Bay Area Featured Green Home

Christi Graham

This model green home in Novato, CA is owned and remodeled by John Shurtz of Green Builders of Marin. A variety of factors were considered in remodeling this thirty year old home in Novato, CA. Design and aesthetics, and the overall feel of the home were most important. However, conservation of natural resources, increased energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, cost and added value all played important roles in the design and construction process.

Click through the slideshow to tour this beautiful home!

Bay Area Featured Green Home Slideshow

The main architectural decisions reflected the desire to create an open floor plan with lots of natural light. Daylight not only cuts on energy use, but also makes for a healthier, more pleasant space. This was achieved with large windows for views, and a series of smaller windows high on walls where privacy was a concern. A large, ridge skylight brings in lots of light to the central portion of the home. Solar tubes were also used to bring light to a dark hallway and the master bedroom closet.

Together with the new dual-glazed windows, energy-efficient appliances, radiant heat in the floors and a photovoltaic system, John's energy bill has been reduced to 1/6 of what it was before these changes!

John used recycled, reclaimed and certified sustainably-harvested wood and engineered beams, bamboo flooring and Trex decking to conserve natural resources. He also reused stone and concrete slabs taken from the site in the landscaping. The metal roof will last a lifetime, and the shot earth walls never need to be repainted. Last, but not least, he used as many non-toxic finishes as possible, as well as radiant heat, to make the home both comfortable and healthy. The general goal was to create a home that is "healthy, attractive, long-lasting and as low impact on the environment as possible".

For more information about this home or to contact John Shurtz, please visit his website at greenbuildersofmarin.com.

To inquire about healthy and green building materials, contact the Green Resource Center in Berkeley (greenresourcecenter.org).

Photos copyright © John Schurtz (greenbuildersofmarin.com)