If as an environmentalist you're sick of seeing another New England millionaire family renovate a converted barn or oceanfront estate on This Old House, then PBS has the cure. On June 5th, you can watch host Kevin Contreras build his dream home in Santa Barbara on Building Green. How's that for an improvement!

All joking aside, the decidedly left-coast digs were constructed in an eco-friendly way. According to the show's site, "the house you see here is made of straw." Add fly ash, recycled lumber and steel, and blue jeans to the recipe, and you too can live like a king.

The new series will air for 13 episodes, which should give viewers some ideas on building a low-impact home. Check local listings!

And I kid about This Old House. They, too, have poured eco-friendly materials and technologies into some of their projects and have helped homeowners from all walks of life. But you still won't find me shedding a tear if they struggle to find the right tile for a master bath that's bigger than my apartment.