raw · articles · ingested 2026-08-01
Passive Solar Development in New Mexico — Bruce D. Hunn (ASES)
Source: https://ases.org/passive-solar-development-in-new-mexico/
By Bruce D. Hunn, Ph.D., ASES Fellow and Life-Member, Corrales, New Mexico. Published March 23, 2022. Fetched 2026-08-01.
NMSEA founding
The New Mexico Solar Energy Association was established in 1972, “with Keith Haggard as the principal founder.” Haggard, with Peter van Dresser and Steve Baer, hosted the first “Life Technics” conference at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico.
Sun-dwellings design team
Peter van Dresser (leader), William Lumpkins, David Wright, Francis Wessling, Steve Baer, Benjamin (Buck) Rogers, Mark Chalom, Aubrey Owen, and Keith Haggard — the group “began meeting in Santa Fe in 1973” and designed four two-bedroom dormitory units at Ghost Ranch.
Ghost Ranch construction and results
Construction began summer 1976 under Quentin Wilson and Mark Chalom. The best-performing building achieved 78% of its needed heat; the control building 18%. The article covers test cells, monitoring, and the development of passive solar design methodology through the 1970s-80s.