Rhonda + Nigel – Escondido, CA

Construction on Rhonda and Nigel’s green home and sustainable farm began in 2010. They wanted a system that could provide enough solar electricity to power all the house’s and farm’s needs, plus charge two electric cars. For an existing home of similar size, that would have easily meant a 12 kW or larger system, but because Rhonda and Nigel’s home was built around energy efficiency, the 8.46 kW system they had Real Goods Solar install was more than enough to keep them energy-independent.

Today, a combination of solar power, geothermal heating and passive solar design (using the sun’s path across the sky to maximize natural light and heat) cleanly and quietly provide all the home’s energy needs while maintaining carbon neutrality. The careful, earth-friendly design and construction have given Rhonda and Nigel the distinction of having one of San Diego County’s first LEED Platinum homes.