PHOTOS: Green homes throughout San Diego County
This home in Valley Center is made from post-and-beam strawbale construction. According to San Diego Green Homes Tour, the bales of wheat straw and clay plaster work together to make a natural, non-toxic, super insulated wall system that resists wildfires and sequesters carbon. The compact footprints requires less energy and materials to build. The home is also all-electric and has LED lighting along with a whole-house greywater reuse system.
This home in University Heights is off-grid capable. The home fully electric and powered by an 8kW solar PV system with 55kWh batteries. The home also features a 500-gallon rainwater collection tank that irrigates the drought-tolerant landscaping.
This home in San Carlos has above-ground vegetable gardens irrigated by a 1,150-gallon rainwater storage and greywater system. Native bees, lizards, insects and birds roam the landscape that is a Certified National Wildlife Native Habitat. The gardens are also energy efficient and include a tankless water heater, programmable thermostats and energy provided by a 19-panel solar array.