Dr. Richard Komp’s Bio

Surely few people can match both the enthusiasm Richard Komp has brought to solar energy as well the length of his career around solar technologies. While he didn’t start working professionally with solar energy until 1960, as far back as 1951 he had worked with passive solar and radiant heating technologies. He has taught literally hundreds of workshops around the world, and has dozens of publications to his name—from academic papers to his current book “Practical Photovoltaics”. He is also the editor for the Maine Solar Energy Association’s quarterly newsletter and their guide to backyard solar entitled “The Maine Solar Primer”.

His workshops have included such themes as: PV module assembly and solar micro-drip irrigation. He has pioneered PV as a “cottage industry” in Nicaragua, Mali, India, and Haiti, making use of cells that are rejected by major manufacturers to do low-tech assembly of PV panels. Currently groups in these countries are assembling dozens of panels per year for a total of over 10 kilowatts per year.

Richard has had a deep career in the academic and research worlds. He received his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Wayne State University in Michigan and later was an associate professor at Kentucky University. He also has been an adjunct or visiting professor at several other universities, including currently the national engineering university (UNI -- Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería) in Managua, Nicaragua where he spends 2-3 months per year. Earlier in his career he conducted extensive research at Xerox’s Materials Research Laboratory, resulting in about a dozen patents on such things as nanoparticle photoreceptors. That said, Richard is far more than just an “academic”. He is just as “hands on” as he is cerebral and he lives in an off-the-grid solar house that he built himself far “down east” in Jonesport, Maine (the only place a solar scientist could afford coastal real estate). The house is decked out with many of the technologies he has taught in workshops, including photovoltaics, solar thermal hot water (via his “hybrid” system), and rain water catchments. It allows him to lead a simple, inexpensive, and fruitful life that many would envy.

His involvement in several organizations speaks to his commitment to share his knowledge and skills to younger generations as well as to make a difference in the world. He currently is involved in the following organizations:

Organizations

• Skyheat Associates – Director & Co-Founder, non-profit
• Maine Solar Energy Association – President, non-profit
• Sunwatt Corporation – Founder
• Grupo Fenix – Scientific & technological Advisor, group of Nicaraguan organizations
• SeedTree – Treasurer
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association – Chapter Board Member
• Great Auk Land Trust – Board Member

Places Richard Has Been in the World

• Canada (Falls Brook Centre), Europe, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mali, India, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, and San Andreas (Colombia)

Hobbies

• Astronomy and building telescopes
• Sailboat racing out of Gross Point Yacht Club with GM physicists (Richard was never a member but the club is known for being a place that kicked out Michael Moore)

Languages

• English, some Spanish, French, & German

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Eric Fedus' Bio

Eric has spent over two years abroad, having worked with or visited over 75 organizations worldwide that work with issues of economic development, sustainable livelihoods, and renewable energy.

Recently, at Tecpar Institute in Curitiba, Brazil he studied an agriculture system based in traditional Chinese agriculture and focused on using a “systems thinking” approach toward addressing issues of economic and environmental sustainability.

He currently serves as an adviser to Grupo Fenix in Managua, Nicaragua where he has worked on issues ranging from organizational development to resource efficiency—such as developing small, inexpensive solar battery chargers.

Eric has a B.S. in Computer Science from Tufts University and an MEd. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2005 he received a certificate in systems design through ZERI (Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives) and in 2007 he became certified in permaculture design.

His prior work includes extensive experience in the multimedia and Internet industries in Boston, as well as a family background in the restaurant business. He currently earns his living primarily through investigating competitive issues as a business research consultant for a Fortune 1000 company. He is an active member of Toastmasters International, a longtime gardener, and a dabbler in mushroom cultivation. Eric also has two articles that have been published in “Home Power” magazine.

Presentations/Workshops/Facilitating

• Nicaragua – Presentations on renewable energy in Asia, as well as facilitation of numerous meetings
• Colorado – Guest lecturer for SEI in their “Renewable Energy in the Developing World” course
• Connecticut – Presentations on Grupo Fenix’s work in Nicaragua
• Massachusetts - Solar PV panel workshops with Richard & Virginio
• New Hampshire – Solar cooking workshop with Virginio; workshop for members of The Sustainability Project on the sustainability methodology of ZERI, as well as presentations on vermicomposting
• New York – Co-facilitator in the Buckminster Fuller Institute’s Design Science Summer Lab, a visioning & solutions process
• Rhode Island - Solar Cooking workshop with Virginio for the 2008 Rhode Island Sustainable Living Festival & Clean Energy Expo.

Some Organizations Eric Has Visited

• United States: Seeds of Solidarity (MA), DAcres (NH), Cobb Hill CoHousing (VT), Taos Earthships (NM), Apeiron Institute (RI)
• Nicaragua: Grupo Fenix, CEPAD, Pro Leña (efficient wood cook stoves)
• India: Selco, Gadhia Solar Energy Systems, Auroville
• Brazil: Tecpar Institute & ZERI’s Integrated Farming System projects in Paraná state & Rio Grande do Sul, ZERI’s spirulina production project in the high pH lake, Lagoa Magueira, to provide nutrition supplementation to kids under Brazil’s Zero Hunger program

Places Eric Has Been in the World

• 9 Latin American countries, including Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama; England, Germany, France, Thailand, India

Languages

• English, Spanish (fluent), Brazilian Portuguese (intermediate)
  

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