Replies

1. 
   reinvent | Feb 16, 2009 03:24am | #1

   I love how the assistance is for low income families. How many low income families own a house or should I say 'used too own a house'. We can not count on just them to help reduce our dependence on foreign energy. We also need to insulate the mcmasions better too.

1. 
   rjw | Feb 16, 2009 03:32am | #2

   I'm hoping this thread will stick to the details and investigate potential business opportunities for BT folks - and avoid "values discussions...."

   "Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

   Howard Thurman

2. 
   CaptainMayhem | Feb 16, 2009 04:23am | #3

   I recently started to work for this company called "Interior Weatherization" here in Fairbanks, Alaska. It is a program developed fore low/middle class familys, that is state funded. We go into said homes and do before and after tests(blower door etc.) and always make  quite a difference. This year funding for this program was increased by almost six times. Hooray!! Year round work...

   All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...

3. 
   robert | Feb 16, 2009 04:18pm | #4

   Just out of curiosity,

   Besides home inspections? DO you now, or have you investigated the possibilities of independant home energy audits?

   Another thing that seems to be on the rise? Home inspoections for insurance companies. Not at purchase time, but later on. Just had my home inspected again. This time by the insurance company.

   Long talk with the inspector revealed that a lot of houses are insured for their purchase price, which is currently far above their market value..............and the insurance company wants to make sure there is no apparent flaw that could lead to the total destruction of a house about to be foreclosed upon.

   Passed with flying colors but I'd hate to see what happens if you fail.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 2/16/2009 8:21 am ET by robert

1. 
   rjw | Feb 18, 2009 03:06am | #5

   Thanks for the ideas - I'm plowing through reams of cyper-paper trying to figure out the best approach to take.Either get directly involved (i) inspecting, (ii) doing, or (iii) getting on the gov t!t administering....Best bet right now looks like teaming up with a number of churches in low income areas around here...

   "Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

   Howard Thurman

1. 
   robert | Feb 18, 2009 07:21am | #6

   Energy money always seems to be focused, for obvious reasons, on the lower income end.

   Unfortunately, those are the people least likely to take advantage of anything BUT help with the bill in the middle of winter.

   Find a way to deliver the benefits of that government money to them?

   And I'm betting there's a boatload of cash to be raked in.

   Not to mention the feeling of having done something good for another human being.............If you're into that kinda thing

4. 
   bambam | Feb 18, 2009 03:03pm | #7

   Good way to make money Bob. I did it for 12 years for DOE. The pay is not necesarily the best (or wasnt then) but OK. After that I went to work for the utilities weatherizing which was a lot better money. Some atates have this program and some dont. You can easily gross seven figures but you need to have big pockets to start. Texas has changed their rules so its not so great here anymore. Cal. has a similar program as well as NM.

   With the DOE program we had to do other stuff like remodeling occasionally to keep busy. It looks like that is not likely to happen right now. Keep in mind that each gov. program has a start and end date and there is always about 2 months of inactivity each year so they can wait on their new funds. Of course there is always the provberbial polititian that wants to cut funds for the next year but it doesnt happen often.

   If you want any info just let me know or email me.

   Where there's a will, there are 500 relatives