We are now underway on the Tankhouse Project, restoring a 1930’s era two-story farmhouse in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

It’s an ambitious project that integrates numerous layers of green: Technology, education, history, sustainability and family. The house has been home to four generations.  Now, in these uncertain economic times, the family faces some very difficult decisions.  Do they sell the house knowing almost certainly this will mean the destruction of the home.  Can they afford to fix up the house and stay in it?

From an energy perspective, the house has a few problems. Single pane wood windows, poor insulation, old appliances, lighting and wiring. From an aesthetic point of view, it just looks like hell.  It is sided with cedar shingles that to my knowledge, have never been painted. We put a roof on it several years ago, because the existing shingle version was leaking in at least fifty places. Most people would probably take one look at the house and say it probably isn’t worth saving.

But I have a different perspective.  My grandfather and great grandfather built the house. My mom grew up in the house and still lives there with my dad.  And I grew up in the house too.  Everyone that has ever visited, over the long history of the home, comes away feeling as though the house itself has welcomed them in.

Over the years, as my parents have grown older, we’ve struggled with what to do. We’ve considered a number of possibilities but have never made a final decision.

A little over three years ago, I came up with the idea of using the restoration of the house as focal point of a TV show. We could highlight green materials and systems while at the same time telling the story of the history of the home.  We had the know-how, but had no idea of how we would pay for it.

My interest in energy efficient construction and education, has taken me to a lot of trade shows and seminars.  Sometimes the people you meet at these events call you up and ask you if you want to know more. So one day I got a call from Cathi McDade who works for Owens Corning and she told me about a new insulation system they had.  I told her about my Tankhouse idea.  And she said, she would like to know more.

Cathi came down to Reedley and looked at the project and offered to help. It’s because of her that the idea is now becoming a reality. The goal is not to just restore the house, but to make it “energy net positive,” a house that actually makes more energy than it consumes. The goal is to transform the house from a perfect example of inefficiency into a shining beacon of energy efficiency and comfort. The goal is to save the family house and to do it all while providing solid information about a variety of energy efficient materials and systems.

A lot of people have advised me not to invest so much time and money in this big old house. But for me, it turns out to be one of those things that really is worth saving.

–Mark Alvis