Fabrice & Phyllis’ Mill Valley Home
ABOUT THE HOUSE:
This cottage is nested in the rolling hills of Tamalpais Valley in Marin County, where they have lived for over 30 years. This single-family ranch house is 1,850 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and was built in 1953 on a 12,800 square feet lot. Click here to read more about Fabrice’s green home upgrade process in his own words.
RENEWABLE ENERGY:
Rooftop Solar Panels by SunPower
Home Battery by SunPower (uses phosphate instead of cobalt)
Initial Mobile Home Battery by Yeti
MCE Deep Green for 100% renewable electricity
ELECTRIFICATION:
Heat pump water heater by A.O. Smith, installed by John Owens Service.
Electric car - Tesla Model 3. See Green Change’s Get an Electric Car guide.
Electric bikes - Benno Boost, Tern HSD, purchased from The New Wheel. See Green Change’s Get an Electric Bike guide.
Portable induction cooktop by Duxtop
We are in the process of completing the electrification of our home in the next few years, which will include: heat pump space heater/cooler, full induction range, electric clothes dryer, and electric barbecue grill.
WATER CONSERVATION:
LANDSCAPE:
Letting grass lawn die, due to its outsized water needs
Drip irrigation, programmed by irrigation app Rachio.
Native and drought tolerant plants
Driveway made of permeable pavers, which allow rain to percolate down and recharge the groundwater, rather than running off.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Fabrice is the founder and Executive Director of Green Change, a climate action network of concerned citizens who help each other live sustainably and build a more sustainable world. Our all-volunteer team produces free climate action events and online content on GreenChange.net, serving thousands of people in Marin, the Bay Area, and Beyond.