Slowing the Meter Down...

A few weeks back, we wrote about the preliminary stages of MYD's photovoltaic installation in Laguna Beach with Revco Solar;  read the introduction to the process and project here.  It has since been inspected and approved by the City, and last week we received the go-ahead from Southern California Edison to turn on the system and saw results almost instantaneously.

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Energy Lab | Solar Structure Gallery

As a follow up to last week's post on The Ecology Center's book, Backyard Skills:  A D.I.Y. Handbook, we're officially sharing our favorite images of this project, taken after the project's completion in the fall of last year;  click on any image to view larger.  Photos by Jimmy Cheng Photography.

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'Backyard Skills: A D.I.Y. Handbook'

The other day, we picked up The Ecology Center's recently published book Backyard Skills: A D.I.Y. Handbook, a collection of projects, infographics, and practices inspired by last year's popular Basic Needs lecture series.  

 Divided into five key topics- energy, shelter, waste, food and water- the book is aimed at getting readers engaged in sustainability, and it does so effectively, with visually compelling graphics and well-composed text that make the prospect of green living accessible and engaging. 

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Look Up!

Though there are many opportunities to implement sustainable design strategies, sometimes the best solutions are those you may not see...

Green roofs have been a topic of numerous previous posts, and MYD advocates the use of these systems for their numerous benefits, including energy conservation, minimized heat island effect, and stormwater management.

However, in addition to vegetated roofs, an increasingly common practice in both new construction and remodels in the residential sector is the installation of photovoltaic systems.  While solar has been around for some time, the last few years have seen a tremendous increase in not only the efficiency of the panels themselves, but also in the feasibility and affordability of renewable energy on this smaller scale.

MYD studio is pleased to have several projects in the works that incorporate PV, and we'll continue to post progress updates as installation moves forward. 

The initial phase of an installation of a 4.725 kW system in Laguna Beach began last week.  Due to the authentic style, material, and detailing of this 1920's hacienda, maintaining the current aesthetic was of key importance.  The location of the photovoltaic array was selected to provide for maximum solar exposure, while being virtually invisible from both the interior and exterior of the home.

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Solar Structure

MYD is excited to develop this unique project with the Ecology Center, a great organization in San Juan Capistrano with a focus on education in sustainable agriculture, ecological design and local heritage.  We'll keep you updated as we move through the design process and towards implementation.

Features include:  photovoltaic panels from SunTrek Solar and LiveRoof modular green roof system.