Post Conference Review

Greetings PlanetSavers,

Back from the Affordable Comfort Institute’s 2013 Denver Conference I wanted to apologize for the live broadcast technical problems two weeks ago.  In the past we’ve had success with similar on the spot interviews but the logistics this last time proved difficult.

Even so, the conference was worth discussing so I hope any fellow attendees or those interested in the latest developments or future attendance will join me tonight at 6PM PDT.

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Running the Numbers

Tonight I’ll be reviewing the process of locating and assessing 2 different and affordable properties each with some perks. We’ll run the numbers from walk through repair estimates for a Phase 1 Buy and Hold remodel to likely return on investment (ROI).

4877 East McKenzie Ave Fresno, CA 93727

• List $125,000, 4 days on market, built 1977
• 5 bedroom 2 bath, 1,684 sqft, lot 8,580 sqft
• 2 car garage, large pool
• RentoMeter.com rent estimate: $1,400 plus
• 4944 East Illinois Ave Fresno CA 93727

4944 East Illinois Ave Fresno CA 93727

• List $128,500,  15 days on market, built 1956
• 3 bedroom 1.5 bath, 1,700 sqft, lot 8,235 sqft
• 2 car garage, no pool
• RentoMeter.com rent estimate: $1,000 minus

Join us at 6PM PDT Tuesday to review photos as well as the pros and cons of these properties.

Hope to see you then, Rob Pennington

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Tightening or Slashing Remodel Budgets

A constantly reoccurring question in Green Renovation is how to get the most out of a remodel budget. Some considerations include:

• What can I afford to cut?
• What can’t I afford to cut?
• What flipping costs are recoverable?
• What buy and hold costs are recoverable?
• How much of an Energy Package can I afford to include?
• What’s the best loading order for a Phase 1 and Phase 2 energy wise retrofit?

We’ll be addressing these and other questions as we take another look at the budget for 1060 C. Street Orange Cove CA recently purchased by Larry Weingarten via a Bid4Assets.com Fresno County Tax Deed Auction.

Two weeks ago we reviewed property photos and a proposed budget for a full GreenEarthEquities WOW, Done and Energy retrofit but given the realities of a slowly upturning market we need to squeeze if not slash this budget by tens of thousands of dollars.

Join us at 6PM PDT Tuesday as we discuss how to get the most economic and energy savings bang for the buck, from budget choices to working with contractors.

Note: Due to a formula error with Goggle Docs the recalculated budget total in the webinar was incorrect.  Click here to download the accurate total in Excel Spreadsheet for Windows or Numbers Spreadsheet for Mac.

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Energy Decisions and Contractor Conversations

This Tuesday we’ll be checking in on a property in Valencia CA featured in past webinars.  Working on a 1,000 sqft energy efficient addition, the owner’s working with a tight budget and an experienced General Contractor without special training in green building.

After shopping some options HVAC, insulation and plumbing decisions must be made that won’t brake the budget while providing maximum comfort, health and energy savings.

With tens of thousands of homeowners facing similar situations we’ll be addressing the following questions in particular:

• What’s the biggest bang for the buck in energy efficiency?
• How best to communicate with Generals and Subs regarding structure and green building?
• Given the climate and floor plan (long duct runs) what’s the best heating and cooling solution?
• Sometimes cheaper than Dense Packed Cellulose, can Fiberglass Batts be a cost effective and energy efficient wall insulation?
• Is PEX plumbing really a safe alternative?  If so, which kind is best?

We’ve got great photo’s and plans for this project. To address the HVAC issue I’ll be running a Manual J Load Calcualtion during the webinar (which we’ll be happy to provide for those requesting this handy tool).

Hope you’ll join us at 6PM PDT Tuesday to hear our thoughts and share yours, Dave Robinson

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Orange Cove DEAL OR LEMON

As some may recall we recently featured a Bid4Assets.com Fresno County Tax Deed Auction on several webinars. While we were significantly outbid on the properties we identified, Larry Weingarten our resident auction expert had the winning bid for 2 “outside the box” kind of properties.

Tuesday night we’ll get a look inside one, a 3 bedroom 1 bath about an hour southeast of Fresno. We’ll review photos from our inspection and estimate what it’s going to take to get this house rent or retail flip ready with at least a Phase 1 Energy Package.

Zillow says $87,000 and Trulia says $89,000 for this 1,330 sqft house with 2 car garage. Zillow says $800/m and RentOmeter $1050 for rent comps but they haven’t seen inside…

Still available for wholesale flip, anyone who may be interested will have a chance to get a detailed analysis and decide if this Orange Cove house is a Deal or Lemon.

