Frank’s Tiburon Home

ABOUT THE HOUSE: This home is technically a renovation (originally built in 1971), but it is nearly entirely new construction. It consists of a home on the top floor, with an apartment underneath. They host house concerts in the great room - 20+ in 5-8 years.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

• Rooftop Solar by Sun Power, ~14 KW peak, 24 MW-hrs production per year

• Storage batteries/backup system by Tesla Power Wall (4x). Frank participates in “Virtual Power Plant” program, which pays him to draw power from his batteries on days when demand on the grid is high (e.g. hot days). When a program like this can draw power from thousands of customers, it relieves the need for gas-powered peaker plants.

• LED lighting throughout

• Insulation and leak sealing

• Double-paned windows

• Passive solar design in great room, which is surrounded by windows. Porch overhang prevents the sun from heating up the great room in summer, but allows it to enter in the winter when its angle changes.

ELECTRIFICATION:

• EV charging Tesla Charger 220VAC up to 90 Amps

• Heat pump HVAC - ducted system

WATER CONSERVATION:

• AI Continuous Water Monitoring System with shutdown if leak detected.

• Rainwater catchment system - with two large cisterns under deck – allow them to stay Tier 1 water users throughout the year. 

• Oto watering robots are programmed to deliver irrigation in a targeted way on a steep planted slope.

• Low-flow fixtures in the bathrooms: shower, toilet, faucets.

LANDSCAPE:

• Native plants – gardens designed to be lush but draught tolerant

• Food production - figs, plums, cherries, berries

OTHER RESOURCES: Frank uses apps to track and fine-tune both energy and water systems.