WOODLAND HILLS - At first glance, James Heimler's 1946 house looks like a classic, woodsy cabin. But look closer and you'll see that the architect has turned his lodge into a "green" home, refitted with energy-efficient appliances, recycled building materials, and low or nontoxic paints and finishes. "It doesn't look state of the art. It doesn't feel state of the art, but in reality it is state of the art," said Heimler, who will open his home Sunday to an Eco-Home Network tour. "I'm hoping that people can see that you can do things environmentally and it can still have character. It doesn't have to be all boxes and clean lines."
Heimler is one of a growing number of homeowners who say it's pretty easy being green, thanks to new environmentally friendly products at most home improvement stores, environmental design consultants, green-building support groups and financial incentives for energy- and water-efficient projects. And as a result, green-building advocacy groups say they're seeing many new converts. When Eco-Home Network founder Julia Russell began offering tours of green homes in 1988, most of the folks were interested in environmental issues, but weren't planning their own projects. But more homeowners have been taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance their mortgages for cash to remodel. In Los Angeles County, homeowners spent nearly $2 billion in 2005 to remodel their homes, compared with $1.2 billion in 2002. And Russell says most of the participants in her home tours now want green ideas for their remodels. "It is still more of an effort to get the green materials," Russell said. "But more people are beginning to understand it's a good investment of their time, energy and money if it's a little more expensive. "It not only protects the environment but their own health and family." A growing number of options have emerged to help homeowners find materials and learn more information. At the Green Building Resources Center in Santa Monica the walls are lined with samples of flooring, paints, woods and other recycled or sustainable building materials. Operated by nonprofit Global Green USA and the city of Santa Monica, the storefront center is one of a kind in Los Angeles and offers workshops, advice, a database of contractors and information on financial incentives or rebates from power utilities and water companies for going green. When the center opened in April 2004, coordinator Monica Gilchrist saw just five to 10 clients a day, and she had to seek out building professionals interested in green building. Now she gets 20 to 40 walk-ins a day and said builders come to her and ask, "What do we do?" For Heimler, an architect, the overhaul of his home was done one project at a time over 12 years. He chose to keep the house relatively small - 1,900 square feet - which requires less energy, uses less building material and conserves open space. Concerned that buildings consume 65 percent of electricity produced in the United States, Heimler cut his home energy consumption in half. He installed 5 kilowatts of solar panels using a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power rebate. Inside, he used dimmer lights, energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures, and a tankless water heater that warms water only when you need it. It also has a timer to shut down the heater when it's not needed. His wife, Cynthia, is a landscape architect, so she reduced the lawn and installed an intelligent irrigation system designed to water according to the plants' needs. Now, the hillside automatically gets less water and the roses get more. For the woodsy cabin feel, Heimler used knotty pine paneling that is certified sustainably grown, meaning the wood was logged under environmental guidelines. The home's foundation is recycled concrete, with nails and steel framing also made from recycled metal. The drywall is made from recycled gypsum. The Trex composite deck is created from recycled plastic grocery bags and wood waste. All construction waste from the remodel also was recycled. While Heimler admits he splurged on imported bathroom tile - because it was just what he and his wife wanted - he notes that the creamy porcelain was fired in a super energy-efficient plant in Italy. "The first thing is you put what you want in the house. You never put what is environmental first because you'll never be happy with it," he said. "Do what you want and make it integrate with the environment."Kerry Cavanaugh, (818) 713-3746 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it BEING GREEN For information about the Eco-Home Network, visit www.ecohome.org. For information about green buildings, Global Green and the city of Santa Monica have a Green Building Resource Center at 2218 Main St., Santa Monica. Visit www.globalgreen.org/gbrc or call (310) 452-7677.
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