About Javier

I'm the type of person who is always going down rabbit holes. 

When I first began researching energy efficient and healthy home building practices, I came across the concept of passive solar design. In short, passive solar design is a building design method that takes into account the position of the sun throughout the year. A building may be oriented to efficiently capture the sun’s energy during the winter to heat buildings, and at the same time to provide shade from the sun’s rays during the hot summer months. 

Realizing that we can massively reduce heating and cooling costs simply by orienting buildings properly was a revelation for me.

How could it be that something so obvious was not a standard practice? Why should we prioritize facing the street, instead of facing the sun?

I was both excited by the possibilities and also angry that this basic design principle was being ignored, creating tons of waste and inefficiency. 

Of course, I quickly realized that passive solar design was just the tip of the iceberg in what should be “common sense” home building and renovation practices that create healthier, more efficient living environments. 

From applying interior wall finishes like clay plaster to prevent mold and improve air quality, to sourcing high quality, locally-available salvaged materials to reduce costs and environmental impact, I started to see so many ways to improve our homes, and more importantly, the quality of life for those living in them. 

The reason we aren’t seeing more intelligently-designed homes became apparent:

The average consumer simply isn't educated on what makes a home healthy, energy efficient, and durable, so they do not demand that homes be built and renovated to a higher standard. 

Understanding the principles behind healthy and energy-efficient homes has transformed the way I approach real estate. The most important role that I can play in this industry is that of an educator, spreading awareness about creating healthier and more resilient living environments. 

Here's to a brighter future!