Let's Power The Hill, Someday...

If we ever wanted to take our lofty goals of solar power generation and monetize it someday - by selling it to Southern Claifornia Edison, for example - we'll need to hope that current regulatory state policy is rewritten. Today, there does not exist a market for distributed solar power generation (the kind we'll do on our homes). However, the California Solar Energy Industries Assocoiation is working to change this law and open the market to households and businesses. The link below illustrates the various paths to market for solar electric generation, and does an excellent job of highlighting the exclusion of distributed solar power from being sold at wholesale prices and flowing to the grid.

http://calseia.org/solar-energy-markets.html

Just a thought, but...

Why restrict homes and buildings from providing clean electrons to meet the increasing energy demand of California? Moreover, why restrict the Horowitz's from helping power the many homes on "The Hill" AKA The Town of Idyllwild? Theoretically, if the barriers to distributed solar generation were removed, we could plant a solar farm on a few acres of our property that may generate as much as 1MW of electricity from the sun. That's roughly the amount needed to power 750 homes. Without knowing exact numbers, that must come close to the number of homes in Idyllwild, no?

The Energy Detective

A nifty product that makes it easy and profitable to monitor energy consumption - the beginning stages of a smart-grid world. And only $140...

How To Buy And Design Green Kitchens

http://www.thekitchendesigner.org/journal/2007/10/15/green-kitchen-countertops.html

Controversy Over Fire Department in Idyllwild

Here's a sobering article written last October in the LA Times about fire safety in Idyllwild and the rift between homeowners and the Fire Department and other Fire Protection Services on the hill. It sounds as though we'll have more to worry about than just forest fires...

Read the article, click here

For more information on Idyllwild Fire Safety laws, click here

Inspiration for the Kitchen

For inspiration on kitchen design, or to find help choosing a kitchen designer, check out the National Kitchen and Bath Association

Greening The Kitchen

Kitchen Requirements:

Building a green kitchen is not an all or none proposition so implement green design and materials where and when it makes sense for us, our home and the environment.

Energy Efficiency –

• Effectively size and place windows to maximize natural light (w/o compromising storage/cabinet space)

• LED fixtures for general and task lighting – spot, under cabinets (use CFL’s for recessed cans)

• Energy Star appliances (go to energystar.gov for more information)

• Electric induction cook tops instead of natural gas (80% efficiency vs. 40%)

Water Savings –

• Install a pedal valve for main sink

• Aerated faucet heads

• Instant hot water dispenser

• Tankless (on-demand) hot water heater

Countertops –

• Make durability and low-maintenance a PRIORITY

• Potential manufacturers:

• Recycled content - Squak Mountain Stone™, IceStone, Verazzo

• Quartz - Ceasarstone™, Silstone™, Zodiac™

Flooring –

• Make durability and low-maintenance a PRIORITY

• For hardwoods, opt for either reclaimed or sustainably harvested (FSC-certified), bamboo

• Use only low-VOC sealants and finishes

• Linoleum or cork (low-maintenance and sustainable) are good options to minimize sound

Cabinetry –

• FSC or plantation grown woods, Kirei board, wheatboard, agrifiber, bamboo

• Use only a low-VOC finish

• Ensure that any MDF/plywood/press board is formaldehyde-free

ElDorado (Faux) Stone

Here's a company that's come highly recommended from our cedar supplier (IHC).


According to their website:

...installed, manufactured stone is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of natural stone, and its light weight properties eliminate the need for wall ties or footings, which can decrease installation cost as well. And on the green side, manufactured stone has a 2% (approximately) waste factor versus 10% or more for natural stone.

For inspiration on application, check out the walkthrough on their website

The Fox And The Dog

With the family at our soon-to-be new residence in Idyllwild!

Home Resource Monitor

Agilewaves has developed the Resource Monitor, a web-based system that actively monitors electric, gas and water usage in real-time, while automatically calculating carbon footprint. This highly accurate conservation technology solution enables home and business owners to easily track performance, manage and control resource consumption, reduce environmental impacts and save money.
http://www.agilewaves.com/

Greenest Home In America

Check out the David Gottfried's (co-founder of the US Green Building Council and the World Green Building Council) blog, which chronicles the design and construction of his family's recently finished green home in SF. The house was issued a LEED platinum certification last November, and it's also the highest rated home ever certified by the LEED for Homes Rating System.

The blog is a great source of information for us because it highlights the steps taken and milestones achieved during the construction of one of the greenest living spaces in the US. Many new green suppliers and products are also introduced, giving us more ideas...

The following includes a highlight of the project's various green features:

• Walkable site, close to hundreds of shops, parks, BART, schools
• Reuse of a 93 year old existing home and site
• Cellulose wall insulation, closed-cell foam - attic rafters, batt insulation - crawl space
• Installation of new Marvin low-E double pane windows throughout the house
• Installation of new locally built "green" cabinets (Silverwalker)
• New Bosch kitchen appliances and washer/dryer - all Energy Star, low water & quiet
• New water efficient cast iron recycled steel bathroom sinks and tub by Kohler
• Dual-flush toilets by Caroma (1.28 and 0.8 gallons per flush)
• Efficient showerheads and faucet aerators by Bricor and Kohler
• Energy efficient (Energy Star) lighting and fans; some LED's
  
• FSC wood for construction framing, plywood, and replacement floors (Eco-Timber)
• High recycled content tile (Oceanside & Syndecrete) and countertops (Syndecrete)
• Solar hot water panels (HSC)
• Solar photovoltaics (Envison Solar/Suntech) - 16 panels = 2.72 kW
• Solar hot water heater (Phoenix System by HSC) - radiant heating & hot water
  
• Green paint (Mythic) - no VOC's, exceeds GS-11 Green Seal standard
• New fireplace glass enclosure and damper
• Termite damage mitigation and prevention methods, bait traps
  
• Rear yard solar PV (8 panels) LifePod home office with passive solar design
• Greywater capture for use in garden
• Rainwater capture for use in garden and toilet
• Native,drought tolerant plants with graywater drip irrigation
• Vegetable garden
• Basalite permeable pavement and DG (decomposed granite)
• Use of reclaimed wood (entry stairs,framing, deck)
• Reuse of old doors and hardware
• Energy modeling and infiltration performance testing and tightening (blower door)
  
• Received LEED for Homes Platinum Rating on November 7, 2008 (106.5 points)
• 1st LEED Platinum in Northern California and the highest rated in the country
• PG&E Climate Smart Program (offsets)
• Pursuing Build it Green's: Green Point Rated renovation certification (pilot program)

For more information about the Gottfried's Rengenerative Home, click here.