Modern Green Homes and Luxury Real Estate in Marin County: A Lasting Trend

Real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area has been distinguished by its contemporary, sophisticated architecture since the 1950s, and current renowned architects and designers are continuing this trend. Suzanne Tucker of Tucker & Marks, honored by Architectural Digest as one of the top ten designers in the world, is just one example of those making a lasting significant mark in modern Marin real estate.

Whether overlooking the San Francisco Bay or nestled in the hills and open spaces, Marin County has exquisitely designed modern homes in exclusive communities.  Offering stunning views, these homes are designed to take advantage of the beautiful landscape in every season. New windows in these modern homes are actually one of the most popular green upgrades. Double-paned, energy efficient windows lose nothing of the view but help minimize the home’s impact on the environment. Other ways that modern real estate in Marin County integrates green living include:

• Elegant overhangs to shade windows and patios, reducing energy usage
• Water efficient fixtures with modern design and conscientious water usage
• Ventilation solutions to exchange indoor and outdoor air without sacrificing energy

Luxury Real Estate in Marin County Uses Ultra-Modern Green Methods

There is plenty of beautiful state-of-the-art alternative construction in Marin County’s luxury real estate market. These ultra-modern homes set the standard for the contemporary green renaissance, and are built to the Bay Area’s high expectations for luxury real estate in California.

Modern green living in the Bay Area also extends to the outside of its sophisticated homes. Many Marin residents have left landscaping behind for the eco-friendly alternative of “plantscaping.” Plantscaping uses green living principles in the landscaping around a home:

• Taking into consideration the unique seasons of the Bay Area to choose plants that look beautiful year-round but have less water needs
• Integrating rain barrels as a design statement
• Leaving space for homeowners who like to garden to add edible plants to the area surrounding their new home

Modern Properties Listed in Marin that Exemplify Environmentally-Friendly, yet Luxurious, Home Designs

This home at 80 Century Drive in Mill Valley  is an architecturally stunning Contemporary/Modern Bay front home with high ceilings and window walls for San Francisco views and Sausalito glittering lights. This spacious and elegant home has approximately 6,130 square feet, 4 bedrooms with en suite baths, access to the Bay and close access to the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco for an easy commute.

And, this sunny, modern sustainable property in Mill Valley was created by architect Francis Gough with 9ft. to 11ft. ceilings, a wall of rolling glass doors which borrows space from the outdoors to give a tree house feeling. This gorgeous home was completed in 2008 by award winning builder with close proximity to town and some of the best schools in all of California. The 2,500 sq. ft., 2-story home features 3-bedrooms (plus home theatre room could be 4th), a private view office which overlooks a private and peaceful wooded glen (it also has an entry door that is cleverly disguised as a swingaway bookcase), 4-bathrooms, and all in a modern-style with many, wonderful green features.

The communities in Marin make it easy to embrace green living even beyond architecture and landscaping. Locally sourced, organic food is available at grocers and farmers markets throughout the area year-round. Marin small businesses make green living a priority, using the same sustainable materials in their shops and offices as are used in area homes while recycling and preventing pollution wherever possible.

Marin’s green credibility even influences its outstanding schools, which take pride in teaching students the virtues of community involvement and undertake green initiatives, like supporting organic, locally grown food and building school additions with sustainable features to meet the needs of students and the environment.

If you are looking for an extraordinary modern home in Marin, San Francisco or the Bay Area- whether for entertaining guests or raising a family – contact Anna Boucher today.

A Wild Night: Benefit for Wild Aid

WildAid works with government agencies around the globe to end the illegal wildlife trade. Through its network of celebrity and athlete ambassadors, WildAid also raises public awareness of the issues. Although much of the illegal wildlife trade that WildAid works to stop occurs worlds away from the luxury real estate market in San Francisco, WildAid – and Anna Pennington Boucher – firmly believe that every person, no matter where they live, can make a difference in the effort to stop needless animal suffering.

As part of its outreach efforts, WildAid will be hosting a benefit in San Francisco the evening of May 11. This year’s event is called A Wild Night: Benefit for WildAid, and will be an evening of entertainment and activities to raise funds for WildAid’s cause. The benefit, a who’s who of Bay Area business leaders and philanthropists, will include edibles by local chefs made from local and sustainable ingredients, premium cocktails, a live music performance, dancing, and interactive exhibits. WildAid will be honoring James H. Clark and Google Earth for their contributions towards supporting programs that minimize the human threat to wildlife all over the world. Anna Pennington Boucher is looking forward to this year’s event and invites you to consider attending the benefit or making a contribution in support of a good cause.

A Wild Night: Benefit for Wild Aid

At the Terra Gallery, San Francisco

Friday, May 11, 2012 8:30 PM to

Saturday, May 12, 2012 2:00 AM

About Anna’s Involvement

Anna Pennington Boucher has specialized in luxury real estate in Northern California for over thirty years and is committed to making a positive difference for animals and the environment. One way she does this is by contributing up to 20% of her commission in the name of the seller’s chosen non-profit charity or organization at the close of escrow. She also created a Facebook page dedicated to saving endangered animals and to fight against euthanization shelters, Out of Sight Out of Mind.

If you have any questions about WildAid, Out of Sight Out of Mind, or green luxury real estate in Marin County, please contact Anna directly at (415) 860-1399.

What Is a Green Home?

Green homes are becoming the standard for new buildings and many previously built homes are being retrofitted to improve their “green” credentials and meet the changing standards of luxury home buyers. Green homes are built or renovated with methods and materials that minimize waste and environmental impact. These methods focus on energy efficiency and sustainable design, using less water, less electricity, and fewer harmful materials like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly found in wood stains, paint, and other building materials. Architects and consultants who create and update green homes incorporate these environmentally friendly principles from the beginning of the process to last throughout the property’s life.

What’s Different about Green Homes?

In many cases, modern green homes look no different than a traditionally built home, especially in Marin County and the Greater Bay Area where eco-friendly decisions are a way of life. Simple exchanges like using Energy Star appliances and no-formaldehyde building materials make an enormous difference in the quality and cost of living and are better for the environment, but do not change the appearance of a home. Many environmentally conscious homes incorporate modest sustainable principles such as:

• Rainwater collection for landscaping
• Double-pane, low-energy windows
• CFL and LED lighting
• Reclaimed glass and wood accents

All of these changes are indistinguishable from their traditional counterparts, so it is possible to live green without installing solar panels or complicated geothermal systems. These small changes are also made to existing buildings, sometimes called “green enhancements.”  A home does not have to be certified green to be more environmentally conscious than the alternative, but there are “green” home certification programs, such as the national LEED certification program from the US Green Building Council or the GreenPoint Rating from Build It Green in California.

Are There Benefits to Green Homes?

As green living increases in popularity and green building technology improves at a rapid pace, the benefits of green homes are becoming widely recognized.

• Green homes are better for the environment, with less waste and better use of resources.
• Green homes have better indoor air quality, which is healthier for families.
• Green homes have lower continuing energy costs – a 25% reduction is common.
• Green homes use high quality materials specifically designed for the space which are more dependable and last longer than traditional materials.

Green real estate keeps the family and the environment in mind, attending to the comfort of one while balancing the needs of the other. World Class Properties is doing its part to be an environmentally friendly real estate agency in Marin, listing luxury properties for sale that will help lead the way to a more sustainable, green world without compromising on modern standards of living. To list or gain access to the very best green homes in Marin County and the Greater Bay Area with timeliness and discretion assured, call Anna Pennington Boucher directly at (415) 860-1399.

To contact Anna directly, please use our contact page.

Thanks for visiting!