Join us at 6PM PDT Tuesday to see 1060 C. Street Orange Cove CA for yourself .  As always, looking forward to your comments and questions.

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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DOE Test House Rent Remodel

As many of you know in 2011 we partnered with the Department of Energy through IBACOS on a dry and hot climate test house located at 440 N. Homsy Fresno, CA. Click here for project overview

After 18 months of testing IBACOS recently did a results webinar and having removed their equipment they’ve turned the keys back to us to finish the remodel and get the property ready for rent or sale.

The owner-investor has obtained and placed multiple homes with us to manage all aspects of each project.  He’s in the process of refinancing a previous rent-seasoned investment property currently generating great cash flow to take advantage of low interest rates and finalize the energy wise retrofit of Homsy.

Join us at 6PM PDT tonight as we review the final budget line by line. Since “time is money” the question we’ll be addressing tonight is what’s the best remodel loading order for Homsy while awaiting the bulk of retrofit funding that may be several weeks out?

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Fresno County CA Auction Results

Two weeks ago we reviewed Bid4Assets.com with an in depth look at Fresno County CA’s Online Tax Deed Auction. Larry Weingarten, our resident tax deed expert, joined us fresh from participating in several other similar county sales.

Tonight we’ll be discussing the particulars of the bidding process, with screen shots of each step along the way, from viewing the properties in question to placing and tracking bids.

Tune in at 6PM Pacific as we share our interesting experience with this kind of property acquisition.  We’ll talk about our bidding strategy and how we did, as well as helpful hints regarding what to expect and be on the lookout for.

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here. To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Claremont Home Energy Retrofit Project

Tonight we have a special guest interview with Devon Hartman co-founder of CHERP: Claremont Home Energy Retrofit Project. CHERP Claremont is a fantastic prototype organization bringing volunteers and professionals together who believe that “Energy is at the Heart of the Matter.”

Having reached their initial goal to complete energy retrofits on 1% of the single-family homes in the city of Claremont, CHERP’s raised it’s target to 10% while looking to duplicating itself in other cities throughout California!

With many case studies to showcase, Devon’s looking forward to discussing his low cost – high impact method of implementing the greatest percentage of energy retrofits in a single city in the nation.

Bring your questions and comments and join us tonight at 6PM PT to learn the ins and outs of how over 150 homeowners in Claremont were influenced to save energy and help save the planet one house a time, all the while increasing their home’s level of health and comfort.

This will be a great interview. If you know someone in the residential energy retrofit field be sure to forward them this invitation.

Hope to see you tonight, Dave Robinson

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here.  To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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Dry/Hot Climate Test House Results

Greetings PlanetSavers,

Almost two years ago we embarked on what became a DOE-IBACOS-GEE joint project to exactingly test certain energy features modeling a dry and hot climate.

This Fresno project, along with our Round Hill VA cold/wet test house represent the deepening interest in energy wise residential remodels in light of the flood of foreclosed and previously owned homes on the market.

Once GEE’s Energy Package was completed IBACOS began managing and monitoring the local test under agreement with the Department of Energy’s “Building America” program.  The one to three year long collection of data is being done via wireless communication.

On Tuesday December 11th IBACOS project representative and building performance analyst Dave Stecher will present us with our first official look at the data. He’ll describe the purposes and methods of the testing, as well as the insights it should afford the green building industry.

Looking forward to your comments and questions tomorrow night, 6PM Pacific Time.

Hope to see you then, Dave Robinson

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here.  To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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13 Cedar Hybrid Mini-Split System

(Hybrid = Partly Ducted, Partly Ductless)

Greetings PlanetSavers,

Tonight we will look at the initial results of 15 days of hot weather in the Cedar St. Lab House.  NREL is monitoring this project and has kindly provided us with loads (overloads, actually) of data. We have the mountain of data distilled down into some useful charts and graphs and for you “Bottom Liners” we have the total cost of cooling extrapolated.

We  will analyze what installation factors affect the results we see. Like duct sizing to each room and how that shows up in temperature differentials. This project is interesting because it does not have door actuators and the doors are Closed. It’s a good test of the Tamarack Return Air Path door bottom grilles.

We will also answer the question, “If you were doing this project over again, what would you do differently?” Of course the answers on this one can only be finalized after we go thru the winter with the system as it is.

Click here to watch a streaming version of this webinar. (Recommended because of large file size)

To download this Webex presentation click here.  To watch this audio/video presentation you’ll need to install the FREE Webex .ARF Player for either Windows or Mac.

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