery bank. The resiliency provided by these components intend to provide for grid-autonomy for both water and energy.
Photo Credit: Rich Williams
O'Brien Residence (Ocean Beach)
This GreenPoint Rated home underwent a whole-house remodel and addition and features a high-efficiency furnace and water heater, energy-efficient windows, advanced waterproofing systems, solar power system, low-water landscape, drip irrigation and extensive use of sustainable and recycled materials.
Photo Credit: Suzi O’Brien (EcoLux Interiors), Bryon Stafford (Leland Construction)
Advanced Framing Investment Duplex (North Park)
Insulated Composite Concrete Form ADU
This ADU is the first ICCF, or Insulated Composite Concrete Form, structure in San Diego. ICCF Building Material from The Perfect Block are lightweight forms made from 100% recycled styrofoam, stacked and filled with Portland Cement to create a structurally sturdy, fire-resistant, and highly-insulative building. The fire resistance played a very important role as the property is adjacent to one of San Diego’s many canyons and an additional fire risk comes with this terrain. Aside from the ICCF construction, the property features rainwater capture, a high kW solar system, and low flow plumbing fixtures. And goats!
Sustainability on a Budget (City Heights)
Terra Corazon (Valley Center)
Casa de Joelson (Clairemont)
The eCorinthian (Rolando/College Area)
Winter Residence (Encinitas)
O'Brien Residence (Ocean Beach)
Advanced Framing Investment Duplex (North Park)
Insulated Composite Concrete Form ADU
2019
Murph Zero (La Jolla)
This new single-family home with accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is seeking LEED Certification and also the rigorous Zero Energy Certification through the International Living Futures Institute (ILFI). This project is designed as a high-performance, multi-generational home using energy, water, and human health sustainability strategies. All domestic hot water, HVAC, and kitchen cooking systems for both buildings, as well as support for DC-fast charging of two electric vehicles are powered by a 14kW solar PV array and supported by a 14 kW Sonin home battery system. This is the first project in the City of San Diego to permit, install and operate an NSF-350-compliant greywater treatment to the toilet-flushing and irrigation systems. Additionally, all plumbing fixtures in the project are EPA Water Sense compliant. The building has implemented a natural ventilation and daylight strategy throughout to minimize the use of HVAC system and electric lighting and support a passive design approach to Zero Net Energy.
Photo Credit: Studio Verde
La Jolla Modern Beach House
This four-bedroom single-family home in La Jolla Shores has earned LEED Platinum Certification. LEED Certification is the most widely-recognized green building certification program and ensures the home incorporates sustainable practices in regards to integrative design, energy and water efficiency, healthy material choices and neighborhood connectivity. To learn more about the property, which is available as a luxury rental, visit lajollamodernbeachhouse.com.
Photo Credit: Brady Architectural Photography, Jill Nooren
Brinner-Novak Residence (Solana Beach)
When completed this fall, this will be a GreenPoint Rated single-family home. It will be all-electric, other than the fireplace and cooktop, and is striving to achieve Net Zero Energy via energy-efficient construction and a rooftop solar array. The home has an ultra-tight envelope and high R-value insulation, which greatly reduces heating and cooling requirements. The tight envelope was achieved by spraying a non-toxic, airborne sealant, AeroBarrier, into the home before insulation, which sealed any minuscule cracks and penetrations. The home will have all energy- and water-efficient appliances and plumbing fixtures to reduce utility bills and preserve environmental resources. It is expected to be completed around the time of the Tour.
Jamul Strawbale House
This home is constructed with highly efficient strawbale walls. The natural, nontoxic material is fire-resistant and extremely insulative. The home also features 12-inch Douglas fir log posts inside and out, a 6.5 kW solar system, and oriented with large 42-inch overhangs to provide shaded windows in the summer and sunlight in the winter. All rainwater from the roof is captured in a 5,000-gallon tank for garden irrigation, a permitted greywater system irrigates the orchard, and native plants fill the garden.
