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# Building blocks for a greener life
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/building-blocks-for-a-greener-life/
- Published: 2008-04-25T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:55:45.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: local, Downtown, #archive-import

*AltBuild focuses on the ‘cutting edge’*

DOWNTOWN Sometimes sustainability starts on the rugby field.

That’s where Daniel Beattie met Darrin Coquer and Simon Jones, partners in Enviro Plumbing, a Santa Monica-based plumbing company that helps homeowners drastically reduce their water and energy usage by installing dual-flush toilets and solar water heaters.

The three were playing together with the Santa Monica Rugby Club when they decided it would be best to join the green building movement, and they’ve never been happier.

“We we’re lucky enough to get to work with cool green architects who are a lot mel-lower and nicer, plus we feel good about doing something that is important for the environment,” Beattie said. “And it’s fun coming to work in the morning with my buddies.”

While Enviro Plumbing has been making a name for itself, Beattie is hoping that word will spread even faster about their business following the fifth annual Alternative Building Materials & Design Expo (altbuild-expo.com), a City Hall-sponsored showcase featuring the latest in alternative building practices and standards.

AltBuild, which attracted over 8,000 people last year, begins today at 10 a.m. and runs through Saturday at the Civic Auditorium. The expo is free and open to the public.

“This is going to give us a lot more exposure with all the green architects who have an interest in zero-emissions housing,” Beattie said. “Not many solar guys can do that.”

The expo will be offering a number of firsts and unprecedented presentations, including the first official presentation by the Green Cities California collaborative, a coalition of cities throughout the state, including Santa Monica, who are committed to policies that reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. There will also be top speakers and noted exhibitors within the green community.

“The great thing with the AltBuild with all its exhibitors is that we try and focus on what’s new and different … what’s relevant to locals and what’s on the cutting edge,”said Brenden McEneaney, green building programs advisor for City Hall.

Due to the fact that the expo is free and costs are kept low for exhibitors, McEneaney said the event brings out more people than other trade shows.

“This allows for smaller, first time vendors with unique technologies to come out and show what they’ve got,” McEneaney said. “There is an invested interest for the city to get this information out there. This is not just for architects or for trade reps paying $100, $200, or $300\. This is for homeowners who want to bring their kids to see how they can incorporate these technologies into their lives.”

The first day is a trade-focused day, geared to the design/architecture and construction communities, and Saturday will be directed primarily to the general public, though trade is also welcome.

Saturday will feature workshops and panel discussions on landscaping, climate, interiors/remodeling, and affordable solar applications.

There will also be a special panel on water use, the Green Schools panel, and a Dwell Magazine-sponsored panel.

On Sunday, City Hall is hosting the free, self-guided “Green Building Tours” in conjunction with AltBuild.

These will feature homes, gardens and offices in the area, as well as tours of the new Civic Center Parking Structure, the Public Safety Facility and the new Rand Corp. headquarters, which were built using sustainable practices.

Orit Yanai of Orit Yanai Studios in San Francisco is one of the guest speakers. Her company focuses on green wall finishes and how simple remodels can greatly impact the air quality and style of a home.

Since the AltBuild is free,Yanai, who gives presentations at green events across the state, said it will be a perfect time to tackle the stereotype that green is only for the wealthy.

“As demand has grown for green materials, the price has gone down and is nearly comparable to traditional materials,” Yanai said. “People still think green is only for the rich, but the truth is everyone can do something.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 25, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042508.pdf?ref=smdp.com)