Home Electrification, AI Superintelligence, MORE Lawsuit Updates

House Einstein|July 25, 2025|Boulder, Boulder County, Due Diligence, Featured, humor, Podcast, Real Estate, Recent Sales, Video|

Solar Systems, Mini Splits (Aka Heat Pumps), Battery Backup Systems, EV Chargers, Expiring Rebates, Induction Cook Tops, E-Bikes, Geothermal Heat Pumps. How much value does it add? What does the future hold?

The House Einstein Podcast is available wherever you podcast. Hosted by Osman Parvez and Hamish Crabb.

Recorded Date: 7/23/25
Published Date: 7/25/25

Opening Story or Quote: The plaintiffs said they need more time to prepare a “measured and time-consuming” response, including hiring an expert to evaluate whether the city’s fee request is appropriate. They also said they want to address the “chilling effect” such requests for attorneys’ fees have on the rights of residents to challenge the government. The judge gave them until at least Aug. 19 to file their response.

Topics:

WELCOME
- Declare Mission: Entertain, Discuss Real Estate, Help You Better the Market
- Bios (who we are)
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MARKET CONDITIONS
- Discussed last week. Check last week’s pod. Pod 84

THE CLOSING TABLE | Home Electrification & AI
- Cost of Electricity
  - Grid competency
  - AI’s impact on costs (short term raise, long term…?)
  - Crypto mining’s strain on the grid
  - AI popularizing nuclear energy
    - On site reactors (SMRs)
- Electrical Service & Smart Panels
  - Service upgrades may not be necessary
  - Smart panels offer an alternative
    - Load switching and programmable
      - Offsets major draws – Car charges at night, but during day panel switches breaker to heat pump
      - Can identify inefficient circuits
      - Some room for AI to do its thing
    - Caveats: Expensive, may be worth it to do both in the long run
- Efficiency
  - Gas to electric in powerplants more efficient than gas for heating/cooking
    - Heat loss with gas cooking and heating
    - Electric methods begin at ~100% efficiency
    - - Well insulated homes matter
- Solar
  - Permitting is improving, but could do better
  - PV costs and payback periods
    - Often only 6-12 years. Could be less with incentives.
    - Usually 30 year warranties
  - Battery Systems
  - Net Metering
    - Possible inequities
- Rebates and Gov Incentives
  - If you’re thinking about upgrading to a heat pump or installing solar to take advantage of Fed energy rebates, 2025 is your hard deadline.
    - Heat Pump & Efficiency Tax Credit (Heating & Cooling)
    - Residential Clean Energy Credit (Power generation)
    - New Energy Efficient Home Credit (Insulation, tightness)
- HVAC
  - Heat Pumps – latent heat of vaporization and condensation
    - Efficient enough now to work with colder climates (ham’s unit down to 5F)
    - Room specific
    - Caveat: Condensation and ‘tightness’ concern – ERV/HRV may be needed
    - Caveat: reduced efficiency in extreme cold. Solution: resistive heaters, strips, backup furnace
- Geothermal – Quick mention
  - Possible to disrupt renewables on a mass scale
  - Caveat: Unsure of possibility in Colorado with drilling and mineral rights
- Hot Water Heat Pumps – Quick mention
  - Efficient
  - Caveat: Expensive, slower to warm than electric or gas

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
- Ranch buyer, large, Frasier Meadows ideal, low maintenance
(LESSONS FROM) SALES OF THE WEEK
IN THE NEWS
- AI is set to drive surging electricity demand
- Meme of the week: Astronomer CEO and Head of HR Hookup
- Speed Cameras on 119 Diagonal
- City Council targets disruptive meetings with comment rule overhaul
- CU South Litigation Continues to Delay Project

CARVE OUTS
- Going Electric – Lessons from Heat Pump Installation – OP
  - How chose contractor
  - Pros/cons of options
  - Actual experience with contractor
- Chimney Hollow Nears Completion – Ham

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