Ken Haggard

Kenneth Haggard is a registered architect in the states of California and Florida with 32 years of experience in urban design and architecture. For the past 26 years, he has been a principal in San Luis Sustainability Group (SLSG).Known as a pioneer in passive solar design, Haggard has designed numerous residential and commercial projects with an emphasis on making the best use of the energy and materials available on-site. In 1972, he served as architect and senior researcher for the first passive solar house in California. In 1978, he co-wrote “Passive Solar Handbook for California,” a guide for architects interested in the passive solar design. With colleague Polly Cooper, Haggard helped renew serious interest in straw bale construction in California by designing the first-permitted straw bale house in the state.

Haggard’s active pursuit of sustainable architecture techniques has earned several awards, including:
· Passive Pioneer Award (with Polly Cooper), American Solar Energy Society, 1996;
· First Place Winning Design (as a team member), American Institute of Architects’ AIA/UIA International Competition on Sustainable Communities, 1993;
· Best Paper Award, World Solar Congress, Denver, Colo., 1989;
· Honor Award (with Christie Coffin and Polly Cooper) in California Energy Efficient Office Building Competition, 1976.

Haggard is affiliated with several professional organizations. He was on the Ethics Committee Board of the American Solar Energy Society’s Passive Solar Division, and he was a member of the National Organizing Committee for the Solar 90 National Solar Conference. Haggard co-founded Sustainable Design Associates, a national consortium of sustainable development professionals. He was a plenary speaker at the 11th National Passive Solar Conference and was invited to serve on the Energy Element Technical Review Committee for San Luis Obispo County from 1993 to 1994.

Haggard received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University. He studied architecture at North Carolina State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree with honors, then earned a master’s degree in urban design from the University of Pennsylvania.

Haggard has authored several publications in addition to “Passive Solar Handbook for California.” With Polly Cooper, he wrote two chapters on roof pond passive systems in “The Passive Solar Energy Book” by Edward Mazria. He and SLSG’s Scott Clark wrote the source book for CASBA, the California Strawbuilders Association. He has written dozens of papers presented to national conferences on passive solar energy, aesthetics and sustainability as well as a research evaluation of a system of natural air conditioning.

Haggard taught architecture and environmental design at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, for more than 15 years. While at Cal Poly, he acted as director of the Renewable Energy Institute from 1984 to 1986. He continues to give talks to professionals and the public on sustainable design. He also conducts straw bale construction workshops so that people interested in the field can get hands-on experience.