Project Overview

GIH: First Net Zero Energy, Zero Combustion House in SoCal
by Robert Fortunato on November 1st, 2012 No Comments »

The Green Idea House is one family’s project to affordably retrofit their house into a net zero energy, zero carbon case study. The building has surpassed all our net zero energy, zero carbon goals, is a joy to be in and won the 2012 Green Leadership Award for Los Angeles County,
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What People are saying about the Green Idea House:
by Robert Fortunato on May 10th, 2010 No Comments »

It has been a long road. We have not made it easy for them. None of us have. Because they were first, because they stepped up, and all reasonable evidence to the contrary, said we should do it. Because Robert and Monica pushed us to do more than we wanted.
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Case Study House
by Robert Fortunato on April 30th, 2010 No Comments »

Our Family is in the process of designing a green showcase home and office in Hermosa Beach, California that has been chosen by Southern California Edison as the cornerstone “case study” for their net zero energy initiative.  Our objective is to create a groundbreaking net zero energy, zero carbon renovation
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Zero the Hero
by Robert Fortunato on April 29th, 2010 No Comments »

In terms of background, California’s Public Utilities Commission has set guidelines that ALL new residential construction will be net zero energy by 2020, and ALL new commercial buildings will be net zero by 2030.
We (and Edison) believe this project can act as a catalyst to change energy policy in the
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Objectives
by Robert Fortunato on April 27th, 2010 No Comments »

We started the project with a system of interdependent objectives that acts as a map and a compass. No project is perfect and this one won’t be either; but being mindful of these objectives keeps us on track when making decisions. We have found that it is particularly
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Project Purpose
by Robert Fortunato on April 26th, 2010 No Comments »

Our main objective in the process of designing, constructing and showcasing this long term case study house is to create the community around the possibility that anyone can and should build with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind.
We are the owners and plan to live in this house indefinitely,
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Space: The Final Frontier
by Robert Fortunato on April 23rd, 2010 No Comments »

The future of our economy and our ecology depend on all of us embracing the opportunities around energy and sustainability.
The next space race is about the space in our buildings and how we will heat and cool them and provide a systemic approach to their construction as well as their
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Partners in Progress
by Robert Fortunato on April 23rd, 2010 No Comments »

Without picking up a hammer, we have already been successful in starting to build that community.
Some of our partners pictured with Congresswoman Jane Harman on her visit to get a briefing on the project.

Location, Location, Location
by Robert Fortunato on April 20th, 2010 No Comments »

This project is in Hermosa Beach, California
Central, Urban Location
10 Minutes South of the Los Angeles International Airport
Walking distance to: Downtown Hermosa Beach, the Pier, the Strand, Restaurants, Shopping, Library, Parks, Greenbelt Walkway and public transport
We received
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Different is Better
by Robert Fortunato on April 10th, 2010 No Comments »

The seven things that make this project different:
Family project – Were not developers, architects, manufacturers or consultants who have something else to sell.  We are only selling the idea that we should all be building
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