The Da Camera Society of Mount St. Mary’s College brings Ray Kappe’s Roachdale LivingHome to life with the acoustical styling of L.A. Philharmonic of cellist, Peter Stumpf. The solo cello program will feature twentieth-century masterworks by Dutilleux and Britten. Tickets for the two April 10th performances are available online now HERE.

The current schedule:

To attend the event nearest you, please RSVP online. For more information or to request a speaking tour with Steve Glenn for your organization, please contact info@livinghomes.net.

LivingHome’s KTLH1.5 house received top honors this month when the Green Dot Awards announced their recipients for 2009.    The KTLH1.5 LivingHome had the distinction of earning TWO awards, taking 1st place in the Design category and 2nd place in the Build category.  Designed to a LEED Platinum rating, the KTLH1.5 reflects LivingHome’s Z6 Sustainable Building Goals which outline 6 key objectives that we strive to achieve in both the construction and operation of each of our LivingHomes: Zero Water, Zero Energy, Zero Waste, Zero Emissions, Zero Carbon and Zero Ignorance.  This LivingHome was recently installed in Newport Beach, and will likely be the first LEED Platinum home in Orange County.

The Green Dot Award is an annual, international award competition that recognizes businesses, entrepreneurs, designers, and innovators that are focused on creating projects, products and services that honor the environment.  This year’s Green Dot Awards received over 500 entries from 25 countries for 8 different categories: transportation, design, build, products, services, entertainment + culture, other entries, and concept category. We’re totally honored that we were recognized this year – twice!  Go Team!

Heating water with the sun saves gas and power bills.  Consistent with LivingHomes’ Z6 goals, a solar water heater helps reach “Zero Energy”.

Not only do conventional heaters use energy, they pollute.  In a typical home, 30% of CO2 emissions result from hot water heating.  A solar hot water system can reduce the CO2 footprint of a home as much as planting 200 trees!  So, adding a solar water heater also contributes to LivingHomes’ “Zero Carbon” goal.

Here’s how we heat a LivingHome with a solar hot water heater. A solar collector absorbs thermal energy from the sun and converts it into usable heat.  Heat pipes conduct the thermal energy up to the header.  Water in the header absorbs this heat and is used for the home’s hot water and radiant floor heating.

The Apricus Solar Collector features reliable, efficient twin-glass evacuated tubes, copper heat pipes, simple installation and maintenance, a stainless steel frame and aluminum casing.  There are a few other terms you should know about solar water collectors.

Twin-glass evacuated tubes. Evacuated tubes absorb thermal energy into the collector. The “twin-glass” tube is reliable, high performance, and cost-effective.

Heat pipe. A heat pipe within the evacuated tubes absorbs the heat.  Liquid inside the pipe turns to vapor and rises to the top, where heat transfer occurs.  The condensed liquid there then falls back to the bottom of the pipe, where the cycle repeats.

Insolation. Insolation is the amount of sunlight falling on the earth in a particular location.  Your regional insolation and energy requirements determine the proper size collector for your home.  The higher your local insolation, the smaller system necessary.  Determine your local insolation.

Finally, if you’re considering including a solar water heater in your new home or upcoming renovation, you may qualify for federal tax credits covering 30% of the heater’s cost.  EnergyStar.gov hosts a list of all Energy Star certified solar water heaters. Visit here for information on federal tax credits for energy efficiency home improvements. And don’t forget to add a solar water heater in the HVAC category when you customize your LivingHome on our online configurator.

Sources: Apricus

LivingHomes CEO Steve Glenn with Interface CEO Ray Anderson. (Photo: Siel)

Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface, spoke at the LivingHome in Santa Monica last night.  He discussed sustainable business and signed copies of his new book, Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose—Doing Business by Respecting the Earth.

Siel Ju wrote about the event for the mother nature network.  Read it here.

	“LivingHomes Now Available Nationally!” by Preston Koerner
	“For home seekers looking to build: two new prefab options” by Tracey Taylor
	“LivingHomes Retools for Lower Prices, Wider Distribution” by Lloyd Alter.
	“LivingHomes Announces National Availability of Ray Kappe’s Green Prefabs” by Evelyn Lee.

To see all recent news about LivingHomes, visit our press page.

The current schedule:

To attend the event nearest you, please RSVP online. For more information or to request a speaking tour with Steve Glenn for your organization, please contact info@livinghomes.net.

The Wood-Framed Ray Kappe LivingHomes

Now all Ray Kappe LivingHomes are available with wood framing.  Ray Kappe, FAIA, is one of the most respected modern residential architects.  He started the Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc), and has designed over a dozen LivingHomes.  Wood is cheaper than steel so we are able to offer these LivingHomes for less cost.  Read on…

RK6: The Latest Ray Kappe LivingHome

Introducing the newest member of the Ray Kappe family of LivingHomes.  The four-module RK6 offers an efficient floorplan with three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a flexible bonus room, and dramatic double height space.  Like its siblings, this standard model features an open floorplan, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and an extensive environmental program.  Read on…