UUSM member John Zinner would like to share the California Wildfire Rebuilding Guide, a resource developed by the U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC California) to help homeowners and professionals rebuild “with resilience, sustainability, and safety in mind” after January’s Los Angeles area wildfires. It is offered as part of USGBC California’s Wildfire Defense Rebuilding Recovery and Support Resources. Their theme: Together, we will rebuild.
Open a PDF of the Rebuilding Guide HERE
John contributed to the Guide as a pro bono peer reviewer. He’s a sustainability and green building consultant, LEED Fellow, former USGBC California Board Member, and a graduate of Palisades High School.
A UUSM member since around 2008, John is currently a member of the Leadership Development and Nominations Committee and the Policies Task Force. He is also the former co-chair of the Facilities Development and Maintenance Committee. He considers himself lucky that their Santa Monica neighborhood was only warned to be ready to evacuate on short notice, as were many other UUSM members.
The Rebuilding Guide was created for homeowners, designers, and contractors. In collaboration with Arup, “a global collection of designers, engineers and technical experts,” using “imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a more sustainable world,” the Guide includes informative sections on:
- Key Concepts & FAQs
- Building Placement on the existing site
- Envelope Design: The building’s exterior shell: Roofs, screens/vents, exterior walls, windows
- Outdoors: Landscaping, irrigation, decks/patios, fences, driveways/gates, maintencance
- Building Systems: HVAC, back-up power, solar
- Green Innovation: Natural materials, pre-fabricated approaches
- Community Considerations: Resilient communities, trauma-informed approaches, managing fire together, shared purchasing power, share energy reliance
