Project Partner Workshop 2015

We learned so much at the Project Partner Workshop last week, and we hope you did too! A HUGE thanks to our project partners for coming out and teaching us about leading edge sustainability techniques in their fields.

Enjoy the event pictures below :)

Attendees in the Sustainable Building Materials Workshop

Precis Solar gives a presentation on the energy system during the Energy Track

Kevin Muno of Ecology Artisans describing the Food Forest

Sam Harb of One Sphere gives a presentation on the whole house monitoring system. This system will provide usage data for energy use, energy generation, available energy resources, water resource levels, and water consumption. Not only will this assist us in analyzing the performance of the home over time, it will provide feedback to the owners in order for them to learn how to best operate their home. A smart home requires smart occupants, and occupants cannot be smart without feedback.

Yum!

Jesse goes over the Food Forest, which will be irrigated by greywater and blackwater

Hi Jesse!

Rich Williams and Denise Homme enjoying the reception

Anne Middleton of Phase Change Energy Solution tells us about BioPCM, a phase change material that increases the thermal mass of the building envelope, thus reducing HVAC loads

A full street of cars lined up for the workshop!

CertainTeed's Kristi Davis discussing their VOC-absorbing drywall

Installation of the 3 Deger dual-axis trackers

Wind Turbine installation

1 pettibone lift, 8 men, and weeks of site preparation later, the turbine is erected! Check out the time lapse footage:

Wind turbine fun fact: Vertical axis turbines (such as the one in the video) are often safer for birds because they register them as solid objects and can therefore avoid them. Traditional horizontal axis turbines appear 'invisible' when moving quickly, and birds often collide with them in flight.

Thanks for coming out!

We enjoyed discussing the unique components of Casa Aguila with you yesterday at the Green Homes Tour! Thanks so much for coming out. We hope you had a good time as well, learned something new, and were able to check out some of the other great sustainable homes in San Diego :)

Beautiful Eurowest tiling

3 of 8 10,000 gallon rainwater storage tanks 

AGB cofounder Rich Williams and site supervisor Jesse Heilig leading a tour up to the turbine

Rich Williams and architect Andrew Wilt discuss the turbine

The terraced food forest will be irrigated by blackwater and greywater

Rich discusses Phase Change Material with two tour-goers

Don't miss out on the 2015 Green Homes Tour!

This Sunday, October 4th between 10 am - 4 pm the USGBC will be hosting the Green Homes Tour! This is a chance for you to see some of the most environmentally-conscious homes in San Diego and to learn about how to green your own home. There are 7 homes to see this year that vary greatly in their approaches to sustainability.

AGB has two homes on the Tour this year (Casa Aguila in Ramona and the Greisman Residence in Carlsbad), so make sure to say hi to us if you come by! Here's a peek at some of the homes and features below, or view the whole brochure here.
**Please note, there was a last minute change and the Jaska Nolan Residence in Encinitas is no longer on the tour.

Greywater, stormwater, and blackwater

You can see the food forest irrigation system starting to develop! This will be irrigated by San Diego's first residental blackwater recycling system.

Not even a 5 ton boulder can get in our way! We've met our fair share of them on this project.

Floorboards installed in the living room

Say hello to the first of eight 10,000 gallon rain and stormwater collection tanks

Two of the storage tanks in the distance

You're invited to Archtoberfest!

AGB is gearing up for Archtoberfest, San Diego's Architecture and Design Month! October is going to be filled with events and activities featuring innovative architecture, design, planning, and sustainability around San Diego.

There will be TWO opportunities to tour Casa Aguila during Archtoberfest, so come and say hi! Here are the event details:


OCTOBER 4th, 11am - 4pm
GREEN HOMES TOUR
The Green Homes Tour is an annual self-guided tour hosted by the USGBC. Members of our staff will be at Casa Aguila to give tours and discuss features of the home. Registration gives you access to visit any of the homes on the tour. It is $5 for USGBC members and $15 for non-members, and you can register at the link below.

Green Homes Tour registration link: http://www.usgbc-sd.org/event-1797012


OCTOBER 14th, 11am - 8pm
PROJECT PARTNER WORKSHOP
The Project Partner Workshop will consist of 20 minute demonstrations put on by the many project partners of Casa Aguila. Some of these partners include the manufacturers of the solar trackers, wind turbine, energy management software, and many more. Attendees are welcome to come to any or all of the presentations.

Project Partner Workshop event link: http://www.archtoberfest.com/event/san-diegos-most-efficient-home-2/

Please contact Katie Teare at 858.449.5208 if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!

August Update - Blackwater Treatment, EV Charging, and more

Tigre of Ecology Artisans doing the site prep work for the "Food Forest" which will be provided irrigation from 100% of the wastewater from the home (both black and graywater.) Check out their site at: http://ecologyartisans.com/	The irrigation plan by Ecology Artisans for the Food Forest
Solar Thermal panels being installed by Adroit Solar. The panels will provide water heating for not only domestic hot water use, but also for hydronic radiant floors, pool, and the spa.	Jeff and Jesse walking across the Red Guard slip sheet that goes between the concrete slab and the tile that will soon be installed.
The new concrete slab in the courtyard, soon to be tiled over. The palms look great!	Gutters being installed
The Water Heating Equipment Room. Daikin Altherma unit installed on the wall to provide backup heating, if required, to the Solar Thermal heaters. Waiting for the storage tanks to arrive to be installed adjacent to the Daikin unit.	Lots of material have arrived on site, waiting for installation.
Electric Car Charger has been installed in the garage.