Even in a town known for its creative alternative energy solutions, this San Francisco home stands out. The customers are an alternative energy industry executive, a commercial photographer and their kid, and also the biggest priority was to make a home that was completely self-sustaining — particularly challenging because the home is a 1904 Victorian.

Regardless of the high requirements, principal architect Ross Levy and job builder Karen Anderson of Levy Art & Architecture made a sleek and energy-efficient home that still echoes the structure’s history. Solar panels, radiant heating, water reclamation and a natural garden all unite within an energy-efficient and family-friendly home.

at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their kid
Location: San Francisco
Size: 2,424 square feet

Levy Art + Architecture

Front: The home was constructed in 1904, therefore some structural challenges came together with the renovation. The existing home had many building code violations, and the group needed to work to bring it up to current earthquake standards. In addition they had to maintain the zero energy goal in mind, because it took a smaller architectural footprint. “The tight envelope required for energy efficiency can be challenging when working with old, zero-lot-line walls,” says Levy.

San Francisco is known for its gorgeous Victorian homes, and the family wanted to keep the original facade. While the remainder of the home was constructed and renovated, the facade was stored in place, then restored.

Rear: in a conventional Victorian style, front of the home is composed of several tiny rooms, which initially served as parlors. Levy altered the attention of the home to the back, where the home faces a sunny garden. The front rooms have been then staged as press, entry and study spaces.

Levy and Anderson pictured the backyard as an expansion of the home’s living space, particularly appropriate for San Francisco’s climate. A water reclamation system and onsite rainwater disposal system were created, along with organic vegetable plots. The lawn, which has an Ipe deck and decomposed granite patio, remains open to neighboring backyards for a more open and communal space.

Siding: HardiePlank Lap Siding; rain display: Swisspearl cement composite panels; solar panels: Sunpower

Levy Art + Architecture

The interior glows with natural lighting. Skylights, big windows and energy-efficient LED lighting maintain it bright and open year-round. All the electricity is powered by Sunpower photovoltaic panels.

While Levy Art & Architecture makes sustainability a high priority in all its designs, this residence is the very first all-electric residence the company has put together. It captures solar energy, then retains it using open-cell foam insulation and low-infiltration windows.

Flooring: engineered maple; stair railing and guardrail: habit glass and steel railings by Philip Tiffin, 522 Industries; kitchen cabinets and bar: SieMatic

Levy Art + Architecture

The back of the home consists entirely of open living spaces, including the kitchen, allowing flow of light and atmosphere. Much like the rest of the home, the kitchen was created in a straightforward and efficient style. Custom made closets, Caesarstone counters and glass tile unite in a seamless and contemporary look.

Counters: Caesarstone

Levy Art + Architecture

Levy and Anderson had the kitchen cabinets custom made with nonformaldehyde plywood. The glass tiles and the countertops are made with recycled materials and also have low VOC content.

Levy Art + Architecture

The glass and steel stairwell connects all of the levels throughout the center of the home. Large windows and skylights let natural light into every open floor — sunlight from the roof really reaches all of the way down into the cellar level.

Windows: Marvin Windows and Doors; skylights: Velux

Levy Art + Architecture

The bathrooms use recycled materials and have plenty of natural lighting throughout the skylights and inside windows to cut back on electricity requirements. Water-saving fixtures and low-flow showerheads were also installed.

Levy Art + Architecture

The bedrooms — still waiting to be supplied when these photographs were taken — overlook the patio and garden plots in the backyard. Large windows and a balcony finish the connection between the indoors and the outside, something very important to the family.

Levy Art + Architecture

The house’s hot water is generated from a high-efficiency electrical water heater from General Electric. It’s a hybrid that is a relatively new layout and contributes to the house’s radiant heating system.

Levy Art + Architecture

“The combination of the new and old is average when we work in a historic town,” says Levy. “While most of us enjoy the urban fabric that is San Francisco, few people want to reside in little and dark rooms. The 2 faces of the home simply signify this.”

Levy Art + Architecture

Here’s a glimpse of the house’s electrical system. Solar panels on the roof have been oriented to the east and to the west, which means that energy production is possible from sunrise to sunset. A main electrical panel in the cellar of the home distributes electricity to the rest of the home and allows for a charging station for the couple’s two electrical cars.

Levy Art + Architecture

The radiant heating system allows for a temperature-controlled environment without the use of electricity. A heat pump onto the roof of the home extracts hot air from the roof to warm water, and water tanks under the home also heat water.

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