Ack! The second episode of BBC Radio's Energy Swap came and went while I was off frolicing in the Midwest. While I am saddened that I missed it, and subsequently missed presenting it to you, Gentle Reader, I am not too terribly disappointed. It turns out that part three is the most important show of the lot. It is the one that features my dad.
Give it a listen, and just after minute seven, listen for the introduction of Texan "energy visionary", Jim Sargent. That's my dad. He's in this show because of a home he built just outside of Dallas. After raking Texans over the coals for their extravagant energy wastefulness, the good folks at the BBC present a tour of my dad's Zero Energy House he built a few years back.
My dad has been a home builder for countless years. The first home he built was about thirty years ago. He built it out in the middle of a field near Waxahachie, Texas. It sold, so he built another. That one didn't sell, so we had to move into it. Then he built more and thankfully each one of them sold, saving us from becoming nomadic gypsies, building and moving, building and moving, my brother and I teased at each new location.
At some point, my dad's houses started to become something special. While other builders were focused on facades and interior design, my dad studied building science. He got permission from his buyers to monitor their electricity usage and learned what made houses energy efficient. By the time I was in high school, he was building houses that could be heated and cooled for less than a dollar a day. Now he's building ones that produce as much power as they consume. If you've never had the opportunity to watch an electric meter run backwards, I assure you, it is an awesome sight.
Energy Swap, part 3 on BBC Radio 4
As before, this link will only be live for about one week. Fame, apparently, is fleeting.
Just finished listening to the show - well done to your Dad, we could do with more people like him.
Posted by: Sarah | April 29, 2007 at 05:41 AM
That's really awesome what your Dad does. I wish I had one of his homes. I looked though his website. They are very beautiful.
Posted by: Tammy from Twinstuff | April 29, 2007 at 11:25 PM
Kudos to Mr. Jim Sargent for being a leader in his field and for saving the rep of Texans (along with Willie--you're in good company).
Posted by: Not Erin | May 01, 2007 at 01:32 AM
Just finished listening to the BBC segment and now I TOTALLY want the GDada to build me a house! Do I have to move to Texas?
Posted by: Jennifer | May 01, 2007 at 01:49 PM
It is nice being recognized for what you do, but I've never been able to say,
"I am the twin-maker, the maker of twins! Look upon my deeds with awe and wonder!"
Posted by: The Gdada | May 01, 2007 at 04:58 PM
the Gdada,
Your deeds are truly awesome, nevertheless. You made that Dad, and that's plenty. The green homes are icing on the cake.
Posted by: Not Erin | May 01, 2007 at 10:21 PM
The Gdada,
I'm no expert, but it ocurred to me today that making twins is the easy part. It's keeping them alive that's so dang hard.
Posted by: Not Erin | May 02, 2007 at 02:52 AM