Jeremy Thorp is a Project ManagerTeam in our Project Carbon team and joined MEA at the start of 2008.  Before this, he has spent time computer modeling power systems for the CEGB/National Grid, and running a printing business, with some time out for building a low carbon house. He has a long standing interest in renewable energy, dating back to his days as a student when he started building his own 8' wind turbine, (which is still not quite finished, but it hopefully will be one of these days).

Professional Interests: Energy use in buildings, energy efficient transport

Qualifications: M.A. Maths (Cantab), Qualified to produce Energy Performance Certificates for the Home Information Pack. Studying with Open University (currently on "Environmental Science", already completed "Energy for a Sustainable Future")

Skills: Programming, Spreadsheets, PHP/Mysql websites, DTP and page layout,

Where I've come from: Originally Hampshire, with some time in Surrey and Warwickshire, but for the past 12 years in Mid Wales.

I like: Most things practical, mechanical or scientific, DIY, building, cooking, gardening, cycling.

A moral I live my life by: "Do as you would be done by" as I keep repeating to my 11 year old twin sons as they constantly irritate each other.

How I'm trying to live more sustainably: Use a car less (even though I live 6 miles from the nearest town), cycle if possible (on a weird recumbent bike) or use motor scooter (150mpg). Heat house only with wood (it's a bit cold sometimes!).  Avoid air travel unless absolute emergency, grow some veg in the garden (far more weeds than veg)., become vegetarian (since I learned the co₂ impact of meat rearing).

I believe the greatest threat to our current society and environment is... dwindling global resources of useable land, energy and water which will result in escalating wars to control what is left.

My 'dirty (sustainability) secret': I still use the car quite a bit, it is hard to avoid with children to ferry around. My carbon footprint would be much smaller if I lived it town rather then in the middle of nowhere.

It may surprise you to know but... the horsepower was intentionally defined as one and a half times the power a horse could produce - James Watt, who first defined it, did not want the customers that bought his 1hp steam engine to be disappointed.

If things had turned out differently I might have been...almost anything practical - Carpenter, Gardener, Chef, Civil Engineer, Computer programmer, Mad Scientist. I deplore the fact that we have moved from the age of the craftsman into the age of the salesman.