Shin Sano

See the Unseen

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Hi everyone. Welcome to See the Unseen, hosted by Shin Sano, a Building Scientist and DOE Home Energy Score Assessor in the San Francisco Bay Area. We decode your home as a system to create a more comfortable, efficient life. From navigating Berkeley’s BESO and local East Bay (Alameda County) regulations to breaking down utility bills, we reveal the hidden science of your house. Having migrated from Japan, I also share unique cultural perspectives on homeownership. Let’s make the "unseen" work for your home’s value and comfort. Music Credits: Theme song "The Woods" — Composed by Iris Sano

Author

Shin Sano

Episodes

Ep.3: The $24 Question: Decoding PG&E's New Billing Structure 06.03.2026 17:21

Are you being punished for saving energy? In Episode 3 of See the Unseen , host Shin Sano breaks down the major changes hitting your PG&E bill starting in March 2026. PG&E is introducing a new, fixed $24 "Base Service Charge" while lowering the per-kilowatt-hour rate. While they claim this will incentivize home electrification, Shin runs the actual math to reveal a highly controv...

Ep.2: Berkeley's New BESO Rules 2026 27.01.2026 21:11

Don't list your Berkeley home until you hear this. As of January 1st, 2026 , the rules for Berkeley’s Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) have undergone a massive shift. Whether you are a homeowner, a buyer, or a real estate agent, these changes will directly impact your next transaction. In this episode of See the Unseen , Building Scientist Shin Sano breaks down the new "Resilience Upgrad...

Ep.1: From Designing Cars to Decoding Houses 24.01.2026 3:34

Hello, I am Shin Sano. Welcome to See the Unseen. In this introductory episode, I share my journey from Automotive Design and a PhD in Informatics to becoming a Building Scientist and Home Energy Score Assessor in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why does a designer/researcher spend time crawling under houses? Because it’s all about Data-Driven Design . I believe in making the invisible visible—decodin...