New Site For Green Earth Equities

Getting Organized Part 2

Getting Organized Part 2 Filing, Backups & Spreadsheet Tips Last week we took advantage of Dave's river cruising in Turkey to discuss some of the best tools in our time-task management tool box in regards to hardware, programs and apps for computers and portable devices (click here to view). As Dave continues cruising his way to Vienna, tonight we'll continue the Getting Organized series focusing on filing, backups and spreadsheets: Filing: Neat Receipts (receipts and documents). Backups: On and off site backups.  Best uses for Clouds, Photo-Bucket and Drop Box including uploading and sharing large files. Regarding Spreadsheets we'll be looking at creating tools for tracking...Continue Reading!

Getting Organized: Part 1

Getting Organized Part 1 Devices, Programs & Apps Tips Dave's River Cruising in Istanbul Turkey, enjoying the fruits of his wife Luelle's labors. Given he may not have access to reliable Internet, it's an opportune time to discuss organizational skills, tips and tricks. In a multi million copy best seller "How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life" Alan Lakein observes "Time = Life; therefore, waste your time and waste your life, master your time and master your life." Tonight let's discuss the best tools in our time-task management tool box: Hardware: The best use of laptops, tablets and smart phones. Programs and Apps:...Continue Reading!

Creating Your Home Performance Ninja Team

Home Performance Ninja Team Creating Ninjas from Novices Greetings PlanetSavers, Tonight we'll discuss a recent article I wrote on how with the right motivation and goals, tools and team consensus even those new to home performance can achieve remarkable results. Having listened to and spoke with many green building professionals I've noticed some seem to be satisfied with less than stellar results. With this mind, much of the discussion tonight will center around a question I invariably hear at energy conferences and seminars, namely:  How can we get crews trained to do EXCELLENT work?  After all, it’s not like they are working in air conditioned...Continue Reading!

What Would You Do? #2

What Would You Do? 756 Ponderosa Lake Tahoe CA Greetings PlanetSavers, Tonight we'll interview Eric Fulda, who has a new Home Performance project going.  There will be photos, diagrams and an interview with Eric about his plans for the property.  At this point, no decisions have been finalized, and he is looking for input.  All these areas are up for discussion.  We'll identify the "low hanging fruit" to prioritize the renovation: HVAC:   BTW the project is in Lake Tahoe,   lot's of Heating Degree Days Water Heating System: Will a heat pump make sense.  Sealing this 4 level home.   Where are the expected big leakers and...Continue Reading!

Assembling Your “A-Team”

Assembling Your "A-Team" Residential Flipping and Leasing Tonight we will talk about team building.   Building the team to find, buy, renovate and rent or sell the finished products. As you know, I now live 3,000 miles away from most of the work that GreenEarthEquities has done and is continuing to do. So the only way I could possibly do this is with a great team. Even with my new operation in Virginia, all of the work has been done by the great team I have been blessed to find. We've had a lot of questions like, "How do you find a good contractor that...Continue Reading!

What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? 13 Cedar Round Hill VA The plans have changed on our Virginia Test House. Due to budgeting issues the house has been moved over to be a research project of NREL. The 1700 square foot, two story house is finished with a very tight envelope... but has been waiting for a decision about HVAC to move ahead.  NREL will be doing the monitoring of this home, similarly to the Fresno Test House. Their research will primarily focus on humidity, which will be measured in many locations under all types of simulated loads and times of the year. It...Continue Reading!

ACI National & Sacramento Conferences

Affordable Comfort Institute National & Sacramento Conferences Tonight will be all about ACI... Affordable Comfort Institute. We'll focus on 3 areas: Summary of the National Conference in Baltimore Preview of the California Conference in Sacramento   (Including hints on receiving one of the Scholarships being offered).  The published agenda & list of exhibitors. Preview of next year's National Conference in the Mile High City... Denver. Amy Fazio, Executive Director of ACI will bring a "behind the scenes" perspective on this organization that has grown to be the center of our (Home Performance) industry. Nate Natale,  Program Development Manager for ACI will also join us with his perspective on...Continue Reading!

Get in the Game: Wholesaler Interview on Buy and Hold

Get in the Real Estate Game Wholesaler Interview on Buy and Hold Greetings PlanetSavers, Last week Ron Roberts shared his testimony about putting together enough passive income to enjoy his retirement and doing it all with foreclosure renovation in the last 3 years.  If you missed it, check it out in the archives.  Several people commented that they were inspired to get out there and get going! Tonight we will follow up with more motivation to "Get in the Game" as I interview Sam Okenyi.   Sam is the wholesaler that we purchased our Norris avenue property through.  He has some clear observations about  the...Continue Reading!

Foreclosure Investing Planning & Preparation

Foreclosure Investing Planning and Preparation Greetings PlanetSavers, Tonight we have a Foreclosure Renovating Expert who has "Been There & Done That." Ron Roberts and I have worked together for many years in various capacities and then 3 years ago I got inspired about the opportunity presented by the Foreclosure Mess. Ron was one of the first people I shared my excitement with and he took off running full speed with the goal of building a retirement income from his foreclosure renovation investments. In three short years, he's met his objectives.   He's completed about the same number of projects that I have (15) and has...Continue Reading!

Energy Modeling Isn’t Very Accurate

Energy Modeling Isn't Very Accurate By Martin Holladay Tonight we will consider Martin Holladay's recent post in Green Building Advisor,  ENERGY MODELING ISN'T VERY ACCURATE.  Martin's blogging is one of the few "must read" sources of Home Performance information available, so I was glad to see him take on this topic.   His column is called the "Musings of an Energy Nerd" so you know he's proud of his numbers and "Calls 'em as he see's 'em." The inaccuracy of modeling programs along with the steep learning curve for most of them have caused me to question their place in our industry ever since...Continue Reading!