Palm Desert Visitor Center designed by Randall Lamb
Banner image above: Ranch House at Del Sur

Greener Pastures
Remember when a "green house" was a place for growing plants, and an eco-friendly home was a geodesic dome? These days, "green" buildings are something entirely different. Whether it’s a high-tech high-rise or a renovated bungalow, almost any structure can now be designed with energy-efficient, water-saving, life-enhancing features — with big payoffs to your pocketbook and the planet.

No one understands this better than Chris Weixelman, associate principal with the San Diego-based engineering firm Randall Lamb. As a regional representative of the U.S. Green Building Council, Weixelman is an expert in applying LEED guidelines (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) to create smarter, more sustainable structures.

"Buildings consume 39 percent of our energy, and 70 percent of all the electricity generated in this country," he explains. "And that doesn’t even include the energy that goes into constructing the building."

But now LEED and other programs are helping to cut down that consumption substantially. From siting and lighting to ventilation and irrigation, the LEED checklist covers a wide range of design considerations. "That’s really driving our industry now. We’re seeing exponential growth in the number of LEED-certified buildings."

The biggest reason for the growth, he says, is that green building is no longer cost-prohibitive. Thanks to tax breaks and other incentives, an initial investment in green features often pays for itself within a few years. That’s especially true for his firm’s clients in the biotech industry.

"For example, we’re working on a Pfizer facility that should receive about $100,000 in incentives from SDG&E, with a payback on the environmental aspects in less than two years."

Randall Lamb is also practicing what it preaches in its new La Mesa offices, where the company is transforming a historic building into a bright and beautiful workplace. "We chose to renovate this 1941 building instead of tearing it down. We’ve preserved some beautiful architectural features such as the rounded roof and heavy timber construction, and we’ve got excellent daylight in most of the space," says Weixelman. The energy-efficient ventilation system includes two Big Ass (that’s the brand name) ceiling fans to circulate the air and keep it comfortable.

Many homeowners are also jumping on the green bandwagon, according to Smith Brothers Construction president Jeff Smith. He’s currently working on a La Jolla residence that uses a "greywater" system to capture and filter water from showers and sink drains, and reuse it for irrigation. Considering that greywater comprises 50 to 80 percent of all residential wastewater, the savings can be significant, not to mention the reduced need for sewage treatment.

In Santa Ysabel, Smith Brothers has taken the "log cabin" concept to a whole new level. Situated on a hilltop amid old oak trees and rolling meadows, the cabin’s landscape is perfectly pristine and "green by nature," says Smith, and a photovoltaic system harvests enough solar energy to fully power the 3,000-square-foot residence.

For Fred Maas, CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC, the challenge was not just one green building, but thousands of acres now known as Santaluz, Verrazzano, and the newest development, Del Sur.

Starting in 1989, Maas took a holistic approach to creating "sustainable" communities by consulting with the Sierra Club and other environmental groups and by "studying some great old neighborhoods like Mission Hills."

"It’s a philosophy that goes beyond just building materials and techniques," says Maas. "We started with land use planning and transportation considerations." As a result, most of this virgin ranch land was preserved as open space where walking trails wind through miles of coastal sage, scrub oak, and other drought-tolerant trees.

Over 20 percent of the Del Sur homes use solar power, and all of the pools are fully heated by solar. To save water, every residence uses a tankless water heater and an irrigation control system that’s tied into weather satellite data.

The masterpiece of this green tableau is the rustic Ranch House at Del Sur, which sets the standard for sustainable design and construction. Fifty percent of the materials used in this building were reclaimed or recycled, including wood floors taken from a century-old barn, insulation made from recycled blue jeans, and salvaged timbers used for ceiling trusses. Renewable resources such as cork, sunflower husks, and wheat waste are also built into the floors, cabinets, and countertops. The first building in the county to win a Platinum LEED certification, the home is a must-see showpiece for anyone who wants to learn more about green design.

For many San Diegans, home is where the harbor is, and there’s no place quite like the Sun Harbor Marina, the first LEED-certified marina in the country, and winner of the SDG&E Earth Award. Architect Caitlin Kelley, a Leucadia resident, drew her design inspiration for this mixed-use project from the earth, sea, and sun, starting with a large sun-shaped element that’s centered between the docks — the sun’s rays serve as a compass for boaters and other visitors.

Here, the nautical elements are more than aesthetic adornments; they’re a functional part of the lifestyle for those who dock — and live — at the harbor.

"The three buildings at Sun Harbor are based on the needs of a working marina," explains Kelley. "That means lockers, showers, laundry facilities, freezers for sports fishing, and even a sail maker on the premises." The project also includes office spaces, a Pizza Nova restaurant, a public dock, a long public promenade, and a parking lot.

Every aspect of this green marina, from the slips and docks to the planting and parking, is based on LEED guidelines. When the old facility was demolished, over 50 percent of the materials were recycled. New docks were constructed out of durable concrete rather than wood — and not just any concrete, but a beautifully decorative design with stamped-in shells and undulating wave forms. The slip amenities include solar-powered lighting pedestals, metered water and electricity, and one pump-out station for every four boats.

The energy-efficient buildings capitalize on natural daylight, along with light sensors, Energy Star appliances, and renewable energy credits purchased from a wind farm to offset all of the electricity used on the premises. Water usage has been cut by 37 percent thanks to low-flow plumbing, tankless water heaters, waterless urinals, and drought-tolerant landscaping. Each building even has its own recycling center.

Although Kelley says she was "a little bit green" about the LEED process going into this project, she’s now applying her valuable experience to other sustainable designs, including a new straw-bale home in Descanso.

If you’re planning to build or remodel your own space, consider these questions: How can you create a healthier place for yourself and others? How much will you pay for utilities in the next 30 years? How can you leave a better planet for your children and grandchildren? More and more Californians are reaping the rewards of renewable, responsible solutions like these. — Carole Brummage