Green Prefabs

It’s getting easier all the time to go green. Latest example: Living Homes, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based developer of prefab homes, has just introduced three prefabricated, LEED-certified homes, making it first company in the country to offer these types of green-certified residences to consumers. The homes – two designed by architect Ray Kappe and one by architect David Hertz – are built in a factory, delivered to a site to be erected in a matter of hours, and are designed to achieve at least a silver accreditation by LEED for Homes (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green rating program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

RK1, the first prefab home designed by Ray Kappe, is a five-bedroom, two-story, 3,100-square foot home suitable for urban infill lots. RK2, the second Ray Kappe home, is a narrow one-story structure that is engineered to accommodate a second story at a later date, making it ideal for a second or vacation home. DH1, the David Hertz home, is an L-shaped design with open living spaces, raised ceilings, a series of balconies, a rooftop garden and a semi-private courtyard. It, too, is designed to expand, with plug-and-play pieces, from 2,200 to 2,600 square feet.

All homes feature energy-efficient and water-conservation design, and are built with recycled-content materials, certified wood and non-toxic finishes. Rooftop solar, solar water heating, water reclamation and home automation systems are available as options. Prices range from $215 to $250 per square foot. For more information: www.livinghomes.net or 310-581-8500.