Photo Credit: Future Home Photography
Leon at Laurel Townhomes (Banker's Hill)
This project features four detached mid-century modern-inspired townhomes that were carefully crafted using eco-friendly, sustainable materials and features such as solar panels, high-efficiency appliances, low-water fixtures, low-e glass, concrete with low SRI, and landscaping with native and adapted plants. Currently pursuing LEED certification, the project reflects the architect’s passion for creating visually-appealing residences that minimize the owner’s carbon footprint.
Photo Credit: Nakhshab Development & Design, Inc.
Terra Corazon (Valley Center)
This new single-family custom home and ADU is made from post-and-beam strawbale construction. The bales of wheat straw and clay plaster work together to make a natural, non-toxic, super-insulated wall system that sequesters carbon and resists wildfires. Land use is maximized by housing two families on one property with shared infrastructure. The relatively compact footprints requires less energy and materials to construct, and the emphasis on low embodied-energy materials means that these buildings consume less energy and emit less carbon during construction. Bio-based carbon-sequestering strawbales lock up carbon in the walls, creating a carbon sink while providing R-30 super-insulation from an up-cycled agricultural waste product. The super-insulated envelopes with attention to air-tightness, solar reflectance, and distributed thermal mass means the homes will require less energy to stay comfortable year-round. The homes feature orientation for passive cooling with shading along the south sides and natural ventilation to prevent overheating. The homes are all-electric and feature mini-split heat pump heating systems, heat pump water heater, LED lighting and a whole-house greywater reuse system. The project will incorporate rainwater catchment as well as sophisticated earthworks to reduce runoff and sink rainwater into the ground directly. The property was previously an unsustainable avocado grove, which is now being transformed into a regenerative permaculture farm and demonstration site.
Photo Credit: Simple Construct
Paradise Creek (National City)
Paradise Creek is a 10.27-acre, infill, transit-oriented, affordable housing development by Community Housing Works, composed of 201 affordable apartments and a 3.9-acre public park. The creek-side park incorporates both active play areas and a passive, permeable walking path and a community garden promoting sustainable food habits and community interaction. The mixed-use development is two blocks from the underutilized 24th Street Trolley Station/Metropolitan Transit System bus hub. The pedestrian-oriented and bicycle-friendly design makes numerous enhancements and new connections between the housing, public park, surrounding westside neighborhood and the trolley station/bus hub. The development is located on city-owned, contaminated (brownfield) land that was previously used for private bus and city public works maintenance and storage. Environmental remediation has occurred. The State of California Sustainable Communities Program awarded Paradise Creek a Silver Catalyst designation and grant to assist with its infill, transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly design and construction. The development has also earned LEED for Homes Gold and LEED for Neighborhood Development Certification.
Photo Credit: Community HousingWorks
Msix (University Heights)
Msix are six detached new homes currently seeking LEED Certification. The contemporary design elements create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience and are built for exceptional energy efficiency and functionality and are powered by 3kW solar pv systems.
Photo Credit: PreviewFirst/Ken Pecus Pacific Southeby’s International Realty
Sierra by KB Home (Vista)
This new home development by KB Home is Energy Star certified. The builder has made a commitment to adopting this certification for all of its projects nationwide. In California, Energy Star requires a minimum of 10% improvement over Title 24 energy code. At the Sierra community, south-facing orientations are at an average of 19.1% above T24 energy code standards. These all-electric homes feature a complete thermal enclosure system with comprehensive air sealing; high-performance windows and attic; heat pump water heaters; high-performance heating and cooling systems; HERS verification above-code for quality insulation installation and building leak testing; no added formaldehyde insulation; a comprehensive water management system; and energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
Photo Credit: APGS Inc.
West Residence (Imperial Beach)
Imperial Beach Councilmember Mark West’s home features an ocean-friendly garden, greywater system and upgraded insulation for increased energy efficiency. The home, Tesla electric vehicle and solar hot water heater are all powered by photovoltaics with a battery system. The homeowner took advantage of San Diego’s water rebate, SGIP (self generation incentive program) and battery car rebate.
