Fire Survivor Builds Green in Escondido

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.

“Wyatt and I took the solar power and water heating workshops at CCSE and attended the fire rebuild events,” Tyler said. “This has been a real education for us to learn about green building. We’re outdoor types and into nature, so living more environmentally friendly is very attractive.”

Their residence includes fire-proof walls of recycled polystyrene and cement, a metal roof, solar power and water systems, soybean foam insulation, energy-efficient appliances and many other energy-saving upgrades. The builder is Todd Timmons of TPT Cal, Inc.

“Learning what we have, going from tragedy to an environmentally friendly home, I feel is building a legacy for my son,” Tyler said. “What we are doing may be somewhat exceptional today, but by doing this I hope we are part of the movement to make this type of construction the standard.”

The Tyler’s new home is slated for completion in August. Tyler estimates that it will cost him only about 10% more than standard, wood-frame construction. Photos of the construction can be viewed on the slideshow below.