28 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM that use 90% less energy than typical houses and are highly efficient, as well as comfortable and ecologically sound. A recent Palo Alto project taps into the company’s decades of experience in green and healthy building. “This house is much more quiet, comfortable, durable and energy-efficient,” David says. “It also has better indoor air quality than most custom homes built these days.” To achieve that, David’s team installed straw panel walls, cork insulation and plaster wall coverings. “This home will be so quiet and comfortable, you can sit next to the enormous windows on the coldest days and feel fine,” David says. The house uses almost no toxic chemicals in any of its building materials and is nearly airtight. It has a fresh air system that features heavily filtered air to keep the home healthy even on the worst wildfire smoke days. “It’s like being outside on that perfect spring day when the air is fresh, clean and the temperature learning curve. “Our focus was always green building,” he points out. “But then we really started focusing on material health and indoor air quality … zero-energy houses. What we found is that when you focused on health, building efficiency came as a byproduct without added cost.” Being a home builder with a background in biochemistry gives David a unique way of thinking about how to live more sustainably and healthily in our homes. “I want to make sure that whatever time I have on the planet, I use to try to help people,” he explains. Many Earth Bound Homes clients have sensitivity to common allergens, hay fever, asthma or emphysema. “They’re all dramatically helped by airtight houses and air filtration systems,” he says. The Peninsula is where David has raised his three children with his wife Amy, and it’s where Earth Bound Homes has built a number of passive houses. The term refers to homes PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: EARTH BOUND HOMES {punchline}
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