Page 65 - ISES SWC50

6.7 Industry Pioneers 1960-1969

Garry Baverstock
Country: Australia
Year joined industry: 1969
Company first worked for: Ecotect Architects
Technology area: Solar Architecture/Buildings
Still active in the industry: Yes

For over 45 years Garry Baverstock has been designing, building, educating and researching in the field of Ecological
Sustainable Design. Apart from studying and becoming an architect in 1972, he studied Construction Engineering
part-time while running his practice and then completed a MSc in Applied Physics in building studies in the early
1990s. He is still one of the world experts in the use of thermal inertia storage linkage with PV. Garry’s involvement
with ISES goes back to the 1970’s. He was a member of the ANZSES/AuSES- WA State Committee 1978 – 2011,
starting as Hon Secretary from 1978 to 1989 and was on the Steering Committee for the ISES World Congress in
Perth in 1983. He developed the Solar Energy Information Centre which was the headquarters of ANZSES 1989
– 1993 (now Heritage Listed). In mid 1980s he was a founding member of Formed the Buildings Group with the
late David Oppenheim, Trevor Lee, David Baggs, Deo Prasad, Prof John Ballinger, Dr Steve Szokolay and others
(including Prof David Mills). From 2001 – 2004 he co-ordinated the Australian submission with Prof David Mills for
the 50th year ISES history for Australia and authored both chapters in the 2 part volumes. From 2009 onwards he
was the President of WA committee. In 2020 he founded the Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Bayswater and the
Thermal Inertia Storage Group collaborating with Murdoch University and UniSA. In his working life he has won
numerous awards: Twelve WA Home of the Year Awards, along with numerous MBA,James Hardie innovation
awards in the 1990’s, HIA GreenSmart Awards. He has two Awards of Merit and numerous Commendation Awards
from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA). In 2006 Garry was awarded an Order of Australia (AM)
for his contribution to architecture and energy efficiency education. On the 27 November, 2007 he was awarded
th
a Life Fellowship with the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) for his long-term commitment to the profession.

Elliot Berman
Country: United States
Year joined industry: 1968
Company first worked for: Itek Corporation (Solar Power Corporation)
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: Yes

In 1968 Elliot Berman founded Solar Power Corporation. In 1970 the company was funded by Exxon to carry out a
photovoltaic research program with the goal of a $.50/peak-watt solar cell based on organic semiconductors. At the
same time, they studied the possibility of a commercial business based on sales of silicon solar cells for terrestrial
applications. Their commercial market study suggested that a modest market existed with solar modules selling for
$20/peak-watt. In their hands, this required a manufacturing cost of $10/peak-watt. Based on the Chapin Patent,
they developed systems able to meet their cost goals. Important markets included Navigation Aids, Microwave
Relay Stations, Educational TV. The research program was able to achieve an efficiency of 1%. The availability
of organic semiconductors with “good” conductivity was limiting. From 1979-1990 Elliot was Chief Scientist at
ARCO Solar.

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