Huettinger Residence (Rancho Bernardo)
The homeowners for this single-family retrofit project have taken advantage of local and statewide incentives, including rebates for water, solar and home batteries. Some energy efficient upgrades includes a 10kw solar, two RESU LG Chem batteries, added insulation, sealed envelope, and new dual-pane low-e windows. The landscaping is drought-tolerant and fed by rainwater collected in a 1,320-gallon storage system. The owners also have two electric vehicles – a Nissan Leaf all electric vehicle and a Hyundai Ioniq plug-in.
Callie & Phil's Natives (San Carlos)
This single-family home features above-ground vegetable gardens irrigated by 1,150-gallon rainwater storage water system and greywater system. It is a haven for native bees, lizards, insects and birds and is a Certified National Wildlife Native Habitat. Energy-efficient measures include a tankless water heater (for which they received rebates), programmable thermostats and energy provided by a 19-panel solar array.
Little Pond (La Mesa)
This home’s front and back yard landscaping includes approximately 90% native plantings, watered by rainwater collected in four cement containers totaling 1,000 gallons and three plastic totes totaling another 1,000 gallons. In an effort to create a native plant garden that mimics local natural spaces and encourage pollinators and other wildlife, these homeowners converted a pool to a pond, which now attracts many birds, bats, dragonflies and other animals. It provides a water source for drinking, bathing and breeding and is a safe haven for many species. They irrigate plants with recycled shower water and therefore use little to no municipal water for irrigation. They also have a solar array, and run close to net zero energy every month. (Tour includes exterior spaces only.)
Powers Off-Grid Home (University Heights)
Off-grid capable single-family home built in 1952. The home is completely electric and powered by an 8kW solar PV system with 55kWh batteries. It also features a 500-gallon rainwater collection tank, which irrigates completely drought tolerant and native landscaping.
Murph Zero (La Jolla)
La Jolla Modern Beach House
Brinner-Novak Residence (Solana Beach)
Jamul Strawbale House
Leon at Laurel Townhomes (Banker's Hill)
Terra Corazon (Valley Center)
Paradise Creek (National City)
Msix (University Heights)
Sierra by KB Home (Vista)
West Residence (Imperial Beach)
Huettinger Residence (Rancho Bernardo)
Callie & Phil's Natives (San Carlos)
Little Pond (La Mesa)
Powers Off-Grid Home (University Heights)
2018
Fallgren (Campo)
The Fallgreen Naturally Healthy Home is one of only 27 in the world to earn Net Zero Energy Certification through the Living Future Institute. Built of straw bales, straw-clay, adobe block, clay plaster and other natural materials, the simple yet high-performing home stays comfortable year-round despite the extreme heat and cold of the high desert in east San Diego County. Built by Simple Construct, the Sustainable Patron winner at the SDGBC’s 2018 Sustainability Awards.
Photo Credit: Simple Construct
Garden Home (Point Loma)
A water-wise single-family home situated on a10,000-square-foot lot featuring 46 fruit trees and 30+ raised garden beds with grapes, berries and vegetables that are harvested for a small community garden group and irrigated by 12,000+ gallons of rainwater collection and gray-water supplies. The home is also energy-efficient with both grid-tied and off-grid solar power systems with battery backup.
Photo Credit: Mylene Merlo
Rosa Residence (South Park)
This green home is a modern addition to an existing single-family home, originally built in 1942. Utilizing both active and passive solar design, the home captures natural canyon breezes and uses large overhangs for cool shading. Other green features include high insulation, low-emissivity windows, certified Cool Roof, tankless water heaters, photovoltaic system, up-cycled building materials and a gray-water system to irrigate the drought-tolerant landscaping. The yard even includes a 16-square-foot solar-powered child’s play fort.
