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I am only slightly familiar with the criteria for LEED ratings, but shouldn't the size of the house play a role regarding its environmental impact?

I mean 4,600 sg ft? That's huge! It is almost 4x the size of my house. How much MORE "green" stuff went into (re)building this house than say a 1,500 sg ft house?

It is REDUCE, reuse, then recycle...

"I am only slightly familiar with the criteria for LEED ratings, but shouldn't the size of the house play a role regarding its environmental impact?"

Yes Robby - as the house gets larger, more LEED points are necessary to achieve each grading level than a smaller structure would require for the same grade.

Why does anyone need a 4,600 sq ft home?

I think the sad point made by this house is that only those who can afford to build a 4600 sq ft house can afford to meet LEED certification.

Unless there is a huge family living in that house I would not call this a green home in anyway shape or form. By the looks of it I would say maybe 4 people live there. More points or not for a larger house does not make it a green house to me. To much space for to few people should have a negitive effect on the points.

methinks there's a difference between "green: using materials and techniques which are green" and "green: building domiciles that encourage a sustainably-focused way of life"... this house exemplifies the former, but potentially fails at the latter. yep, it's "off the grid" (at least in the summer), but as others have said, at 4600sf... hmmm.

the builder has justified it though the reasoning that that's the verve of the area (huge homes)... but is the mansion-mindset inherently non-green? just because you can afford it, do you have to build it? you might be able to afford your choices, but can the planet? are these (monster homes with recycled denim insulation) what w want to call a milestone?

i've got a loooong way to go in my own life, but i'm not throwing "green housewarming parties" either in a 4600sf home...

4600 sf would require a lot of furniture for my large family- I wonder how much of it is vintage (the greenest) and bought locally without being shipped around the country (or world) by fossil fuel guzzling ships/planes/trucks etc. What is the true carbon footprint left behind to bring this jolly green giant together???

we'll be seen lots more 4k sqft LEED "green" homes in the near future .... it's de rigeur for the affluent to build them since that way they can rationalize the size of these vanity projects by saying that they're earth friendly... it's a way for them not to fell guilty at the extravagance; they can pat themselves on the back by saying that they are being environmentally progressive.
the 4 car garages all come with large gas guzzlers plus one Prius to be seen at Berkeley Bowl.

i'm interested in the d'mand hot water system. it looks intriguing, especially in my house where the hot water can take 3 minutes before reaching the "end of line". anyone have any experience with it? it was used on this house.

they used the d'mand system in a past ask-this-old-house episode... the doorbell-style button used in its operation kind made for a clumsy set-up. seemed to function as described, though.

In Orange County, California, there are some builders that have been putting up LEED certified homes. One of them was actually featured here in Apartment Therapy and I checked it out myself. It's called Depot Walk by Olson Homes. All the homes have solar panels and tankless water heaters. Unfortunately, it looks like all the community is sold out. You can check out their website at: depotwalk.com

Here's the apartment therapy article:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/blogging/blogging-oc-register-112507-gradually-greener-real-estate-037387