Green Building | Cool California

The built environment is a major source of our energy consumption and GHG emissions. Click on the topics below to learn about what actions you can take to make your home and landscape a "greener" place.

Insulation and Air Sealing

Up to 30% of home energy use in California is used for heating and cooling. If your home isn’t properly sealed, that money is being thrown away! Use the resources at Energy Upgrade California to find programs available through your utility, and some basic recommendations.

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To find out more, and take a hands-on approach, here are some resources from the U.S. Department of Energy:

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Sustainable Landscaping

Want to reduce the water and GHG impact of your landscaping without sacrificing the look and "lounge-ability"? There's no need to sacrifice function - click below to find out how to enjoy your lawn and garden while reducing the impact on your carbon footprint.

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With some simple improvements, you can enjoy a sustainable yard with less work, lower cost, and more enjoyment for your family:

Choose native plants.
Plant low-maintenance landscapes. CalRecycle has resources to help you choose the right landscaping and native plants, that require less upkeep, save water, and look great – all year round! Check out Save Our Water Rebates to see if you can get funding to pay for your landscaping makeover.
Choose efficient irrigation.
Still using a sprinkler? Try installing water efficient irrigation, like drip lines. Bonus: Your municipality may exempt you from watering restrictions if you use an efficient irrigation system. Next, automate your irrigation with a smart controller to avoid watering when it’s raining. Set it and forget it!
Electrify your outdoor power equipment.
Outdoor power equipment that runs on gasoline, such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers, can produce more smog-forming pollution than a single car driving for 100 miles. Protect your family by choosing electric equipment that is better for your health and the environment. Check out equipment reviews, testimonials, and incentives.

Replacing turf with water efficient landscaping and planting trees can reduce the carbon footprint of an average household by up to 600 pounds (.3 tons) of CO²e annually.

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Planning for Solar Panels and Electric Vehicles

A renovation is a great time to upgrade the electrical wiring in your home. When you do, make sure that you have the proper panel capacity and wiring pre-installed to support solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging.

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Even if you’re not planning on getting an EV now or installing solar right away, pre-planning and installing the proper electrical systems will greatly reduce your costs in the future, if you decide to do so. (They’ll also improve the resale value of your home!)

Drive Clean CA offers EV charging resources, including testimonials and information on incentives.

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Energy and Water Efficient Appliances

Did you know: washing dishes in a new ENERGY STAR certified machine rather than hand washing can cut your utility bills by more than $40 per year. Click below to find out more.

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Energy efficient and water efficient appliances can save money and resources over non-efficient alternatives, such as older appliances or even some actions like handwashing dishes. ENERGY STAR is the government sponsored program that evaluates and rates the energy use of appliances, while WaterSense evaluates the water use of your fixtures. Make sure your appliances and hardware have one or both of these certifications!

Use the EPA's WaterSense Calculator to find out how much you could save by changing your fixtures, then pick some out at your local hardware store.

Find an ENERGY STAR product online or at your local hardware store. Bonus: Start saving money now, with these easy actions from ENERGY STAR.

The Switch is On is an initiative with the goal of making the switch to electric appliances easier; find a contractor and available financial incentives in your area.

Replacing home appliances with more energy efficient models can reduce the carbon footprint of an average household by up to 400 pounds (.2 tons) of CO²e annually. The Switch is On

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Green Building Materials

Are you building new or improving your home? Think about the materials you’re using. Click below to learn more about the benefits that green building materials can offer to a building owner and the occupants.

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According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants:

Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building.
Energy conservation.
Improved occupant health and productivity.
Lower costs associated with changing space configurations.
Greater design flexibility.

Additionally, CalRecycle identifies green building materials as important aspects of reducing the “environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials.”

Green Building Material Resources:

CalRecycle Green Building Materials Guide
Green Building Solutions Green Alternatives Guides
The Building Green Products Guide (requires a subscription.)

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Cool Roof

Want to improve the insulation and beauty of your home? Consider building a cool roof on your house! A cool roof can last longer than a traditional asphalt shingle roof, while offering greater insulation values and saving you money.

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Check out our cool roof resources to decide whether or not a cool roof could help you beautify your home, reduce your energy bills, and contribute to local biodiversity.

Note: Choosing a cool roof instead of a standard roof can slightly increase the need for heating energy in winter. However, these winter penalties are often much smaller than summer savings even in cold climates because the northern mainland U.S. (latitude # 40°N) receives about 3 to 5 times as much daily sunlight in summer as in winter. When considering a cool roof, make sure that you live in a climate zone that makes it effective.

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Green Building Standards

Build a better building: It’s difficult to know how to build a better home on your own. Luckily, there are numerous programs that provide guidance and certification for “green” construction. Even if you don’t want to pay for certification, many of these organizations provide free materials or links to certified professionals who can guide you on your green building journey.

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Better building certifications include:

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not presented in a specific order. Recommendations are presented based on a combination of perceived ease of implementation and potential GHG reduction, and are subject to change.