Photo Credit: Jeff Gracik
Victor Residence (Pacific Beach)
This 1912 historical home was built by renowned sculptor Donal Hord, with original landscaping by Kate Sessions, the “Mother of “Balboa Park.” The integrity of the landmark property has been preserved, while the main house and guest house are fully updated with sustainable features, including passive/thermal mass (phase change material in the walls), reused/recycled building materials, grey-water system, rainwater cisterns, natural ventilation, native landscaping and more.
Photo Credit: Preview First
North Santa Fe Apartments (Vista)
This multi-family affordable housing development by Community Housing Works is GreenPoint Rated Platinum, featuring 68 apartments, transit/community-oriented design and high-efficiency features that are 40% above California’s energy code. With a score of 201, it places in the top 1% all-time for GreenPoint Rated multifamily projects.
Photo Credit: Community Housing Works
McConkey Residence (Lakeside)
Guest–favorite, back by popular demand: A creative, compact residence featured in Dwell Magazine that was constructed from three recycled shipping containers, features solar power, tankless water heaters and xeriscaping and embraces the owner’s love of the great outdoors.
Photo Credit: Kevin Walsh
Neuhaus (Encinitas)
Awarded 2018 Sustainability Award for LEED Homes by the San Diego Green Building Council. Complete single-family home remodel achieved LEED Platinum Certification in December 2017, designed to be healthy and sustainable with lifecycle-assessed material choices and energy- and water-conscious features throughout.
Photo Credit: Martin Mann
Green Retrofit Home (Encinitas)
This single-family home retrofit showcases updates that can make an existing home more comfortable, have healthier indoor air quality, and be more energy- and water-efficient. Sustainable features include an optimized HVAC system, plaster clay walls, cool roofing, shell air sealing, reclaimed materials, and rainwater and graywater systems that irrigate a diverse edible garden shared with neighbors through a community bartering system.
You can stop by any time during tour hours, however there will be a short presentation about the home at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
Photo Credit: Dadla Ponizil
Zagrodnik Residence (Normal Heights)
This 100-year-old home located on a compact urban lot has been completely transformed through a sustainable remodel and addition project. The living spaces open up to the yard, which overflows with hummingbirds, bees and other creatures. Rainwater harvesting and graywater from the laundry facilities irrigate an abundant edible garden.
Photo Credit: David Berens
Sea Ridge (La Jolla)
New luxury custom home currently under construction on the bluffs of La Jolla,with sustainability at the forefront of the design. The 6,800-square-foot modern home will be powered by solar panels, with frame-less panels displayed overhead to provide a shade structure for the roof deck. Other green features include integrated smart home technology with automatic lighting, sun shades and temperature controls, EV charging, low- VOC and recycled content building materials, a recycled stainless steel spa and xeriscaping with drought-tolerant native plants. Great opportunity to see green building in progress.
Photo Credit: ECOhouse Architecture, Blue Heron Design + Build (Renderings), D. Lessnick (aerial photo)
Water-Wise Garden (Bonita)
An artistic, water-wise garden featuring succulents and native plants, Zen garden with seating area, herb and vegetable gardens, creative planters and decor using re-purposed and vintage estate-sale finds, two butterfly gardens, fruit tree orchard, windmills and a red chicken coop (The Chick Inn). Sweetwater Authority Water-Wise contest winner. Featured in San Diego Home/Garden & Lifestyles.
Photo Credit: Emma Almendarez
Strawbale Home (Jamul)
A custom home featuring strawbale walls, earthen plaster, concrete floors for thermal mass, solar electric power, super-insulated ceiling and roof, whole house fans, native landscaping, a 5,000-gallon rain catchment tank and a graywater system for garden and orchard irrigation. House orientation allows for optimum solar power efficiency and large 42-inch roof overhangs provide shade for the summer and sunlight in the winter.
