Fire Survivor Builds Green in Escondido
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Clay Tyler in front of his new energy-efficient home that is being built with fire-proof materials including wall panels (at left) that are put in place and filled with rebar and concrete. |
Clay Tyler recalls vividly the towering flames cresting the ridge above his Escondido home during the October 2007 wildfires shortly before they burned through his neighborhood. He and his family safely escaped, but his house and several others nearby were devastated.
Although it has been nearly two years since the fires destroyed more than 1,400 San Diego county homes, only about a quarter of them have been rebuilt and occupied. Protracted insurance settlements and the financial downturn have slowed rebuilding, but some residents, like Tyler and his son Wyatt, are turning misfortune into an opportunity. Their new 2,100-square-foot home, under construction east of Lake Hodges, incorporates the latest green-building technologies with energy-efficient systems, xeriscape landscaping and recycled and reused materials. Continue Reading >>
Rebuild Central is now on Twitter
Rebuild Central is on Twitter! You will be able to follow all of your latest updates and connect with us through the California Center for Sustainable Energy.
You can visit our Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/rebuildcentral.
We are now preparing for our upcoming build San Diego event. It is our second annual event and we are excited. Build San Diego will be held April 4, 2009 at the California Center for Sustainable Energy. 8690 Balboa Avenue, Suite #100 San Diego, CA 92123. This expo also offers support for Fire Survivors.
The majority of fire survivors from the October 2007 fires have not started the rebuilding process. To assist in the progression they’ll be able to learn from local Fire Survivors who are in that rebuilding process right now. The expo includes a panel discussion with fire survivors sharing about the rebuilding green experience.
Exhibitors will also be there to share their products and services. See our list of Exhibitors.
We are looking forward to putting on a great event!
Rebuild Central
Rebuild Central is a one-stop, all-in-one resource for fire survivors looking for unbiased information about how to rebuild their homes. Rebuild Central holds free workshops, throughout the county, designed to help homeowners rebuild using energy-efficient and fire-resistant technologies, methods and materials. The workshops cover topics such as: Green Building 101, Fire and Drought Resistant Landscaping and Solar for Homeowners. The workshops are held at CCSE’s central San Diego location. Visitors are encouraged to explore all the latest energy- efficiency technologies, interactive displays, and resources that CCSE’s Energy Resource Center has to offer.
Browse through the vast array of books, periodicals, and DVDs in the Energy Resource Library, or borrow reading and data-logging instruments designed to measure performance and savings opportunities in the Tool Lending Library.
Solar Water Heating System Incentives
Solar Water Heating (SWH) systems can help protect consumers against future gas and electricity shortages as well as price increases. They help preserve the environment by eliminating carbon dioxide emissions and reducing harmful pollutants. Through the California Solar Initiative (CSI), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) authorized CCSE to provide $1.5 million in rate payer funds as incentives for the Solar Water Heating Pilot Program. These incentives will go to qualified, licensed contractors to promote the installation of clean, renewable solar water heating systems.
Visit the California Center for Sustainable Energy for more information on the Solar Water Heating Pilot Program
Support for Homeowners Rebuilding After Southern California Wildfires of 2007
To those residents in San Diego County who lost their homes in the 2007 Southern California wildfires, USGBC would like to extend its support in helping these survivors rebuild their homes in a sustainable manner. To that end, USGBC agrees to waive all registration and certification fees (up to a $600 value) for those who intend to rebuild using the LEED for Homes rating system.
In order to take advantage of this fee waiver, applicants and their LEED for Homes providers should work through the normal registration process via the USGBC website (http://www.usgbc.org/leed/homes). Upon submittal, the Provider should email USGBC at homes@usgbc.org to request the registration fee waiver for the project. A representative from USGBC will then confirm the registration fee waiver via email and, should the project ultimately move forward to certification, will ensure that the certification fee is also waived at the appropriate time.
