Update: The remarkable, green, Bryan Cranston beach house has just popped up on the market for $4,995,000. “I put my heart, soul and blood, sweat, and often tears into it, and I’m glad, because it was such an artistic endeavor, and yet functional,” said Cranston. “There’s something lovely about creating something with tremendous pride and effort and turning it over … letting someone else take it to the next level of appreciation.” See details below:

All the while Bryan Cranston was breaking bad on TV, he was breaking good on the Ventura County coast, building a glorious and green sustainable beach house. Cranston, his wife Robin Dearden and a team of remarkable architects, designers, engineers and suppliers teamed up to create “3 Palms,” a house that ranks among the most remarkable green homes ever built in California.

“My goal with this home is to show that living responsibly and living comfortably are not mutually exclusive,” said Cranston. “My wife, Robin and I want to combine both form and function, and show the world that sustainable living doesn’t mean that there’s no indoor plumbing or that it will impinge on a modern lifestyle.”

Cranston’s enthusiastic construction team began their eco-friendly work even before the foundation of the home was laid. The lot’s former 1940s beachfront bungalow, that stood foundation-free on the sand, was very carefully deconstructed, and as many components of it as possible were recycled.

I chatted with his architect,  John Tuturro (not the actor), about some of the more innovative green features of the Bryan Cranston beach house. They include:

• A raised foundation of fly ash, a by-product of coal power production, mixed with concrete was poured, with radiant heating installed in the floors that would retain their raw concrete finishes.
• The use of titanium panels on the exteriors of the home’s “towers.” Since this dwelling is right on the beach it would be subject to salt air wreaking havoc on wood, zinc, stainless steel, copper and other materials commonly used on exteriors. They tested a sheet of titanium nailed to a post on the property, and after six months it didn’t even show a water spot.
• Installing solar panels on the roof for a “Net Zero” approach – Cranston has virtually no electricity bill, as on sunny days, which are legion in this location, the house produces more energy than it uses, sending it back into the grid. Energy-efficient appliances and building materials also help with this.
• Adding ceiling fans powered by solar energy to help cool things down, and cutting-edge insulation materials and systems keep the temperature at the desired level, so a traditional HVAC system is not necessary.
• Using low-maintenance materials with low-environmental-impact properties as well as high aesthetic integrity.
• Installing special double- and triple-glazed windows with revolutionary panes.

Cranston’s beach house is not a grand estate — the precious beachfront lot could accommodate a house of 2,450 square feet, with three bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a multipurpose loft. Strategically placed windows and cunning design make it feel bigger. But at this size, it serves as more practical inspiration for us regular folk.

“We have qualified for the highest level of ‘green’ building in the country, and will strive to achieve the highest level of style and comfort too,” says Cranston. His project is making progress toward receiving LEED Platinum certification, as well as receiving recognition from the Passive House Alliance US. “We know we have succeeded if our guests ask incredulously, “This is a green home?”

The Bryan Cranston Beach House is Breaking Good and Green

For more photos and info on the sale of the Bryan Cranston Beach House, see my original article on Realtor.com.