Home Green Homes

David Gottfried — often called the godfather of the green building movement — co-founded the U.S. Green Building Council in 1993 and the World Green Building Council in 1998. He's the author of four books, including his newest, Regen360, and he joins the show to talk about something more personal than LEED scorecards: what it actually took to green his own homes, and what he wishes more buyers, sellers, and flippers understood. We talk about the 1930s Craftsman kit home in Berkeley he renovated into one of the highest-scoring LEED Platinum homes in the world — the rainwater-fed toilet that ran dry mid-dinner-party, the graywater pump he had to relocate out from under the master bedroom, and the acoustics mistake that eventually pushed him to sell. We get into why that house didn't sell for the premium he expected, what he did differently in the homes that came after, and his direct response to investors who tell him going green adds "50% more" to a renovation budget. David also unpacks the equation at the center of his new book: HOPE — Health On Planet Earth — and why he believes a home that doesn't "accelerate hope" simply isn't worth as much, no matter what the flipper is asking. In this episode: The pivot from real estate developer to founder of the green building movement Inside the Berkeley Craftsman renovation — the wins, the mishaps, and the acoustics regret Why the house didn't get the resale premium he expected, and what that taught him Debunking the "50% more expensive" myth flippers use to avoid going green What role certifications like LEED actually play in home value The HOPE equation — Health On Planet Earth — and what it means for the home you're buying or selling His message to the next generation inheriting what we've built What's your biggest challenge with sustainable living? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for more insights on green building and sustainability! #GreenBuilding #Sustainability #ClimateAction

Sustainability alone won't protect your home from Mother Nature. In this episode, Izumi Tanaka talks with Albert Slap — environmental attorney turned founder of RiskFootprint.com — about why resilience and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Albert breaks down why FEMA flood maps miss huge amounts of real flood risk (120,000 homes flooded outside the FEMA zone during Hurricane Harvey), why he pays $5,000/year just for hurricane wind coverage on his own home, and how a $5,000 roof-to-wall tie-down saved him from a $30,000 re-roof — and actually lowered his risk. We also get into wildfire vegetation management, the 34+ natural hazards RiskFootprint evaluates property-by-property, and why "caveat emptor" due diligence should start well before you sign an agreement of sale. Whether you're buying, selling, or staying put, this episode is a reminder that a green home and a resilient home are the same goal. 🔗 Learn more: https://riskfootprint.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro: sustainability + resilience, two sides of one coin 01:20 Albert's pivot from environmental law to RiskFootprint 02:59 What "caveat emptor" really means for buyers 05:32 Why FEMA flood maps don't capture rainfall flooding 07:19 Albert's own $5,000/year hurricane wind insurance bill 12:10 The roof-to-wall tie-down that saved $25K 16:54 How RiskFootprint evaluates 34+ natural hazards by address 23:39 Who actually uses RiskFootprint: buyers, realtors, lenders 28:16 Disclosure laws: Hawaii, Florida, Colorado and beyond 29:04 Climate trends vs. day-to-day natural hazard risk 34:25 Where to find RiskFootprint.com Home Green Homes is a podcast about the people building — and buying — greener, more resilient homes. #HomeGreenHomes #GreenBuilding #ClimateResilience #RealEstate #SustainableLiving

What does it actually look like to flip a house the green way — and make the numbers work? In this episode, Izumi sits down with Mary Love, a North Carolina-based green realtor, building scientist, and project manager who has been doing eco-conscious real estate investment long before "green homes" was a mainstream term. Mary shares hard-won lessons from decades of rehabbing and renting energy-efficient properties — from wrangling reluctant HVAC contractors to educating appraisers on the value of sustainable upgrades. In this episode, you'll learn: Why insulation and air sealing are always the first priority — and how to do it without gutting the walls How to use blower door and duct blaster tests to document before and after performance (and use it as a marketing tool) What appraisers actually need to see to give green upgrades their proper value How rebates and incentives can make eco-flipping cost-competitive with standard rehabs Why the conversation has shifted from energy savings to safety and resilience — and what that means for investors The "Fortified Standards" framework for disaster-resilient construction Mary's motto: "A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing" Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting to think about greener rehabs, Mary's practical, no-nonsense approach will show you that eco-flipping isn't just good for the planet — it's a smart business model. 📬 Connect with Mary Love: [email protected] | lovethegreen.org

Are homes really built to last… or just built to sell? In this eye-opening episode, Izumi sits down with documentary filmmaker George Siegal, creator of Built to Last: Buyer Beware, to uncover the uncomfortable truth about how most homes are actually built—and why so many fail when disaster strikes. From hurricanes in Florida to wildfires in California, George shares heartbreaking stories of homeowners who lost everything—and the common patterns behind those losses. The biggest takeaway? Most homes are built to the minimum code, not for long-term resilience. If you’re a homeowner, buyer, investor, or real estate professional, this conversation may completely change how you look at homes. In this episode, we cover: Why “built to code” often means built to the bare minimum The biggest mistakes homebuyers make when evaluating a property How disasters reveal hidden weaknesses in our homes Why rebuilding after a disaster can take years—not months The surprising connection between resilience and sustainability What questions you must ask before buying or building a home How insurance, building practices, and human behavior all play a role George also shares practical tips—including how one simple correction saved him $1,000/year on insurance—and why homeowners need to take responsibility for understanding the true quality of their homes. 🎬 Watch the film: Built to Last: Buyer Beware 📄 Free resource: Essential questions to ask before buying a home Bottom line: Don’t just fall in love with the finishes—the countertops, the floors, the “wow” factor. Understand the bones of the house… because that’s what determines whether it survives.

In this episode of Home Green Homes, Izumi Tanaka talks with Nick Grimm — a father, homeowner, and sustainability professional who is gradually transforming his 1953 Los Angeles home into a healthier and more energy-efficient space. Nick didn’t begin with a master sustainability plan. Like many homeowners, his journey started with basic maintenance: replacing appliances when they broke and making upgrades when necessary. But as he learned more about sustainability, each decision became an opportunity to choose better options. So far, Nick and his family have: Replaced a gas cooktop with an induction stove Installed a heat pump washer/dryer Upgraded their electric panel Installed solar panels Purchased an EV and charger Begun planning for heat pump HVAC and water heating Started thinking about drought-resilient landscaping One turning point came when Nick used an indoor air quality monitor while cooking on a gas stove — and saw pollution levels spike inside his home. With a young child experiencing asthma, it accelerated their switch to induction cooking. Nick also discusses the real barriers to electrification, including the complexity of rebates and the financial realities many homeowners face. Despite those challenges, he believes individual choices still matter. For Nick, the ability to take action — even one appliance at a time — is empowering.