Marin Green Home Tour - Final Report
The second annual Marin Green Home Tour was a big success! 847 people registered for the free, virtual event that was held on Thursday, October 26, 2023. Between the chat and the Q&A, attendees asked over 180 questions and 84% of them reported being more likely to pursue green home upgrades after having attended the tour. The topics of greatest interest were heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, and induction cooktops. After that were greywater and rainwater catchment systems, fire hardening strategies, and passive home insulation. Check out some of the homes that were on the tour. A link to the recording of the full event is at the bottom.
Underground power lines and a long driveway made upgrading the electrical service to this home prohibitively expensive. The homeowner was able to fully electrify the home using the existing 125 amp service. She used Watt Diet Calculator for helpful strategies. Click the button below to see all the green features of this home.
A popular green feature of this home is the permeable driveway pavers that allow rainwater to percolate down and recharge the groundwater rather than running off. Click the button below to see the many resources the homeowners shared for drought-tolerant landscaping, electrification, water conservation, and renewable energy.
This resourceful homeowner has not only electrified his home, but created a DIY rooftop solar system with reusable batteries salvaged from a server farm. The button below has some details, but best to watch the full video to learn more about it.
This knowledgable couple were able to retrofit an old home to Passive House standards, then later electrified. They kept the vintage look of the interior by adding insulation to the outside, including foam insulation under a new metal roof, painted white for its heat reflectance. Fire resistant features include fiber cement siding, Vulcan vents, and covered roof eaves. Work on this home started in 2009. They recommend starting with an overarching plan then implementing steps as time and budget allow.
In addition to replacing their propane-fueled central heat and water heating with heat pumps, this home has several lower-tech green solutions, such at two pet sheep who keep the orchard mowed. Harvesting rainwater from the chicken coop roof saves 330 gallons of water a year for garden irrigation. Every bit helps!
This small, 1953 house was upgraded using a cost-conscious ethos. The entire project cost less than $25,000. Simple upgrades included putting under-door draft stoppers on all doors and installing greywater recycling systems on the kitchen sink, dishwasher and clothes washer.
Want to learn more? Click the link below to watch the full 2.5 hour presentation.
Attendee comments:
“Bravo! Best Green Home Tour program I have seen thus far!”
“This show is a tremendous gift to our community - showing real people in real homes making a positive impact.”
“I have enjoyed and gotten so much information from the Green Home Tour. I have learned so much that I feel confident to be able to approach contractors and builders that I hire.”
“Really appreciated the different perspectives, introduction to various programs and rebates, and encouragement to take the first step.”
