Grodner Residence
Grape Place Green Home
6311 Grape Place, Hollywood Hills CA 90068

This 1958 stick-and-stucco is typical of area homes in that it was originally designed and built with no regard for energy conservation, let alone production. Currently undergoing an extensive remodel, it's a work-in-progress that demonstrates how a solar PV array can be utilized at a less-than-ideal location in challenging conditions and still provide for more than 100% of the total annual electrical usage, including the home-based business.

This home features a solar array consisting of 40 Shell PV panels and 2 SMA inverters. This system, along with ongoing conservation efforts, provide a result that's both cost effective and resource responsible. The homeowner tracks energy production/usage and has produced graphs illustrating relevant data including the quantity of pollutants NOT emitted by conventional power plants on behalf of this home. Other aspects of resource conservation are integral to this home site: the use of actual watt/hour metering for selection of appliances, the use of soaker hoses for most irrigation, and extensive recycling is practiced. The homeowner's chosen forms of transportation include an E-Bike hybrid electic bicycle and a VW TDI fueled exclusively with ultra-low-sulphur diesel (Arco ECD-1) for longer trips.

Directions and parking info:
Parking on Grape Place is very limited, these directions take you to the alley behind the home where more parking is available.

From the 101, exit at Cahuenga Blvd. Turn NORTH onto Cahuenga (a left if you take the 101 South, a right if you take the 101 North). Make your first RIGHT onto Odin St. and go past (the 1st) Deep Dell Pl. to the bottom of Odin. Make a LEFT onto Holly Dr. and go to the end of the street at the circle. Make a SHARP RIGHT onto Deep Dell Pl. and drive for about 30 seconds. During a leftward curve there is a telephone pole with 3 yellow stripes and an alley entrance on the right. Make a RIGHT into the alley and take it to the end. 6311 is the large green house.... the solar panels on the roof will be visible. Feel free to park in or in front of either of the home's driveways and please be careful not to block access for my neighbors.... the solar panels on the roof will be visible. Feel free to park in or in front of either of the home's driveways and please be careful not to block access for my neighbors. Thanks.

Note: if you miss the alley entrance, don't worry: Deep Dell ends just 30 feet past it at the Weidlake Dr. intersection. If you see a big sign for the "Hollywood Reservoir" the alley entrance is right behind you.