MALIBU, Calif. — A local property development company and an architectural firm are leading the way in sustainable construction to help reduce carbon emissions and rates of global warming.

What You Need To Know

  • “Zero Two” is said to be among the most sustainably built homes in the country

  • It is the first Southern California home to voluntarily meet the requirements of the Marin County low carbon concrete code

  • Portland cement, the standard cement used in almost all commercial and residential construction, accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions

  • The Paris agreement calls for net zero building by the year 2050

Crown Pointe Estates and Burdge Architects partnered up for the development and construction of the Marisol Zero series in west Malibu. The latest home in the series is called “Zero Two,” a Hawaiian-style home with a 180-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, and said to be among the most sustainably built homes in the country.

Developer Scott Morris said Zero Two is the first Southern California home to voluntarily meet the requirements of the Marin County low carbon concrete code — the strictest sustainable concrete code in the country.

“What that meant for us is that the concrete that we used in this house, it had to be under a certain Portland cement threshold,” Morris said. “Portland cement is one of the most polluting substances by far.”

Addressing the environmental costs of concrete is of utmost importance for the construction industry. Concrete is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to CO2 emissions. According to the global cement and concrete association, Portland cement, the standard cement used in almost all commercial and residential construction, accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions.

“There’s no way for the world to go net zero without addressing construction,” Morris said.  

Zero Two architect, Jennifer Hoppel, said sustainable construction practices are no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

“It matters because the future of all of us, our children, our families is dependent on what we do now,” Hoppel said.

Hoppel said the lesson to be learned from Zero Two, and the entire Marisol Zero series, is these kinds of sustainable adaptations to construction are attainable for all levels of construction, not just for mega-million dollar mansions.

“The Paris climate accords call for net zero building by the year 2050,” Hoppel said. “We are 27 years ahead of the game, but we’re hoping that by 2050, all homes will be built like this as a matter of practice.”