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One of the pleasures of talking with Eric Corey Freed, architect and author of Green Building for Dummies, is that he has a lot of ideas to share with homeowners about how to start saving money by saving water and energy at home.

He starts with this water recipe: insert an empty two-liter soda bottle in your toilet tank, and you will save half a gallon of water with every flush. Replace your shower head with an ultra low flow fixture, and it will reduce the flow of water to about a gallon per minute. Since 50 percent of indoor water use is in the bathroom, those are simple—and big—and meaningful changes to the water bill.

Energy? Eric advises everyone to get a programmable thermostat, because it will pay for itself in energy savings in a few months. If the notion of having to learn how to program it sounds alarming, not to worry: most new programmable thermostats have pre-programmed settings that will provide energy efficiency and comfort in your living environment.

Caulking around windows makes them more airtight and keeps the heat inside the house. Eric is a big fan of insulation: “It’s like chocolate; the more of it the better”, and reminds homeowners to think about the attic insulation as much as they do their walls.

Finally, he asks that homeowners just ask the question, “How healthy is this material/product/appliance?” before making a purchase to improve the quality of their home, its air and energy use.

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The Real Story spent time with Organic Architect’s Eric Corey Freed at West Coast Green in San Francisco. Among Eric’s thoughts for the future of cities is that, when they consider how long buildings are going to be a part of their cityscape, they might want to get even more involved in the development business. He says that just as cities evolve block and block, there is a lot more to creating a diverse streetscape than just looking at exterior facades and building heights.

He also talks today about looking at the practice of architecture in a different way—he is currently working on a spectrum of projects as diverse as a private kitchen remodel and a master plan for affordable housing in Southern California. What drives his decisions about his practice? He is sticking, more and more, to doing only what he likes and is good at. He tells The Real Story that he used to have staff that did the production end of architecture; now he gets into projects as the designer or the design consultant, and collaborates with other firms to get the construction drawings complete. Eric espouses collaboration as a way to come into contact with different and interesting people, expanding the idea of diversity from an abstract concept in architecture to a measure of the richness of one’s work and one’s own life.

Both of our Bay Area zoos will host spooktacular activities this weekend, fitting family activities for Halloween. It’s all not-too-scary and fun, educational diversions from all the sweets. Rubber masks should be avoided, as they may frighten the animals. Both events will run Saturday and Sunday from 10 until 4.

The San Francisco Zoo’s version invites visitors to trick or treat throughout the zoo. Activities include a Haunted Nature Trail, the Rainforest Maze adventure, puppets, stories and scary crafts. Check the zoo’s web site for a schedule of activities.

Across the Bay at the Oakland Zoo, you can ride the spooky boo train—free to kids in costumes. On Sunday, FedEx and Safe Kids is sponsoring a kids safety expo with treats.

For a full range of other out-of-the-ordinary, safe and educational Halloween activities for all ages, check out www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com.

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The Real Story is talking this week to Eric Corey Freed <organicarchitect.com>, architect and author. Today, Eric talks about the backlash that comes with change, particularly changes in the way California approaches building its homes and commercial buildings. He reminds us that in 1978, when Title 24 became law, low-flow shower heads and water-conserving toilets were considered revolutionary ideas. Yet the long-term benefits to homeowners of Title 24, with its dual-paned windows and insulation standards as well as its water-saving measures, have made homes more comfortable and less expensive to heat and cool.

In January, a new building code goes into effect, called Cal Green (http://www.bsc.ca.gov/ or http://www.californiagreensolutions.com). The code was introduced in 2008 for voluntary compliance, and becomes mandatory in 2011. The new code was created to decrease waste, reduce energy and conserve resources.

Finally, Eric weighs in on the fight to defeat Prop 23, which has been set in place to overturn existing California law, AB 32. This is the proposition, backed by big oil and coal, that effectively seeks to shut down AB 32’s goal of creating net-zero homes by 2020 and commercial buildings by 2030. In its language, it asks that AB 32 only be put in place after California sees an enormous reduction in its unemployment—down to 5.5 percent–and demonstrates that it is sustainable over four consecutive quarters. Eric points out that California has only seen these kinds of numbers ONCE in the last 30 years, and reminds us that what looks like benign campaign language has a much deeper meaning.

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Eric Corey Freed, the owner of the well-named firm Organic Architect and author of Green Building for Dummies, doesn’t think the tipping point for green building is still in our future. In fact, he knows that it has already happened—back in 2003, when green buildings were first analyzed not just for their cost to build, but also for their long-term operational cost.

According to Eric, we’ve got it all wrong when we focus on the upfront construction costs because they represent the transactional side of building—and keep the conversation focused on materials. What we ought to be looking at, he says, is the long view—the way buildings built with green principals operate and feel, as living and working spaces.

Eric wants us to forget the idea that any architectural sin can be committed as long as we “slap on some solar panels” as mitigation. He wants to pursue a conversation about building smaller, smarter homes with rooms that have multiple uses as the day turns into night: bedrooms with daytime uses, laundry rooms that serve other needs for space and the like. Built-in flexibility, so that rooms get used and then repurposed as a family’s needs change.

A few months ago, The Real Story covered the pop-up dining/retail craze sweeping the Bay Area. We’ve recently come across a pop-up-grows-up concept that has turned a vacant lot near I-80 in Hercules into a thriving casual retail center and community gathering place called Market Hall.

Market Hall’s 6.5-acre site will eventually become the Town Center/Transit Hub for Hercules, a development that has been under discussion for at least ten years. The concept, which opened last May, allows the City and the developer, Red Barn Co., to create various amenities and activities for the community and observe their response.

“We see it as an appetizer plate of the new Town Center,” said Tom Weigel, founding partner of Red Barn Co. “It gives people a taste of what’s ahead, and allows us to observe how they interact with various options for a community center, dining, entertainment and events prior to construction of the permanent development.”

For the people of Hercules, it makes good a promise of retail with an experience that seems organic to the setting. Shops and cafes are set up in refurbished shipping containers and silver Airstream trailers. The market canopy provides shelter for produce vendors and food trucks. Landscaping is largely in containers, many of which are repurposed tubs and barrels. It all has a temporary, slightly funky, homespun, enjoy-it-while-it’s-here kind of feel.

Current retail options include Farmers Market, food vendors, a local coffee roaster (with drive-through window!), and retail shops selling apparel, garden items, artworks, accessories and toys.  This month, the City hosts a Pumpkin Patch on the site, and there is a full schedule of events such as Children’s Story Time and Movie Nights.

Complementing the retail and food concessions are places to gather: an outdoor fireplace with Adirondack chairs, a WiFi area, large communal picnic tables, sitting and play areas and bocce courts.

On a recent Friday-afternoon visit, The Real Story enjoyed a $1.25 grilled chicken taco, a $1.80 cup of dark roast, a conversation with a local mom, and a good long browse through the accessories shop. All delicious.

Photo courtesy of Red Barn Co.