My Big Fat Green Renovation in...Venezia?

It's too rich for my blood, but those of you with deep pockets, a penchant for renovation, and a copy of My House in Umbria on your shelf might like this fixer upper. Its back faces a canal, and it is in a central, but not too touristy location.

NY Times Article on Rarity of Solar Panels

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/nyregion/solar-energy-slowly-grows-in-new-york-homes.html?_r=1&hpw

Ciao! I am sitting in a cafe in Bergamo, Italy, reading the NY Times online. The above link is to an article on how rare solar panels are in the New York region. I've seen many more buildings with solar panels in northern Italy than I ever saw in New York. Of course, it's a bit sunnier in this part of Italy, but not by as much as you'd expect. Also, the electic bills in Italy must be much higher. Still, I think there is something about the Italian psyche that makes solar more popular, namely, a distrust of anything even remotely connected to a bureaucracy and the government. The sun you can trust, the power authority, no.

Perhaps it's the hecticness of New York life that makes New Yorkers averse to trying out something new, especially when it is comes at a relatively high price. My ConEd bills get deducted automatically, and I don'te really think about them. Choosing solar requires effort, expense and maintenance. I am doing so, but perhaps that's the Italian in me. Maybe New Yorkers should start distrusting ConEd like good Italians, and then solar panels will start popping up on roofs throughout the region.

My Big Fat Green Renovation in...Bergamo Italy?

I'm in Bergamo, taking a little break from the day-to-day renovation, and letting my father handle things while I'm away. This house is across from the B&B where we're staying. Now that's a house that could benefit from a little TLC! It reminds me of the house on Duffield Street when I first met it.

Made the News

http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/the-other-brooklyn-flea

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2011/07/the-long-hard-road-to-buying-a-downtown-fixer-upper/?stream=true


Those of you who have been following this blog from the beginning know the long, hard road I have traveled in buying and renovating this house. Now the word is out.

Shopping at Costco for Solar

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11621856&search=solar&Mo=22&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&

I've always found Costco a safe bet when buying electronics. The prices and quality aren't always the absolute best, but you get a fair deal and a reliable product. So, if I need something and don't want to spend years researching it, I'll go to Costco and am usually satisfied. This is why, given my limited knowledge about solar panels, I'm looking at Costco's offerings. The above link is for Costco's most basic kit. I like that it can be expanded, if need be. My guess is that the prices of these panels will come down in a few years, so I'd rather get something relatively small and expandable now, and then add on, when the prices come down.

Fine from the Department of Sanitation

I spent the better part of this morning at the Environmental Control Board, arguing that the fine I received for "debris" on my sidewalk was a mistake. The supposed "debris" was building material being moved into the house. I paid a lot of money for that "debris." As I sat there waiting to be called, I thought of all the people who don't have time to fight these types of tickets, and just cut checks to get the city off their backs. Hopefully the work permits were sufficient evidence to get the fine erased. I'll know by mail in a few weeks.

Electrical and (Hopefully Soon) Plumbing

These walls are waiting for electrical wires and pipes. The electrical work is beginning, but the plumber has had to wait due to a glitch with the City's computer system. Each of the three apartments will have its own meter. This will hopefully discourage wasting electricity. Each apartment will also have its own boiler, to encourage each of the the apartments to be as frugal with the heat as possible.