The Real Goods Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California, suffered major damage in a December 2005 flood. A geodesic dome that housed interns burned during the flood.
Photo: Solar Living Institute Hopland, California, experienced its worst flood in more than 50 years on December 31, 2005, decimating the Real Goods Solar Living Institute (see BuildingGreen’s Case Studies Database). “The devastation to the site from being 8'–10' [2.5–3 m] under water for many hours is staggering,” says John Schaeffer, founder and president of Real Goods. The geodesic dome that housed interns burned to the ground, four cars and one tractor were submerged, all of the natural buildings on the site were damaged, and archives, tools, workshop materials, furniture, and personal property were destroyed, amounting to at least $150,000 in direct damages, according to Schaeffer. Fortunately, he reports, the main building was built above the 100-year flood level and suffered no damage. The institute is welcoming donations for rebuilding at www.solarliving.org/flood.cfm.
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