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“So it is one of the most effective things you can do as a homeowner to make a difference to the world with respect to climate is by going solar.  So please do not delay because our planet can,  well, our planet will be fine, we'll just be dead. We need to make a difference if we want to make this planet a planet where our children and grandchildren are going to be able to enjoy.  So make that decision now to go solar. It's not only a great decision from a cost effective perspective, but your grandchildren and their children are going to thank you for the decision you make today.”  - Carol Cole-Lewis

An independent solar consultant Carol Cole-Lewis and Izumi explored various aspects of solar energy and incentives for homeowners including the transition from Net Energy Metering 2 (NEM2) to a new net energy metering rate plan (NEM3) in California and the importance of battery storage. Carol advises homeowners to choose a reputable installer based on factors such as experience and financial stability. Topics also discussed were the different business models of solar installers and the importance of energy efficiency before going solar. Carol emphasizes the potential benefits of various financing options, including loans, leases, and power purchase agreements. The conversation also touched on tax credits and incentives per Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the importance of taking action to combat global warming. 

UpstartEnergy.com

Go Solar with Confidence, a book by Carol Cole-Lewis

DSIREUSA.ORG - Check available incentives

Project Drawdown

“I think especially when you get to the point of EHS, that everybody takes responsibility for their own energy, and that’s part of the healing. Just as important it is to put that metal shielding around those wires as it is to be very mindful of how we’re using our energy, and how we’re treating out bodies.”

Michael Bender, an artist and writer by profession, who struggled with increasingly aggravating and mysterious health issues that most doctors couldn’t figure out pretty much all his life after he was bitten by a tick at the age of 11. He was not only sensitive to the typical toxins found in homes, but started to have reactions to some of the most benign home products such as lavender fragrance of his wife’s shampoo. Needless to say, he developed electrical hypersensitivity (EHS),  which reacts strongly to electrical signals and what’s commonly known as electro-magnetic field (EMF). After decades of challenges, he finally built a house where he and his family can live by creating a “Quiest Home,” which is a result of his tenacious effort to find solutions in various disciplines and modalities. He shares of a few resources he either used for himself and what he may recommend to others.

· Mike’s article, The Quiet House, in Men’s Health Magazine, March 2022

· The Green Design Center, Andy Pace

· SafeCoat Paint

· IQAir Perfect 16 Air Purifier

“A couple of things to know about tax credit. So there’s efficiency tax credit and renewable tax credit. Efficiency tax credits are the ones that were expanded this year. It used to be set at $500 whereas now you can take up to $3,200 in the tax year in which you make the installations. On the renewable side, one thing that’s important to know is that for the first time now battery storage is a part of what you can get 30% tax credit as well. That didn’t use to be the case.”

As a part of the new legislation, Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, some financial incentives are now available for home owners and builders to build higher performing residential buildings as well as to improve existing homes for better comfort and efficiency. I have been dying to learn about what IRA has to offer to homeowners and builders so I can guide them to utilize this massive bill. Cynthia Adams, CEO and Co-founder of Pearl Certification generously offered to explain IRA in a nutshell. While there are many moving parts and the mechanics of rebate are still pending, Cynthia offers some information we should be aware of.

Incentives are offered in two different types: 1) tax credits for efficiency and renewable energy upgrades; 2) electrification (HEEHRA) and efficiency (HOMES) rebates. Here are some helpful website links Cynthia mentions in our conversation:

“If I’m speaking to a builder, your home owner, your client is going to be more comfortable, they’re going to be happier; they’re going to be healthier; and they’re going to love living in this home compared to any other home that is less than, and that is something that I think isn’t top of mind for a lot of people when they think about green building. Health and comfort doesn’t always come.”

Karen Benner is a building consultant, who has worked in the residential construction industry over 20 years. Once she became aware of the impact construction industry has on the planet in early 2000s, she emersed herself to learn about green building and high performance building, and took it onto herself to inform, encourage and empower the home builders she worked for to build better homes. She has navigated the landscape of the construction industry to shift the mindset from focusing on short-term financial benefit to include long-term benefit, providing guidance to mitigate risks and manage projects with a new perspective of building green. While her experiences were primarily with production builders, Karen sees that once you commit to building sustainably, the business model can be successful and scalable even with smaller builders and developers.

Resources Karen mentions in her interviews:

· National Association of Home Builders

· Enterprise Community Partners

"I went down the rabbit hall of, “O.K. how can every choice I make as a consumer be made with an idea of thinking about where does this come from, what are actually the ingredients, and materials that are being used; and what happens at the end of life of this product?” Basically, my mission right now is I guess I categorize myself as becoming a zero waste living advocate."

