Most people renovate their homes for comfort or style. Ed Begley Jr. renovated with energy efficiency in mind, and the investment paid off. According to the Los Angeles Times, the actor bought a two-bedroom house in Studio City, California, in 1988 for $225,000. He has since turned the house into a showcase for solar panels, energy-efficient devices, and an early home car-charging station. The house sold for $1,025,000 in 2014. The renovations, the paper reported, show how energy-efficient upgrades can add value.
From a 1936 fixer-upper to a working eco lab