EcoHouse in the News

NorCalADPSR Bulletin
Volume 7, Number 2
Summer 1999

The EcoHouse Comes to West Berkeley

We are pleased to announce the initiation of an environmental demonstration home in West Berkeley at the site of two established community gardens.

A community group of environmental activists, including several Board Members and National ADPSR founding member Karl Linn, has purchased a vacant, deteriorated house at Peralta and Hopkins located directly adjacent to the Karl Linn Community Garden. With support from the City of Berkeley, we intend to establish an ecological home and center, an "EcoHouse," that will be a state-of-the-art demonstration of the latest in environmental technologies and ecologically sound methods of living. The land surrounding the building will be incorporated into the adjacent Karl Linn Community Garden and across from the Peralta/Northside gardens. Both gardens have large and active followings in the community.

The EcoHouse will function as a living laboratory capable of accommodating educational programs, exhibits, and small workshops. Equipped as a resource and reference center, the EcoHouse will offer information and consultation to architects, landscape architects, developers, contractors, and gardeners regarding ecological design and construction techniques, appliances, and products. The house will be an active residence. Individuals and small groups of visitors will be able to see the most effective environmental technologies and practices in active operation and learn more about how they can incorporate them into their own residences and work places.

The EcoHouse will demonstrate solar energy technology, recycling and composting methods, permaculture, biodynanics and other organic agricultural techniques, and appropriate technology in design and construction. Teachers will be able to bring groups of students to the EcoHouse that will be a tremendous help in educating the younger generation about more sustainable ways of living. We look forward to the active participation of neighbors and friends in the design and construction of this exciting project.

The house is currently being equipped for residency. The house was in poor condition, with several rooms stripped to the studs, and some water and termite damage. The exterior had lead paint, which had polluted the surrounding soil. In addition to lead abatement, we are repairing damaged areas, adding wet-spray cellulose insulation, and restoring the kitchen. Environmental materials include true linoleum flooring, (Armstrong World Industries, which recently acquired DLW), salvaged wood flooring from a house in Martinez, salvaged kitchen cabinets (Urban Ore) with a recycled tile countertop (Urban Ore), a used stove, a new, energy efficient refrigerator, and an on-demand hot water heater (Takagi Industries). We are also looking to replace the old, single glazed windows with insulating windows. The house will be painted with Benjamin-Moore's Pristine, a zero-VOC paint.

Phase II will include even more environmental systems and materials, including active solar hot water panels, photovoltaics, a high efficiency heating system, a greenhouse that will also provide passive heating, gray water irrigation system, and a composting toilet.

The land surrounding the EcoHouse will be cultivated as an extension of the existing Karl Linn Community Garden. The front and back yards will be developed, using permaculture techniques, as aesthetically appealing gardens that are part of the EcoHouse's environmental systems. Entry will be via Peralta, through the Karl Linn Garden, and will be part of the educational experience.

We are seeking individuals and organizations in the community that will join us and help realize this project. Although the EcoHouse has not been widely publicized, many people have already come forward offering time and energy to repair and retrofit. The EcoHouse resident(s) will be knowledgeable about the latest technologies and ecological features, and will serve as a docent for visitors. Since the EcoHouse is located in a residential area, visiting schedules will be coordinated closely with nearby residents.

The EcoHouse has two financial phases. We are currently in the middle of Phase I, where we have gathered a number of small, short-term secured loans from community members who support the project. A total of $240,000 was collected, with many others offering additional loans. The loans were used to purchase and rehabilitate the property. The Northern California Land Trust has agreed to be the title holder for Phase I. During the 18 month period the group will secure non-profit status, and obtain public agency and foundation grants to repay the loans and fully fund this project. We currently seek help in obtaining these grants.

In Phase II the building will be wholly owned, debt-free, by a non-profit organization. Because there will not be high cash-flow from the EcoHouse, it is clear that the project cannot assume mortgages. It will, however, meet operating expenses, taxes and fees. At the beginning of Phase II, estimated to be September of 2000, all loans will be repaid from the grants and donations which have been acquired.

We hope that everyone will join in and help create Berkeley's EcoHouse. We meet Mondays, 5:30 pm, at the Green Resource Center.

If you'd like more information about the Berkeley EcoHouse, call Paul Hickman at 510-486-1909. As the house is not operational, and with respect to the workers, tenants, and neighbors, we ask that people arrange for tours before visiting the house.