Marin Green Home Tour Program
6:00 Welcome & Concepts
6:10 Video Tour, San Rafael: Green realtor Lucinda Otto pursued a 5-year plan to make her 1924 bungalow green certified by the time the house was 100 years old! Lucinda will discuss how green home upgrades add value, using an energy audit to plan, and using Energy Sage to compare bids. You can also see her very cheap Mr. Cool heat pump.
6:25 Video Tour, Mill Valley: Tom’s home is all-new construction and features a pool heat pump, all-electric ADU, heat pump HVAC and water heating, and a sophisticated drainage system that captures and uses groundwater for irrigation. Tom is an electrical contractor with a unique perspective on electrification.
6:40 Presentation: “Where to Begin? Rebates and Resources.” Mark Chhabria shares up-to-date information on where to find contractors, rebates, and free planning resources for your green home upgrades.
6:50 Video Tour, San Anselmo: Sue is a strong community advocate who retrofit her 1996 home to be all-electric, including removing their gas service. She also removed their lawn with help from the water district. Sue has lots of recommendations for where she got financial and technical support for all her retrofits.
7:05 Video Tour, Novato: David’s home, EVs, and E-bikes are powered by solar and batteries. Other features include heat pump HVAC and water heater, hot water recirculation pump, portable induction hob, Vulcan vents for fire hardening, and a DIY rainwater catchment system made from reused pickle barrels.
7:20 Presentation: “Solar Now: It Still Makes Sense.” Once the CPUC passed NEM 3.0, the payback period for rooftop solar got longer. Phil Alwitt explains why solar continues to be an excellent investment, even after this setback.
7:30 Video Tour, Marshall: Tom updated his small Tomales Bay cottage with a passive house addition and an emphasis on insulation and electrification. Features include mini split heat pump, induction stove, electric hot tub, passive house attributes, salvaged wood for siding and flooring, and hyper-local native plants on the hillside.
7:45 Video Tour: Green Home Tips for Renters
7:55 Favorite Green Home Resources
Presenters
Mark Chhabria has been with the Marin County Community Development Agency’s Sustainability Team since 2017. He coordinates Electrify Marin, an innovative incentive program that encourages homeowners to make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Mark is a Marin County native and holds a Masters degree in Sustainable Enterprise.
Phil Alwitt is CEO of SolarCraft, a leading solar and battery provider in the North Bay for 40 years. An industrial designer by training, Phil developed the world’s first solar arrays to float on water. He has worked for Siemens to help Northern California cities and counties implement energy efficiency and renewable energy systems. Phil is a former licensed California contractor who actively volunteers to help Marin County develop and execute their ambitious Marin Drawdown program.