In December 2011, Dr. Robert Cox in Electrical and Computer Engineering, research assistants Michelle MacDonnell, Melissa West, Clarke Snell and John Torxler in the Laboratory for Innovative Housing (LIH), and I began fieldwork on the 2-year SWIFT (Streamlined Weatherization Improvements for Tomorrow) Program, which is an $8 million project that is partially funded by a $2 million Weatherization Innovation Pilot Program (WIPP) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Sheercom and Jake at the Lake Development are partners in the program. Follow this hyperlink for recent story in one of the local papers, http://www2.independenttribune.com/news/2011/dec/27/habitat-cabarrus-uncc-team-weatherize-homes-ar-1755444/.Last fall semester Professor Brett Tempest and I co-taught, for the third time, a multi-disciplinary design studio for architecture and engineering students. It is one of only six studios in the country underwritten by the PCI (Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute) Foundation. Georgia/Carolinas PCI provides additional underwriting. The project was a mid-rise development for the Durham Central Park Cohousing Community in Durham, NC. Students worked in four teams to produce four unique design solutions. The overall quality of the work they produced was outstanding.This spring semester I am teaching a multi-disciplinary research and writing intensive course titled, “Energy & Water: Architecture is Service to Social Agendas.” Engineering and architecture students will learn the basics about conducting research and publishing. Also in the schedule is time for farming at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm. This work supports research being done in local food and urban agriculture.Upcoming conferrences include 2012 PLEA (Passive Low Energy Architecture) Conference in Lema, Peru.

My teaching focus is on design and the design sciences. The courses I teach include: 3rd and 5th year undergraduate architecture studios, a combined undergraduate/graduate multidisciplinary studio for architecture and engineering students, Building Systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc.), Materials and Assemblies, and more.My research focus is on socially and environmentally sustainable communities and housing. Ongoing research includes:A weatherization research project that is partially funded by a Weatherization Innovation Pilot Program (WIPP) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (Thomas Gentry Lead PI);Modified whole house ventilation cooling that is partially funded by an Industry and University Cooperative Research (I/UCRC) grant from the National Science Foundation (Robert Cox, Lead PI);Development of the Integrated Network for Social Sustainability that is partially funded by a Research Coordination Networks (SEES) grant from the National Science Foundation (Nicole Peterson, Lead PI); and,Intentional communities and urban farming that is partially funded by a gift from the PCI (Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute) Foundation (Thomas Gentry, recipient).