Amanda Cavallo is an architect by profession in Santa Monica, though originally from Boston.  Throughout her life, she was always in tune with nature and environment.  As she works with her architectural clients recommending sustainability design, she was keenly aware of the fact that if she talks the talk, she must walk the walk.  She took on herself to live a lifestyle of reducing our waste.  With the social media channel, "return_to_earth_collective," she is collecting tips and info on healthy, eco-friendly living, researching natural and low-waste products to share with the public trying to inspire to change one good habit and sustainable swap at a time.

Also mentioned in the interview:  Dark Green Religion by Bron Taylor

“When you purchase a home, it’s more than just principal and interest. You’re never going to own a home and not utilities, not have power payment, not have gas payment, and not have water payment. So we said, O.K., let’s talk about PITI plus utilities and then what’s that total payment, then how can we maximize that for home buyers.”

When purchasing homes, home buyers who are financing the purchase would consider what the monthly payment would be. They don’t always take into consideration how much it may cost to operate and maintain the homes, namely the utility bills. In some areas of the country, the heating and/or cooling cost can become exorbitant. Don Worthington introduces Lowtility, a mortgage product that allow the homebuyers to include the cost of energy efficiency improvement in the purchase price as the first mortgage. While there are other similar “green financing” products as were introduced in previous episodes of this podcast, Lowtility approaches the underwriting process with minimized utility bills in the equation. Homebuyers can have energy efficient homes for the same or less amount of monthly payments with little to none utility bills. They service all across the United States except the state of New York. Find out more from Don!

Definition of sustainable site is it promotes land development and management practices with our future in mind.  So sustainable sites generate less waste, minimize impact on the landscape, and use less energy, water and natural resources.

Brandon is a Sr. Applications Engineer for one of an innovative solar technology company.  He was influenced by growing up with a father who was a pioneer of sustainable building professionals.  Now that he owns a property of his own up the hills in southeast of Los Angeles near Temecula, he has undertaken a truly regenerative transformation project of what once looked like a deserted property into a home with net-positive energy sanctuary.  Brandon shares the strategic approach he has taken to regenerate his home and the land surrounding his home on almost 5-acre of property including decarbonization, water management, and landscaping following the concept of “sustainable site.”

I think we understand more and more that life webs that we’re all in makes human beings happier and healthier, that there’s things to do to acknowledge those life webs and do what we can do to help it.

Greg Travis is an old friend of mine, who has become an amateur expert on native plants gardening.  He and his partner bought their 1908 craftsman they now call home in West Adams area of Los Angeles in 2001.  Greg’s primary goal was to have “dirt” where he could do gardening.  At the time he was a self-proclaimed “frustrated gardener” and was going through a certificate program for horticulture and garden design.  When not many were talking about the native plants yet, one instructor who taught him about the California natives really influenced him, which led him on a journey of creating his dream garden.  He transformed the front yard from the typical grass yard into a lush garden that hosts not only a wide variety of native plants, which attracts variety of pollinators like birds, bees and butterflies, requiring little irrigation.  Hear how he designed, planted and nurtured his beautiful garden including some of the mistakes he made.

[This episode is from a short video about Adam's project.  Best to watch on HomeGreenHomes YouTube channel.]

Adam, a long-time construction professional, and his family were experiencing health issues when they found their “property” in Redwood City, California. What they wanted was a place where they felt healthy.  Yet the property was in such disrepair that his first thought was to demolish and rebuild.  Instead he chose to “heal the house and the land that the house was sitting on” in the same way that he wanted to heal the family’s wellbeing.  Thus Adam took on a challenge to change the construction process, which is typically very extractive, disruptive and wasteful, into a regenerative process to have a positive impact not just on the environment but also to the local community and local economy.

The project touched on the Five Roots of Regenerative Real Estate®:  1) Health and Wellness; 2) Sustainability; 3) Community; 4) Ecology and 5) Spirit, which also relates to the concept of “Eco-chaplain.”  (Those who work to establish people in a healthy, compassionate, and mutually supportive relationship with each other and the natural world.  - Sati Center of Buddhist Studies)

As a result, he was able to accomplish his Vision of truly regenerative project and indeed be an eco-chaplain for himself and his family, the property he turned into his family nest, the people who worked on the project and the surrounding community.

“I’m a firm believer that the soil health is human health.  If we start with the land first, it will reap the fruits of our labor and it’s highly reciprocal.”

Diego Torrelio is a Founder and CEO of Circlefoot.  Circlefoot is the leading wellness landscaping and construction company based in San Mateo County, California. They design, build, and manage homes, gardens, homesteads, and small farms in San Mateo and beyond with a  mission to deliver ecologically regenerative outdoor-indoor living solutions.  Driven by the Vision of human being living lightly and in balance on our planet, Diego and his company collaborate with their clients to create not only regenerative living spaces but also promotes more just and ecologically regenerative economy.  Diego shares the back story of his professional development and his Vision for future.