Roger Rasbach, architectural designer, environmentalist, visionary
by Vicki Wolf

We begin CLEAN Thinking’s new column, “People Who Make a Difference,” by remembering and honoring the work of beloved Roger Rasbach, who died July 30, 2003. Roger was a dedicated CLEAN board member, and my friend and mentor. We miss him, and know that he will live on in our hearts and minds for his kindness, his generosity and his sense of humor.

Roger was well known as an advocate for energy conservation and care for the environment. His most recent efforts in Houston include The Houston Challenge,” supporting plans for Houston to be energy efficient by following the rules of energy conservation.

Roger was committed to saving energy, thus protecting the environment, for he was concerned with conserving the natural resources of the world in every way: from planting and saving trees, to reducing the use of water,” says Dr. William Lee Pryor, Professor Emeritus of English, The University of Houston.

Roger was a leader in designing homes using passive solar principles: rooms that utilized cross ventilation, reflective roof and glass openings that face east and south. House Beautiful featured his work extensively. He designed the Computer House, which was featured in the magazine. The Computer House was the first house to use the aid of a computer, and introduced builders from all over the world to homes built out of structural panels.

The innovative work of Roger’s 50-year career is a legacy that future energy conscious home designers can build upon. The Provident Home, developed by Roger and his company, Rasbach Design, integrates energy efficiency and low-cost construction, with computer component construction. The Provident Home’s thermal shell of structural insulated panels eliminates the need for conventional insulation.

The Provident Home:

• reduces energy use 50 to 70 percent compared to a conventionally constructed home;
• is made of natural and nontoxic materials to protect the health of the family;
• will not sag, warp, shrink or decay with age;
• is structurally sound to survive severe storms, hurricanes and earthquakes;
• can be virtually termite proof and highly resistant to fire;
• is environmentally responsible and uses recycled material whenever possible;
• minimizes waste in construction so that natural resources are conserved;
• can last a century or more with minimal maintenance; and
• is both beautiful and livable.
• Roger’s first book on energy efficient housing, The Provident Planner,” establishes the principles for his Provident Home.

My mother, Jane Blaffer Owen, worked with Roger in building what she calls the House of Tomorrow” in New Harmony, Indiana. It’s known in the historic utopian town as the New Harmony House and incorporates the energy saving and cost saving features of the Provident Home.

Roger’s advocacy of fireproof panels over wood framing constitutes considerable savings in energy costs and lower insurance premiums,” she says. I know how much our utility bills have been reduced in our New Harmony House.”

Find out more about the town at www.newharmony.org. The New Harmony House is featured at www.newharmonyinn.com.

Many of the Provident Home features fit the needs of the Federation of American Scientists’ efforts to develop appropriate construction for rebuilding homes for families ravaged by war in Afghanistan. Roger’s friend and colleague, Dr. Henry Kelly, president of FAS, is taking the lead in this work. Engineers and scientists are utilizing Roger’s expertise and extensive knowledge of panel construction to manage some of the environmental and cost issues of this challenging project.

FAS’ performance specifications for the Afghan homes include:

• architecturally attractive to Afghans (traditional home designs);
• good interior air quality;
• seismically stable;
• highly energy efficient to be comfortable in extreme temperatures with minimal use of external energy sources;
• inexpensive to build;
• inexpensive to maintain;
• secure in high winds;
• meets fire-protection standards;
• minimal imports;
• minimal use or no use of wood;
• compatible with sustainable businesses in Afghanistan that can be started with modest capital investment;
• employ people with locally available skills;
• minimal or no proprietary technology; and
• reproducible in other markets including the U.S.

I believe that the FAS’ Afghanistan project is just one of many that will draw upon the work of Roger Rasbach as there is increasing need for energy conservation and cost savings in home construction in the U.S. and around the world.

Roger indeed will be remembered as someone who made a difference during his lifetime and whose work will continue making a difference in preserving the quality of life on this planet by providing innovative, workable ideas to conserve energy and care for the environment.

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