Straw Bale, Solar Home in the City
(Page 4 of 4)
June/July 2005
By Catherine Wanek
Planting Seeds
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Kristin teaches environmental studies at De Anza Community College in Cupertino, Calif., and her students visit the house to experience its eco-friendly features. Mark teaches the same subject there, but on a part-time basis; he works full time as an environmental engineer. The Sullivans also open their home to monthly tours. “We’re planting seeds,” Mark says. The Sullivans’ experience has made them local green building authorities. Kristin now is an environmental commissioner for Capitola, and she serves on several environmental committees at De Anza College.
The Sullivans walk their talk in other ways, too. When they need to, they hit the road in hybrid cars — Kristin drives a Honda Insight (about 60 miles per gallon), and Mark drives a Toyota Prius (about 50 mpg). They also buy their produce from a local all-organic farmer’s market and belong to a community-supported agriculture co-op in nearby Watsonville. “Part of being a leader is showing change is possible,” Kristin says. “It’s not about perfection; I tell my students it’s the things you do 90 percent of the time that matter.”
Kristin describes the semester’s final assignment for her students — a 10-year environmental action plan. “Some say ‘I want to build a passive solar straw bale home within 10 years.’ It gives you hope.”
Author and photographer Catherine Wanek has been at the forefront of the straw-bale building movement for more than a decade.
For a closer look at this home design, and to consider building something similar, check out our Solar in the City study plan.
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