Experience

Present: Zia Energy Company, LC
●     Hi Performance Building Specialists : A Veteran Owned Entity emphasizing Common Sense, Practicality and Cost Effectiveness in the applications of Energy Efficiency Technology.
●   Zia begins at the beginning, by fanatical attention to the most cost effective, energy efficient, energy conserving application known: A tight, practically insulated Thermal Envelope.
●    Quality control review and oversight of field applications pertaining to air sealing, insulation and window installations, vapor retarders, drainage plains, exterior coverings and air barriers.  If  not installed correctly these items compromise all energy efficient applications and operational results.
●    Paying practical attention to interior water conservation, humidity issues, make up and fresh air delivery, historic energy use data collection, and cost effective solar applications.
●    Zia attempts to bridge the ever widening gap between cost prohibitive, impractical, “Green” applications and common sense applications that work. Zia works towards actual cost effective, energy conserving, operational and maintenance benefits, not excessive program certification points that can skew cost considerations and blow out budgets.
●    Providing practical, cost effective, energy efficient solutions for Market Rate Affordable-Workforce and subsidized Low Income Housing–new and renovation.
●    Design_Build applications for energy efficient, cost effective modular and Structural Insulated Panel(SIPS) Building Systems.
●    Cost effective solar thermal and PV applications
●    EarthCraft, Energy Star, Building America Verifiers/Technicians.
●    LEED AP, HERS Rater, Class A contractor, Civil Engineer, Energy Star Partner, RESNET Member, American and International Solar Energy Society members.

●    Specialty Contractors: 35 years experience in applying Practical, Cost Effective,  Energy Efficiency applications to buildings.
●    Providing building applications for energy efficient, cost effective modular and Structural Insulated Panel(SIPS) Building Systems.
●    Hi Performance Building Applications emphasizing Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Building.
●    Construction Management Services for non-profits and other Affordable Housing Providers.
●    Energy Efficient, cost effective building renovations for low rise multi-family, light-commercial and housing.

A Real Estate, Project Specific Holding and Development Company utilizing Limited Partnerships,  Joint Ventures, LLC’s and other tax advantaged entity’s. Licensed Real Estate Brokers.
A General Contracting Company specializing in cost effective, energy efficient design applied to:
•    Historic Renovation and Adaptive Reuse
•    New Super Insulated/Passive/Active Solar Housing, Light Commercial and Multi-Family
•    Renovations of Housing, Multi Family and Light Commercial(Historic)
Other Attributes and Experience:
•    Extensive knowledge and experience with existing homes and low rise buildings–their renovation, revitalization and adaptive reuse
•    Experienced with urban redevelopment applicable to providing affordable housing opportunity and adaptive reuse of buildings.
•    Experienced with tax credit renovation
•    Specialized knowledge of Energy Efficiency applications pertaining to Low Rise Multi Family Buildings, Light Commercial/Office Buildings, and Single Family Housing including passive solar, active solar, super insulation, value engineering, alternative HVAC applications and humidity issues. Installed first HRV–Radiant Solar Thermal application in 1981 on an indoor pool application.
•    Restoration/Renovation Consultant for inner city non-profit builders, redevelopment authorities and affordable housing providers.
•    Home Inspection Services-ASHI member-Over 1000 homes inspected-1996-2004.
•    Bank Building Inspector, FEMA disaster inspector
•    Specialized knowledge of thermal envelope, crawl space environments and exterior drainage issues helping to reduce potential structural and mold issues.

Professional Memberships:
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers(ASHRAE)
USGBC-United States Green Building Council(LEED)
American Solar Energy Society
International Solar Energy Society
National Veteran Owned Business Association
EarthCraft Virginia
RESNET
Energy Star Partner
National Association of Home Builders
Southface Energy Institute
Virginia Sustainable Building Network
American Society of Home Inspectors(ASHI)
Urban Land Institute
Preservation North Carolina
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Historic Home Inspectors Association
National Association of Realtors

Projects:  Past and Present Project List can be provided if requested.

What people have said:

“Bob Congdon, at great personal and financial sacrifice, with almost a fanatical, sincere devotion, helped us work our way through IRS issues involving unpaid taxes, financial difficulties, abuses of fiduciary responsibilities,  banking discrepancies and real estate funds mis-appropriation.  He kept us going at our darkest hours and went on to complete the majority of our inner city housing obligations involving a local CHDO, HUD program under the direst of financial conditions still all the while concentrating on energy efficiency for the subsidized home owners to whom it makes a large financial difference.  He not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk–you could trust him with your life, is there any higher compliment?” Friends of the Homeless, Inc.

“Bob Congdon dragged us screaming and kicking into the realm of Energy Efficiency, Energy Star and EarthCraft Certifications for our inner city, market rate,  affordable housing projects.   As a for-profit developer we were concerned about cost effectiveness and practicality, which Bob showed us how to do.  If it doesn’t make sense, he doesn’t force you to apply it for the sake of gathering certification points.  We recently expanded into the building of a 120 unit LIHTC, EarthCraft certified project and we couldn’t have made the move without Bob’s expertise.”Joe Ketchum, Associated Contractors, Inc.

Comments at dedication of First EarthCraft, Affordable Modular Home Ribbon Cutting: “If any person gathered here, at this home’s dedication, deserves accolades for getting this home not only built, but built and certified to Energy Star and EarthCraft Standards it is Bob Congdon. His commitment to energy efficiency, applied practically to affordable, inner city housing is unwavering. He did it under some pretty tough circumstances.” Karen Wilds, Executive Director, Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

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