When an American businessman purchased an 800 year old mill on a 20 acre winery and olive orchard on a remote Italian Mediterranean island he knew that due to the lack of developed utilities on the island he would have to find a way to make his property sustainable and energy independent. He found it difficult to retain the services of a qualified engineer and contractor on the island to design, let alone build the extensive system he wanted. Through a referral by Warmboard Thermal Subfloors based in Aptos, he retained the services of Pacific Solar Radiant Inc. a design/build mechanical engineering, plumbing and heating company based in Santa Cruz, CA. Thanks to the experience, innovation and perseverance of mechanical engineer William Shady P.E. and master plumber Greg Cross, partners in Pacific Solar Radiant Inc., the vacation house and property will become completely sustainable and off-grid.

Shady and Cross teamed up with electrician Scott Laskey of Sandbar Solar of Santa Cruz to design and build the complete solar power and solar thermal systems which they constructed in their manufacturing facilities in Santa Cruz, CA and shipped in containers, (along with their surfboards) to the island. The electric systems built by Sandbar include photovoltaic, wind electric and backup generator power production with battery storage. The balance of the utilities designed by Pacific Solar Radiant Inc. include freshwater filtration and treatment, solar hot water for the domestic and radiant floor heating and cooling of the interior of the 800 year old mill, turned vacation home, with cool ground water collected from the dome shaped roof and stored in a cistern built by the Moors in the 12th century.

Shady, Cross and Laskey and their staff flew to the island and installed the heating and power systems on two separate trips. A third and final phase of installation is expected to be completed by early spring, 2009.