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Michael Holtz
Country: United States
Year Started Research: 1974
Title of Research: Application of Solar Energy in K-12 Schools, but involved in
considerably more and varied research than this first project
University: American Institute of Architects (AIA) Research Corporation
Still Active in Research: Yes
Michael Holtz, FAIA has been at the forefront of architectural and energy research, development and sustainable
design consulting since 1972. He has been associated with LightLouver LLC as co-founder and CEO (2005 to
Present); Architectural Energy Corporation as co-founder and President / CEO (1982 – 2009); the Solar Energy
Research Institute (now known as National Renewable Energy Laboratory) as Chief of the Building Systems
Research Branch, and as Acting Director of the Buildings Division (1978 – 1982); the AIA Research Corporation
as Program Manager and Director of Solar Energy Programs (1972 – 1978); the National Bureau of Standards
(now known as the National Institute for Standards and Technology) as a research architect (1972); and, since
1976, his own architectural practice. In 1975, he authored the first major U.S. publication on solar energy and
housing design, Solar Dwelling Design Concepts. He established and managed comprehensive research programs
in all aspects of solar energy including solar access, sustainable community planning, passive solar heating and
cooling, daylighting design and analysis, design tool development and evaluation, urban applications, and federal
program planning and analysis. He has been central to planning and managing numerous international programs
in passive and hybrid heating and cooling and building energy analysis tools, including the SOLERAS U.S.-Saudi
Arabia Solar Research Program, the NATO/CCMS pilot project on passive systems, and the U.S.- Italy Passive Multi-
Family Housing Program. Mr. Holtz served from 1980 to 1989 as the Operating Agent for the IEA Task on “Passive
and Hybrid Solar Low Energy Buildings”. From 1989 to 2005, he served as the Operating Agent on IEA Task 12,
entitled “Building Energy Analysis and Design Tools for Solar Applications;” and as the Operating Agent of IEA Task
22, “Building Energy Analysis Tools”. Mr. Holtz was elected in to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of
Architects and of the American Solar Energy Society.
Sigrid Jannsen
Country: Germany
Year Started Research: 1974
Research Topic: Bionenery
Institute: Free University of Berlin (Germany)
Still Active in Research : No
Professor Sigrid Jannsen’s activities in renewable energies started in 1974. Her scientific focus was on waste
water treatment and in particular on the energetic use of biological wastes. From 1974 to 2001 she was a Full
Professor for General Microbiology at University of Oldenburg, Germany. After her retirement Sigrid Jannsen
was strongly involved in educational projects at the school level. 1995 – 2005 she was President of the German
Solar Energy Society, DGS. In this capacity she worked intensively on the promotion of renewables, led several
international projects on the dissemination of renewables and was chair of large international congresses. 2008
– 2012 Prof. Jannsen worked in Singapore as Scientific Information Officer at the newly founded Solar Energy
Research Institute of Singapore, SERIS. Prof Jannsen has been in charge of various international EU projects and
the organisation of numerous international conferences. Prof Jannsen is currently the vice president is of the non-
profit organisation The International Solar Energy Society e.V.
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