The concept of ‘green’ living is hardly new. That color has come to define nearly any object or action that is environmentally friendly, and with the real threat of global warming looming, many people have jumped on the bandwagon and altered their lifestyles in order to minimize their ecological footprints. From recycling bottles, cans, light bulbs and cell phones, to bringing re-usable cloth bags to the market, to driving hybrid cars, Angelenos have proved that greener living isn’t just a fad. ‘I have never seen any movement gain such traction in such little time. It is amazing how many people want green and talk about how improving the environmental standards in their home can improve their life and improve the world for the next generation,’ said George Penner, a partner in the Westside real estate firm deasy/penner&partners, which currently has two houses on the local market that feature sustainable eco-design. Sustainable is a term that refers to houses (or other buildings/objects) that have been built to comply with the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability, reducing the use of non-renewable resources, minimizing environmental impact and increasing the relationship between the house and the natural environment. One of deasy/penner&partners’ latest listed sustainable homes is described as ‘the Hybrid Green House,’ located at 407 Almar Ave. in Pacific Palisades. From the outside, no one would know that this Spanish Colonial Revival-style home was created using only recycled, sustainable materials. Designed by Jensen Daggett, a developer who wished to ‘build green’ for herself, the 6,800 sq. ft. home has six bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and a one bedroom/one bathroom apartment. It sits on a street-to-street lot in the El Medio bluffs neighborhood and features sweeping coastline and ocean views. However, the home’s most attractive element is its ability to maintain a classic Spanish look, blending well with the neighborhood, while remaining eco-friendly. ‘Most people in the green industry happen to be individuals who are leaning towards more modern designs,’ said listing agent Frank Langen. ‘Maybe it’s a coincidence, but they end up using steel and other elements like prefab.’ Conscious, yet classic looking, building elements include recycled Styrofoam construction blocks, lightweight concrete, denim insulation, hydronic floor heating and a tankless water heating system. ‘Everyone is talking green. The [real estate] market is ready for it,’ Langen said. ‘There are Priuses driving around everywhere, but the car is just one small impact. The building sector of the economy has a much more negative impact on the environment.’ Another locally listed home takes sustainable, green living to a whole new level. Located at 12321 Rochedale Lane in the Crestwood Hills area of Brentwood, the 4,057-sq.ft. home, designed by Rustic Canyon resident Ray Kappe, is described as ‘the Nexus between green living, high technology and high design.’ ‘It’s really the first LivingHome on the open market,’ said agent Barry Gray. ‘As far as I know, it’s probably the first prefab and LEED certified home to be on the market in Southern California.’ (The house has not yet actually been LEED certified, but is expected to receive gold, the Leadership Energy Environmental Design’s highest certification. Points are earned for energy efficiency and sustainability in water use, air, materials and more.) The home, which was prefabricated offsite and constructed on Rochedale, features only environmentally preferred products and systems, including a SunPower solar electric system, forced hot-air radiant heat and cooling systems, a Valcucine eco-friendly kitchen, water- and energy-efficient appliances, windows and doors with insulated glazing, tankless water heaters and LED lights. It also features a Control 4 home automation system that can be set up so that the house knows when its residents leave and will turn off unnecessary energy-using functions. ‘Everything in the house is environmentally conscious,’ Gray said. This seemingly futuristic house has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a state-of- the-art media room. The home is framed mostly in glass and features a full wrap-around deck, providing for sweeping views of the canyon as well as the ocean. ‘On a clear day you can see Catalina,’ Gray said. Green living comes at a price, of course. The Hybrid Green House on Almar is listed at $7.5 million and the Ray Kappe LivingHome in Brentwood is listed at $4.3. ‘Without question, for people who are in the market for purchasing homes today, one of the topics that comes up, beyond bedroom, pool, views and garage is, ‘Are there any green components involved?” Penner said. As the green movement continues to expand, people are looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle on all levels, and not just in the home, but as a home.
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