Can This Home Be Greened? Perfect for Her: Improving a Walnut Creek, California, Home

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Judy is tired of her boring walls.
Judy is tired of her boring walls.
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Judy uses her yard to teach others about creating wildlife habitat.
Judy uses her yard to teach others about creating wildlife habitat.
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The hall carpet needs to be replaced.
The hall carpet needs to be replaced.
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Judy Adler loves her California home.
Judy Adler loves her California home.
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Rain barrels water Judy's garden.
Rain barrels water Judy's garden.

When Judy Adler and her family moved into their Walnut Creek, California, home in 1978, it seemed just right. The 2,700 square feet, 4 bedrooms and large yard were perfect for two parents and two growing children. Over the years, Judy created an oasis of native and food-producing plants in the garden; an avid environmental educator, she has shared it with schoolchildren and the community. Her backyard wildlife habitat is widely celebrated, and her garden produces enough food to sell excess.

The children are now grown up, and she is no longer married. Still, Judy doesn’t want to leave her beautiful house and garden. Instead, she wants to demonstrate how sustainable suburban homes can be by making her own house as green as possible.

Judy’s gas and electric bills are already pretty low, staying under $100 per month for most of the year. The house is reasonably well-insulated and has double-pane windows. In winter, Judy dresses warmly, migrates to sunny parts of the house, and prefers a small, efficient space heater to turning on the furnace. In summer, she uses ceiling fans and natural ventilation instead of air-conditioning; deciduous trees and shrubs shade the house. She sun-dries her laundry whenever possible. Most importantly, she enjoys each season–feeling warmer in summer and colder in winter.

Still, the house has some issues.

1. High water use

  • Published on Jan 25, 2010
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