At Home with...David Alan Basche

Green Inspiration Inspired by his wife’s recycling and conservation efforts at home, Basche says that remodeling the home was a perfect time to also ‘go green.’ The couple Master bath chose many environmentally friendly appliances and systems for their home, including Energy Star-rated windows and appliances; formaldehyde-free insulation; dual-flush toilets; environmentally friendly paint, glues and urethanes; 85 percent recycled stone stair treads; a whole-house fan on the roof that keeps the home cool; radiant floor heating and an ultra-high efficiency condensing gas boiler. These energy-saving changes made a significant dent in the couple’s heating bills. “Last winter I paid roughly half of what my neighbors paid each month for heat,” says Basche. T Living room he changes also made a major impact on Basche’s health, practically eliminating his allergies. “Although it was labor-intensive, installing a radiant heating system was really worth the time, effort and expense,” he says. ”No more blown hot air—it’s incredibly healthy.” Overcoming Obstacles The remodeling wasn’t without its challenges, however, especially when it came to finding green suppliers. “The builder had trouble finding materials that we were interested in,” says Basche. “For example, we needed six- foot length of bamboo flooring in the color and style that we wanted. My wife took a while researching online and in the end we ended up with 2,500 square feet of bamboo at only $1.67 a square foot because we bought in bulk.” Like many homeowners wanting to convert to green technologies, the couple wanted to include solar panels. However, after talking to solar experts, they decided to postpone adding them. “The technology changes so rapidly and we wanted something that was easier to add to our type of home, so we’re waiting,” says Basche, who believes that all green building obstacles will soon be a thing of the past once green building and Bedroom remodeling becomes standard for everyone. A House Becomes a Home The green remodel took a few years to complete due to the couple’s busy acting schedules and extensive travel time between New York and California, which is increasing more thanks to Basche’s successful role on The Starter Wife. But the couple loves their new home. The traditional brownstone home is 18 feet wide by 50 feet long and provides ample space at a more affordable New York City price than Midtown apartments. They have also added several modern touches to the historic building, including a home office and a meditation room. The couple is now expecting their first child and, with the project complete, can stand back and appreciate the hard work they have put into their new home. “This place is so much more than shelter, more than a place that I drop my bag at the end of the day,” says Basche. “It’s a space we created and have pride because we built it and we made it what we wanted it to be. It feels healthy and clean. We know that we did our best to make a home that has less of an impact on the environment and feels good.”

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