Education : I hold a Masters in Engineering from Durham University where I specialised in renewable energy, working on a brushless DC motor-generator for a 1 kW Stirling cycle engine as my thesis project.

Experience : I am particularly interested in how we how we use resources as we go about our daily lives, particularly the energy used by the buildings we inhabit because of the huge improvements in efficiency that are possible. I just returned to the UK after a year spent in the US working for a small company that provides a wide range of services related to building energy consumption. It is nominally a solar installer, but takes a holistic approach to building energy consumption. In many cases clients called up wanting a 'high dollar' solar system and we were able to deliver them far better value for money by energy auditing their home, cutting down on infiltration, fixing ductwork and installing insulation so that they needed a far smaller solar system to meet their needs.

The area of the business that I most enjoyed was working with architects interested in designing sustainable low-carbon buildings -- using building energy modelling (BEM) in concert with my experience energy auditing buildings to 'fix' buildings before they're even built. 

The most recent project was helping Watershed Architects design the low-energy aspects of a 500 sq. m. residence that should be a net producer of energy when it's built. The building located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA uses mainly active systems to compensate for a considerable area of north-facing glass that provide views down to the Lynnhaven river; these systems include a trombe wall with automated external 'beadwall' insulation, an array of building integrated flat plate solar collectors and a geothermal heat-pump tied into a 2,200l heat store that feeds a radiant heating system. Cooling is handled by a chilled floor in concert with fan-coils to control humidity. On-site renewable energy is provided by a building integrated 9kW STC DC rated solar photovoltaic system with a battery backup system capable of keeping the house running for several days without grid power. Simulation was used extensively to ensure that the building remains comfortable while using as little energy as possible.

Personal : I am a keen cyclist and am trying to maintain a car-free lifestyle for as long as possible; much of my cycling is utility cycing to and from shops with shopping however I have raced the Speedmachine with the BHPC and go out with the local cycling club at weekends from time to time.

I have always been a keen cook, although my approach to printed recipes is definitely that they are merely a guide. If at all possible corners will be cut to save time or reduce cost - my favourite recipes can be made by simply lobbing everything in a bowl, stirring it and putting it in the oven. Sometimes my efforts are foul (butternut squash and apple soup springs to mind) but often they are very nice and over time I will hone a recipe until I am satisfied with the results, some of which are recorded in the recipes section.