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, Tiburon: Frank’s home plus apartment overlooks the Bay. Both are powered by solar and batteries, and heated and cooled by heat pumps and passive solar. Giant cisterns capture rainwater in the winter, and Oto robots water the drought-tolerant plants on his steep slope. Frank uses apps to track and fine-tune his energy and water systems.
6:40 Presentation: “Solar Now: It Still Makes Sense.” Once the CPUC passed NEM 3.0, the payback period for rooftop solar got longer. But utility electricity rates continue to rise. Phil Alwitt shares the latest information on why solar remains an excellent investment.
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, 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.
7:20 Presentation: “Where to Begin? Rebates and Resources.” Mark Chhabria from the County of Marin shares up-to-date information on where to find contractors, free planning services, and rebates (including IRA!) for your home upgrades.
7:30 Video Tour: The Green Renter: Alexis in San Anselmo shares her green home strategies for folks who rent.
7:40 Video Tour, Novato: David’s back yard opens up to oak woodlands. His 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.
7:55 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.