Has anyone done this or even herd of this?

A crash mostly just "thins the herd" and the weaker businesses are weeded out.

This is actually very much like the Rutherford case of old where payment for the sale of a herd of bred cattle as the unborn offspring. 

Insulation might keep the house cooler- radiant barrier material is cheap and can be rolled in between the joists and roof deck without much labor.

No you don't, find a good GC and deal with him, let him herd the cats for you.

I think most Landlords will weather this storm, but we'll definitely see a culling of the herd.

Bouts of the out buildings have electricity and one has a radiant heat floor.

I am still going to make a profit but it is like herding cats to keep him on track.

The building uses radiant heat via hot water and uses gas to provide the heating.

Recessions are a thinning of the herd and weaker businesses fail to make way for stronger.Success depends on what market you operated in, what investments you had and how you managed them.