Personal Information:

Personal Comments:

I live in a Passive solar home built in 1974 and then redesigned in 1990 to incorporate our patented foam and reinforced cement plaster stressed-skin panel construction. My hot water is supplied through a drain back solar system that incorporates a wood boiler for auxiliary heat. Water storage/ heat exchange is supplied by our proprietary, site assembled, super-insulated tank within a tank system. Distribution into a radiant slab is done when the tank exceeds 130°F. Automatic heating/ cooling & dehumidification is done with a water source heat pump using water from an existing 50 ft. x 30 in. well. Water is returned to the well except during the hottest of the summer days when I incorporate an irrigation system in order to avoid overheating. The use of interior Window Quilts and exterior Shade cloth allow for energy management. A back-up PV system is coming as soon as that big oak tree on the south comes down!

Business Information:

Business Comments:

I started in 1976 doing renovation, passive solar design/build, SHW design/build, pool heating, wood boilers and watersource heat pumps. After 1985 I diversified into new construction with foam core reinforced cement plaster, stressed-skin, geodesic domes, and other rounded shapes. I continued with solar service/renovation, eventually doing a series of optimized solar systems that were monitored by VA Tech and demonstrated key attributes for cost effectiveness. During the mid 90's I was a leader in the effort to establish a viable Home Energy Rating program in VA. In '99 I finally got to do some PV systems for Y2K concerns. (We're in central VA, not a hotbed of alternative technologies/lifestyles!). I am Currently expanding the business as we're finding an increasing market for all of the above, even in this "very slow to adopt new technologies" market.