Julie Solomon may not have set out to buy a house, much less start a sustainable living nonprofit, but when a certain 1914 home in Echo Park’s hilly Elysian Heights appeared in her sights, the magic was set in motion. She was determined to rescue the house from demolition, preserve its rich history and do it all with her environmental footprint at the fore.

When I walked onto Solomon’s property it was just as she described, like “walking back in time.” Canopy of trees. Clusters of amaryllis. Cobblestone walkway. Hitching post for horses. Old stone outdoor oven. Silence above Sunset Boulevard. This place is truly infused with a sense of the magical.

She renovated her home (a huge job, what with the mold, the cat urine-soaked carpet and the family of raccoons nesting in the crawl space), with eco-preservation in mind. As documented on the Planet Green show, Greenovate, Solomon didn’t just go with the newest, greenest design, she also got creative. Beyond a dual flush loo, zero-VOC paints, a Vetrazzo recycled glass countertop and Energy Star appliances, much of her remodel was done using existing materials: she unearthed buried wood flooring, weatherized the home’s current windows and bought eco-furnishings from thrifty stores around town.

Then neighbors and friends took note, dubbing it “the green beacon,” a veritable lighthouse illuminating the way remodeling can be done for all those Angelenos who just bought fixer-uppers.

Now Green Beacon status is official. Solomon’s property serves as a non-profit and demonstration house to inspire and a space for on-going eco-workshops where consultants from around the city “teach people the basics of going green in their homes in a setting where they can see it in action.” A much-needed presence for we environmentally-minded Eastsiders.

Upcoming May workshops include “Treat Yourself: Medicinal Tea Container Design” on May 7^th and “Feng Shui in May: Learn the Ancient Art of Living in Harmony with Nature” on May 9^th.

Pick up the signal on upcoming events and happenings at www.greenbeacon.org.

Tags: environment los angeles, green beacon, green beacon foundation, green demonstration home los angeles, green echo park, green elysian park, Green LA, Green Living In L.A., sustainable living los angeles, sustainable workshops los angeles