Eco Inspo in a Remodel

As you step in the front door of Nancy Barasch’s three-bedroom home, the feel is light and airy, thanks to now-lofty ceilings and well-placed windows. “We didn’t originally plan to raise the ceiling,” she says. “But when we opened it up, there was so much space there.” In addition to giving the living and dining area a more spacious feel, there was another surprise. “I was very excited to see the beautiful original wood rafters, and wanted to reuse as much as possible,” Nancy says. The front door, as well as two outdoor garden gates, are crafted from the reclaimed wood.

When Nancy set out to remodel her newly purchased 1940s-era Santa Barbara home, she was determined to incorporate as many eco-friendly elements as she could, both inside and outdoors. A former telecommunications executive who now works as a teacher, freelance photographer, and photography instructor, Nancy has long been environmentally aware. “I wanted to do as much as I could afford to be eco-minded and do my part,” she says. “I feel like every little bit helps.” 

She teamed up with Hanne Burdick of Santa Barbara–based Studio 1030 Architects and general building contractor Richard G. Heimberg to take the house down to the studs and rebuild it. With additional design help from her friend Joanie Saint Denis, the entire project, completed in 2022, took just under a year from start to move-in.

Let the Sunshine In 

What started as a minimal traditional ranch is now a custom contemporary with many current-day advances. Harnessing the power of the sun for electricity was important to Nancy, so rooftop solar panels and a storage battery were key components in the rebuild. As prices have come down from the early days of solar, it has become an attractive option for many homeowners, especially in our sun-soaked area. A bonus: Federal and state Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for solar and other qualified energy-efficient strategies can make solar a smart long-term investment that’s also good for the environment.

Peace of mind is an additional perk. “When the power goes out, I usually don’t know about it,” Nancy says, “because the battery automatically kicks in to start powering the house.” 

Bringing in the sun are two strategically placed skylights, reducing energy for heating, cooling, and yes, lighting. The old adage of “location, location, location” could easily be applied to the placement and orientation of skylights for passive solar heating potential. Nancy’s skylight in a closet is south-facing, and thus delivers the greatest potential for winter warming, while one in a bathroom is west-facing with afternoon sunlight and heat gain. In general, skylights on north-facing roofs provide fairly constant but gentle sunlight, while those on east-facing roofs bring maximum morning light and solar heat gain. On the flip side, installing skylights in the shade of deciduous trees or adding an inside or outside movable shade helps keep the home cool and comfortable in the warmer months.

Additional environmentally minded elements in Nancy’s home include energy-efficient windows and doors, an attic fan to help regulate temperature and improve air circulation, an on-demand water heater, and spray foam insulation, which creates a tight thermal envelope by conforming to fill areas where it’s applied. 

See Keeping Your Cool (or Heat) for passive energy-saving tips.

Outdoor Living

In true California style, the home’s indoor space flows seamlessly to the outdoors, with a backyard patio and an outdoor kitchen, including a sink, refrigerator, and built-in barbecue that make entertaining a breeze. 

The surrounding garden is a beehive of activity, though Nancy doesn’t actually keep hives. Her goals included the creation of a pollinator-friendly habitat, a concept that has been blossoming in recent years as homeowners are increasingly aware of factors such as habitat loss and pesticide use, which have a detrimental effect on bee populations. “I love being outside, seeing hummingbirds and butterflies, and hearing the bees buzzing around,” she says. 

Among the plants that fit the bill here are achillea “moonshine” yarrow; salvia varieties including waverly, hotlips, mystic spires, and chiapensis; and Walker’s low nepeta. The ground cover between the stepping stones is dense, lush dymondia margaretae (silver carpet), which softens the look and provides daisy-like yellow spring flowers beloved by bees. 

Nancy also looked for drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants when planning her garden. Even though the Santa Barbara area has benefitted from a couple of robust rainy seasons in a row, homeowners like Nancy are still aware that long periods without rain are common. “We really gave a lot of thought to what we put in the ground,” she says. Many of the plants she chose are on the city’s list of water-wise lawn alternatives. 

Throughout the landscaping process, Nancy tried to repurpose as much as possible.  Case in point: Carefully placed boulders were salvaged from a neighbor’s landscape project and add to the natural look. She kept some of the home’s original trees and plants, such as roses, which are moderate drinkers. A mix of old and new fruit trees include apple, fig, lemon, tangerine, orange, and pomegranate. The newly planted trees take about six months to get established and well rooted, after which they can adapt to occasional irrigation. In addition to the bounty from her fruit trees, Nancy harvests veggies and herbs from her raised garden beds. 

Nancy considered a wide range of eco-conscious options as she updated both the garden and inside her home. And she notes that journey isn't finished, describing her home and garden as an ever-evolving work in progress. “I’m thinking of converting to an electric stovetop,” she says. “There’s always more I want to do.”

It's a Tankless Job: Nancy is a huge fan of her tankless water heater, which delivers piping hot water on the spot. Also known as a demand-type or instantaneous water heater, it provides hot water only as needed, thereby eliminating the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters. Depending on your water usage, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a tankless water heater can use up to 34% less energy. The less water you use, the more an on-demand water heater makes sense.