Photo Credit: TNT Custom Builders
Fallgren (Campo)
Garden Home (Point Loma)
Rosa Residence (South Park)
Victor Residence (Pacific Beach)
North Santa Fe Apartments (Vista)
McConkey Residence (Lakeside)
Neuhaus (Encinitas)
Green Retrofit Home (Encinitas)
Zagrodnik Residence (Normal Heights)
Sea Ridge (La Jolla)
Water-Wise Garden (Bonita)
Strawbale Home (Jamul)
2017
3 on Abbott (Ocean Beach)
Unique three-unit residential project was efficiently pre-fabricated (factory-built) for safe, quick and efficient construction and significantly reduced building material waste. Building features include engineered bamboo flooring, ultra-low VOC content, rapidly renewable materials, tankless water heaters, daylighting and natural cross-ventilation, Energy Star appliances and xeriscape landscaping.
Photo Credit: Pacific Video Productions
The Guild on 30th (Golden Hill)
Newly constructed urban in-fill project featuring 15 townhomes built to LEED (Gold or Platinum) Certified guidelines, utilizing the tenets of smart growth and featuring built-in, eco-friendly technology and design elements throughout.
Photo Credit: McNamara Ventures
O'Brien Residence (Ocean Beach)
This GreenPoint Rated home underwent a whole-house remodel and addition and features a high-efficiency furnace and water heater, energy-efficient windows, advanced waterproofing systems, solar power system, low-water landscape, drip irrigation and extensive use of sustainable and recycled materials.
Photo Credit: Suzi O’Brien (EcoLux Interiors), Bryon Stafford (Leland Construction)
McConkey Residence (Lakeside)
Guest–favorite, back by popular demand: A creative, compact residence featured in Dwell Magazine that was constructed from three recycled shipping containers, features solar power, tankless water heaters and xeriscaping and embraces the owner’s love of the great outdoors.
Photo Credit: Kevin Walsh
LeCase EcoVillage (Pacific Beach)
Five residences on two urban lots designed to facilitate a more environmentally conscious communal lifestyle, with a community garden using permaculture techniques, rainwater catchment system, rapidly renewable cork flooring, recycled denim insulation, whole-house ventilation systems and a vegetated roof.
Photo Credit: Katie Teare
Wakeham Residence (Solana Beach)
Features super-insulated strawbale walls, passive solar orientation and distributed thermal mass for comfortable year-round living, photovoltaic solar array, rainwater catchment and greywater reuse, and natural/nontoxic building materials.
Photo Credit: Katie Teare
Neuhaus (Encinitas)
Awarded 2018 Sustainability Award for LEED Homes by the San Diego Green Building Council. Complete single-family home remodel achieved LEED Platinum Certification in December 2017, designed to be healthy and sustainable with lifecycle-assessed material choices and energy- and water-conscious features throughout.
Photo Credit: Martin Mann
Sumer Residence (Solana Beach)
Gut-remodel of a single-family home that has earned the rigorous LEED Platinum Certification for its commitment to lowering environmental impact. Green features include drought-tolerant and native plants, greywater and rainwater catchment systems, recycled and locally sourced materials, as well as significant reuse of the original framing lumber.
Photo Credit: Katie Teare
Vanderhoff Residence (South Park)
Home features extreme water-conscious landscaping, rainwater and greywater systems designed to create a regenerative culture of water conservation, as well as bee habitats and houses.
Photo Credit: Candace Vanderhoff (2017)
Fazenda (Valley Center)
Super-efficient home is rated GreenPoint Platinum and features cork floors, heat recovery ventilation system, rainwater catchment and greywater system, metal roof and Perform Wall (for fire safety) and a projected 67 percent solar offset.
Photo Credit: Henri & Denise Patey
3 on Abbott (Ocean Beach)
The Guild on 30th (Golden Hill)
O'Brien Residence (Ocean Beach)
McConkey Residence (Lakeside)
LeCase EcoVillage (Pacific Beach)
Wakeham Residence (Solana Beach)
Neuhaus (Encinitas)
Sumer Residence (Solana Beach)
Vanderhoff Residence (South Park)
